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Book Review -1000 Ideas For Creative Reuse

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If you’ve been reading my blog for more than a week, you know that I’m very attracted to the work of those who upcycle, recycle, repurpose, reuse, redesign, renew, remake, and restyle.  Do I have all the re-‘s covered?  I do some of this sort of thing myself.  But, darnnit, I’m just not as good as coming up with ideas as the people in this book.  I’m in love…

For crocheters, we must move beyond thinking of merely frogging that thrift store sweater for its yarn.  That’s a good idea, but there’s so much more we can do.  Here are a few of the ideas in the book that speak to crocheters:

* item#0108 – garbage bag bag made of (you guessed it) garbage bags as well as orange flagger’s tape, a place mat, and recycled shoulder straps and zipper

*plarn items like an ipod cozy, pencil caddies, and rings for your fingers in addition to the totes and rugs we’ve seen elsewhere

*recycled (upcycled) tee shirts used to make floor doilies, floor grannies,  and the most attractive large family room rug reminiscent of the Babette Blanket

*a mash-up of knitted (but could be crocheted) scarves – chop them up and reassemble as you like

*an attractive use for all those tiny scraps of yarn and thread coiled into various decorative shapes for fun

*hacky sacks or baby toys made of pieces of knit or crochet like the aforementioned scarves

*a lovely shawl made from an old, round crocheted tablecloth

*scraps of rescued yarn (from a sweater and a sock) crocheted to create a cap topped with a flower for your puppy

*the pretties little pincusion made from rolled scraps of what look like swatch squares sewn together a la sushi rolls and sewn together.

However, nothing is off limits to this crew of artists.  Virtually every item that one could find in a home or garage, tool shed or classroom, has found its way into a ‘new’ design.  The projects range from practical to outrageous, from whimsical to kitchy.  No patterns or directions are given.  However, this book would be a wonderful resource for an avid craft recycler like me.  Listed in the back of the book are all the artists, websites, blogs, and a useful list of Recycle Centers for Alternative Art Materials.

Unlike most books that purport to be guides to recycling for crafting purposes, this book is sophisticated.  It’s not your Sunday school craft guide.  It’s a wide ranging overview of the possibilities, a guide to get you moving.  While I’ve seen some of these ideas on the net or in other books, I’ve never seen such a complete reference for craft recycling.  If you’re wanting to craft ‘green’, you gotta get your hands on this book.

For a taste of the kinds of projects in this book, check out the author’s website  www.extremecraft.com

BOOK STATS:

Author Garth Johnson

Quarry Books, 2009

320 pages with 1000+ color photos

ISBN 9781592535408

$25.00 USD

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Cropped Chunky Granny Stitch Cardigan Crochet Pattern

There is something about a chunky granny stitch cardigan that just feels instantly wearable, isn’t there? It has that lovely handmade texture we all adore, but it still looks modern enough to throw on with jeans, wide-leg pants, a simple dress, or, if you are feeling a little festival-ready, a floaty boho skirt and boots.

This boho granny stitch cropped cardigan crochet pattern has that perfect relaxed handmade look without feeling too oversized or shapeless. The cropped length keeps it flattering, while the open granny-style stitch gives it plenty of drape and texture. I especially love it worked in a soft sage green, because it gives the whole design a calm, earthy, slightly vintage feel without looking dated.

The design features a boxy cropped body, open front styling, wide sleeves, and a textured granny-style stitch pattern that gives the cardigan its statement look. It is the kind of crochet cardigan that looks impressive but still feels approachable if you are comfortable with basic crochet stitches and joining simple garment pieces together.

This is a lovely project for crocheters who want to move beyond scarves and blankets but are not quite ready for complicated shaping. The beauty of this style is that the relaxed fit is forgiving, which makes it a good first wearable project if you have been wanting to dip your toe into crochet clothing.

The chunky texture is also a bonus for impatient crocheters — and yes, I am raising my hand here. There is nothing worse than starting a cardigan and feeling like you have committed to a six-month relationship with one sleeve. This type of open stitch pattern builds quickly and gives you that satisfying “oh look, it’s actually becoming a cardigan” feeling fairly early on.

For yarn, I would choose something soft but structured enough to hold the stitch definition. A chunky or bulky yarn in cotton blend, acrylic blend, or wool blend would work beautifully depending on the season. Sage green gives it that boho handmade look, but this pattern would also be gorgeous in oatmeal, rust, denim blue, cream, mushroom brown, or a soft dusty rose.

If you are styling it for a modern boho look, pair it with sage wide-leg pants, a simple white tank, layered necklaces, and a crossbody bag. For cooler months, it would also look lovely over a fitted long-sleeve tee with jeans and ankle boots.

What I Like About This Pattern

The cropped length makes it feel fresh and wearable.

The granny stitch texture gives it a beautiful handmade look.

The open-front shape means there is no fussing with buttons or closures.

The wide sleeves add a relaxed bohemian feel.

It is a great project for crocheters who want a wearable garment without too much shaping.

Skill Level

I would place this as an advanced beginner to intermediate crochet pattern, depending on how confident you are with garment construction. The stitching itself appears beginner-friendly if you already know the basics, but assembling a cardigan and keeping your gauge consistent does require a little patience.

If you are new to crochet garments, take your measurements before starting, check gauge properly, and don’t skip blocking. I know blocking is one of those things we all pretend we are going to do “later,” but with a cardigan like this, it really helps the stitches relax and the edges sit nicely.