Recycled Paper Beads

I rescued some paper from the recycle bin.

I printed a colorful pattern on the unprinted side (though using the printed side is pretty cool as there are random words on the finished beads...fun stuff).

I measured how long I want my beads and marked accordingly.

I lined up my marks at the wide part of the triangle and cut with a rotary cutter.

I now have a stack of bead papers.

I roll the beads on a cotter pin. I like to cover the round end of the cotter pin with cloth tape to protect my hand (I tend to grip it too hard!). I use a UHU glue stick to glue the bead together.

And voila! Recycled Paper Beads!

Coating them with a water-based varnish will make them much more durable.

I prefer Triple Thick, but Modge Podge works well too. Modge Podge matte is a nice change from glossy beads.

Other papers that work really well:

Scrapbook paper

Magazine pages

Nature or wildlife calendars

Colorful catalogs

Please note that this is my favored technique...but there are many others out there, for example:

www.mzuribeads.com

http://www.beadjewelryblog.com/how-to-make-paper-bead-necklaces/

http://www.paperbeadcrafts.com/

http://www.thebeadsite.com/CHI-HOM.html

Enjoy!!!

More Finished Projects

Mom's purse - I made for her Xmas present, December 2007

A variation on the Run About Bag - Designed by Jean Sattler (http://www.kraemeryarns.com/patterns/pdfs/runabout.pdf)

Hand knit, then felted via washing machine and boiling

The black flourish detail I needle felted by hand with wool roving using a stencil

Mom-in-Law's purse - I made for her Xmas present, December 2007
A variation on the Squashy Bag Pattern - Designed by Kerri A. Shenk
(One Skein Wonders, edited by Judith Durant, p. 30.)
Hand knit, then felted via washing machine and boiling
The fleur-de-lis detail I needle felted by hand with wool roving using a stencil

The Infamous Lace Scarf

Better late than never... The Infamous Lace Scarf

I used Knitty's Branching Out Pattern:

http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/PATTbranchingout.html

Cable Purse

Gauge
I don’t as a rule do gauge swatches. I used a worsted weight yarn with size 6 needles to make a bag that measures 7” width and 8” length - your results may vary...

Abbreviations
k: knit
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
p: purl
inc: K into front and back of stitch
sl: slip
st/sts: stitch/stitches
4 stc: 4 stitch cable
18 stc: 18 stitch cable
C4F: sl 2 sts onto cable needle at front, k2, k2 from cable needle
C5F: sl 3 sts onto cable needle at front, k2, sl p st back onto LH needle and p it, k2 from cable needle
C5B: sl 3 sts onto cable needle at back, k2, sl p st back onto LH needle and p it, k 2 from cable needle

Pattern
(Note: I slip the first stitch of each row, to make the selvedges easier to seam)

Cast on 41 stitches
Row 1-5: Work five rows of k1, p1 ribbing
Row 6: Sl 1, k2, inc, k3, inc across to last 4 stitches, k4 (50 sts)
Row 7: (and all “odd” rows of cable section): Sl 1, p3, k1, p2, 4stc, p2, k1, p2, 18stc, p2 k1, p2, 4stc, p2, k1, p4
Row 8: (and all “even” rows of cable sections): k all stitches that were purled on the odd rows and purl all stitches that were knitted on the odd rows.
Rows 9-50: Follow pattern for the 4stc and the 18stc for 42 more rows
Row 51: Sl 1 k3, k2tog across to last 4 stitches, k45 (41 stitches)
Row 52-56: k1, p1 ribbing for 5 rows
Row 57: Bind off

4 Stitch Cable
Rows 1 and 3: k4
Rows 2,4,6: p4
Row 5: C4F
Repeat these 6 rows

18 Stitch Cable
Row 1: p2, (k2, p1) 5 times, p1
Row 2, 4,6,8: (p2, k1) 5 times, k1
Row 3: p2,k2, (p1C5F) twice, p2
Row 5: as row 1
Row 7: p2, (C5B, p1) twice, k2, p2
Repeat these 8 rows

Assembly
With the cable sides facing one another, sew the two panels together (“inside out”), starting at what will be the “top” of the purse and working down one side, across the “bottom”, then up the remaining “side”.

For the strap, I used a knitting spool to knit a cord to my desired length. For the closure, I crocheted a loop and attached it to the center of the inside of the “back” panel, then stitched a large button to the center of the top ribbing of the “front” panel.

References
Compton, Claire. 2004. The Knitters Bible. 108-110 (4 Stitch Cable and 5 Rib Braid).

Knit Pattern: Recycled Grocery Bag Bag

I've checked my link in this post and it still works, but in case you have any trouble with the link, the website for making the plastic yarn is:

http://hellejorgensen.typepad.com/gooseflesh/2007/02/plastic_bag_yar.html 

Abbreviations:
B/O = Bind off
C/O = Cast on
K = Knit
P = Purl
sl = slip
st = stitch

For Circular Knitters

Materials:
20-25 plastic grocery bags (Follow this link for a tutorial on making plastic bags into yarn)
Size 15 circular needles (12” will do)
Large yarn needle
Stitch marker

Pattern
C/O 72 sts, place a marker at the beginning (before joining), then knit across.

K each row until bag is desired length (before straps).

Make “holes” for straps:

Row 1: K 10, B/O 16, K 20, B/O 16, K 10
Row 2: K 10, C/O 16, K 20, C/O 16, K 10

Knit 5-7 more rows (depending on how wide you want your straps).

B/O loosely and weave in ends.

Turn bag purl side out and flatten so the strap holes are lined up. Use large yarn needle to sew up the bottom seam of the bag (use double strands of bag yarn for strength).

Weave in ends and turn bag right side out.


For Straight Needle Knitters

Materials:
20-25 plastic grocery bags (Follow this link for a tutorial on making plastic bags into yarn)
Size 13 needles*
Size 15 needles
Large yarn needle
Stitch marker

Pattern
C/O 37 sts on size 13 needles*
Switch to size 15 needles and work 6 rows of stockinette stitch. Slip the first st of each row (this creates an easier selvedge to sew)

Row 7: sl 1, k 10, B/O 15, k 11
Row 8: sl 1, p 10, C/O 15, p 11

Continue to work in stockinette stitch until bag is twice desired length. End on a P row, then repeat rows 7 and 8.

Work 6 more rows, then B/O tightly or use size 13 needle*

Fold bag in ½ (purl side out), so the strap holes are lined up. Use large yarn needle sew up sides (use double strands of bag yarn for strength), turn knit side out.

* If you C/O loosely and B/O more tightly or vice versa, use smaller needles to C/O or B/O. The goal is to have the same tension for the C/O edge as you do for the B/O edge.

Coming soon... Little cable purse pattern