Plarn 3

What else can you make with plarn? After all, how many grocery bags, beach bags, and shoulder bags can one person use?

How about rugs? Machine washable, air dry. My mom makes round and oval rugs in sc.

 This one is just whatever bags she had one or two of.

 To make it oval, she starts with a chain and works both sides of it, increasing at the ends.

 I'm pointing to an increase in sc.

 Round rug. Just increase evenly around. Mom lays it flat frequently to be sure it stays flat.

 To finish, a few slip stitches before finishing off.

An oval rug made entirely of white bags with blue printing.

 Hats are fun, too. I worked dc around until I had the top the size I wanted, to shade the top of my head. Then I worked a dc chain 1 mesh until I had it tall enough. Then I worked around in solid dc until it shaded my face adequately. I increased enough to get ruffles. Then I made the flower decoration.

 It's very windy here, so I used safety pins to fasten a headband inside to hold the hat on. This is how the flowers are tied on.

 The flower and leaves. This way I can change the decorations to look like different hats.

 Some stars.

 Stars on the hat.

 Stars tied on.

 Sc increase on top of hat.

 Dc increase in rim.

Lovely shade for my head when I'm outside.

 House slippers. My children tell me that I must never wear these outside. My son says if I'm wearing these and need an ambulance, the EMTs would take me to the mental health hospital.

 I wear them, anyway, because they are so comfortable.

I kept trying them on as I was making them to be sure of a good fit.

 One last bag. Its round, not so big, and worked in dc, chain mesh. I carry it to my garden for produce.

 Decreased up the handle and increased down the other side.

The blue line is a metal clothes hanger I worked into the bottom to help it hold its shape.
So, what can you make with plarn?

Colors

 As I've said before patterns are just suggestions. The picture above is a granny square afghan using Rubic Cube colors. The afghan below is also a granny square afghan, using left over yarn, but also heavy on camouflage yarns.

 They are for different nephews with different interests. Same pattern, different colors, very different finished project.

This is another granny square afghan, using left over yarn, for another nephew. I do have a LOT of left over yarn! I'm still making squares for this one. The edging will be dark green. So it will be different from the other left over yarn afghan.

I like to make table toppers in white and vary the color scheme with different cloths under them.

 This is the pineapple hearts doily in gold thread, which I made for my parents' 50th anniversary.

Same pattern in white, not yet starched. Looks quite different.

Eventually, I want to have 12 doilies in this pattern in 12 different colors, 1 for each month.

 This doily is called African violets, and of course, the flowers could be in any color you chose.

 This table runner is another favorite. Above is one I made for my mom, in neutral colors to match her decor.

Same pattern, different colors for my sister's house.
So, look at patterns, use your imagination, and have projects that are one of a kind!

Filet stitch patterns

 This is one of my favorite baby blanket patterns. The border is done in a filet stitch, which isn't a stitch, but a pattern of (usually) double crochet stitches and chain stitch spaces, which make a pattern.

The spaces are sometimes called open squares and the blocks of dc are called closed squares.

 Close up of a table runner.

 These flowers are supposed to be magnolias. It took me 3 years to make.

 These are roses.

 Close up to show beveled edges.

You can find patterns of letters and numbers to make your name and dates. Filet stitch pattern are simple in that they use only dc and chain stitches, but they are difficult in requiring close counting and attention to detail. They also take a long time to make.

Granny Square Afghan

 What to do with all these cute granny squares? I used yarn that is left over from years of projects. Some squares of one color and some squares of two colors. To make a two color square, I cut and tie off the yarn after two rounds. Then I tie the new color on with a sc stitch in a corner and finish the last two rounds .

 To see if I have enough squares, I lay the squares out on the floor. I want this afghan to be 11 by 18 squares. I didn't have enough. Oh, well, it will just use up more of all that left over yarn!

 This is the front of an afghan joined by slip stitches in the back loops.

 This the back of the seam.

 The afghan on the back of my couch. Even with all those holes, it's warm and cuddly.

 This method of joining looks lacier to me and I like it better for joining smaller granny squares. To start joining, insert hook in the space at any corner.

 Pull up a loop,

 Work a sc.

 Chain 5 and sc in same space.

 Chain 3 and work a sc in the next space.

 Work chain 3, sc in next space across side to corner. Work chain 5, sc in corner space.

 Work around, chain 3 across side spaces. Chain 5, sc in each corner. Join to first sc. Finish off and work in the ends. Work the ends in as you go to be sure you don't miss any.

 On all the rest of the squares, be sure you start joining on the same side. Work across first side same as the first square.

 At first corner, chain 2.

 Insert hook in loop of any corner of first square. Be sure the same side is up of both squares.

 Slip stitch. Chain 2.

 Sc in same corner space of second square. Chain 1.

 Slip stitch in edging loop of first square. Chain 1, sc in next space of second square.

 Chain 1, slip stitch in next edging loop, chain 1, sc in next space.

 Continue to corner. Chain 2, slip stitch in corner loop of first square, chain 2, sc on corner space of second square.

Continue around, join in first sc, finish off and work in ends. I need 56 more squares to finish this afghan, so it will be a few weeks before I can show you the finished project. I have so many unfinished projects sitting around! I really have an incentive to finish this one, though because it's taking up my living room!

When all the squares are made, I will rearrange them until I like the colors' arrangement. Then I will join them all, and go on to the next project.