trashion in crochet - by sweetyprize

Crochet and knitting doesn’t have to mean yarn from the craft store. Trashion can be a big part of how and what you knit and crochet. Consider using second hand or untraditional yarn-like material for your projects.

This can go far beyond shopping your thrift store for balls of 1970s wool blend yarn. This is a time to peek into your garage or utility drawer or rag bag.

Just because it’s not yarn doesn’t mean it can’t be crocheted. The vinyl chord from your weed whacker can be crocheted! Thick about how that iPod or cell phone cozy would look crocheted with twine, jute or ribbon. A lot of these materials look good in patterns that are all the same stitch, such as a single crochet, a stitch not that tall or intricate.

Besides this, there are plenty of things that are not yarn or thread-like that you can use to knit, crochet or braid.

The concept comes from Depression-Era rag rugs. Take any unwanted fabric and cut it into strips. These strips can then be used just like yarn. Very thickly cut strips can be woven together in bulky projects, such as rugs. Thinner strips resemble traditional yarn in their size and weight, so use them for cuffs, scarves, belts, beach bags, headbands …

This is just a starting point for projects and materials. The obvious choices for these fabric strips are tee shirts and bed sheets, but think about how plastic bags and tarps would look, or drop cloths. Think how fabrics that fray would look versus fabric that stretches. The ideas abound when you look at materials in this way.

Similarly, you can take apart things that are made of yarn, then re-use the yarn as though it were straight off the skein. Any old blanket, commercial sweater, or dollar store hat could net you some yarn for your stash.

Take these steps to avoid using new materials when crocheting or knitting. You’ll be amazed at the creative ways you can incorporate off beat materials into a traditional project, to make it both environmentally mindful and artistic. And Trashion!

Catherine is SweetyPrize, at http://sweetyprize.etsy.com/, where she is an administrator to the Trashion group of Etsy sellers and a purveyor of unique crochet items.