Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Upcycle For Fun!

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If you’re like me, you’ve got a lot of both of these on hand:

cro canvas bag

Well, maybe the little motifs you have on hand are not flowers.  But, the idea remains the same.  You have an ugly bag, you add some pretty crocheted motifs onto it (either with glue or by sewing) and you instantly have a stunning upcycled bag that you’ll be excited to carry!

upcycled canvas bag with crochet

You can get the super simple instructions for creating this cute tote from Elise’s blog here.

This idea would work well for those small granny squares you’ve made, for a few fridgies you’ve experimented with, or even for some swatches you’ve worked up.  In Elise’s example, she’s glued the flowers to the bag.  That works well most of the time.  You just need to use the right glue for the project.  I’d stay away from hot glue, although it can be used in small quantities to anchor the crocheted motifs.  But I’d also use a more durable (and perhaps flexible) glue, using a few dots of hot glue to hold the motifs in place while the fabric glue or E6000 Craft Glue  or something similar takes time to dry.  I am a huge fan of Aleene’s Flexible Stretchable Glue, but others should work fine.

 

 

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Comments

  1. The bag is absolutely adorable! I love the way it went from(I must agree, an ugly bag) to an adorable one! Such a simple idea and so cute! Thank you for sharing this with us.
    Hugs, Paula

  2. I loved the idea… But I don’t like to glue anything made of fiber. For me, it’s better to sew (and I prefer to sew by hand): permanent when I want it to be permanent, temporary when I want it to be temporary… and fully recyclable, LOL

  3. What a great idea!
    I’ m glad to find your Blog, there are so many pretty things I like. Thank’s for charing all these.

    Hugs
    Birgit

Have you read?

Pattern Review: Georgie Granny Square Bucket Hat Crochet Pattern

The Georgie Granny Square Bucket Hat Crochet Pattern is one of those fun wearable crochet projects that has just the right mix of retro charm and modern festival style. If you have been seeing granny square bucket hats popping up everywhere and thinking, “I could make that,” this pattern is a lovely place to start.

This crochet bucket hat is worked in the round using granny-style clusters, giving it that familiar textured look without requiring you to join lots of separate squares. That is a definite win if, like me, you enjoy the look of granny motifs but don’t always feel emotionally prepared for a mountain of seams and ends.

The pattern uses worsted weight #4 yarn, with cotton or a cotton blend recommended, which makes sense for a summer hat. Cotton gives the hat a bit more structure and keeps it feeling breathable rather than floppy and sweaty. You’ll need around 80g of yarn, a 5.5mm crochet hook, scissors, and a yarn needle. The finished hat is designed to fit a head circumference of approximately 51–55cm / 20.1–21.7 inches, which puts it in the adult small/medium range.

What I like about this pattern is that it includes practical fit notes rather than pretending every head and every crocheter’s tension is magically the same. The granny mesh has stretch, and the pattern suggests trying the crown on after Round 5 before continuing with the body section. That is such a useful little check-in point, especially with hats, because nobody wants to finish the whole thing only to discover it either perches on top like a teacup or slides down over your eyes like a lampshade.

The instructions are written in US crochet terms and include a clear stitch key covering chains, clusters, double crochet, repeats, slip stitches, and spaces. The pattern also explains how the rounds are closed, how the beginning chain functions, and how to count the clusters at the end of each round, which is helpful for keeping the shape on track.

The construction is straightforward: you begin at the crown, continue down into the sides, and then work the brim. The brim shaping comes from an increase round that helps kick the edge outward into that classic bucket hat shape. Rounds 15–17 then hold steady to smooth out the brim edge, giving the hat a neat finish without making the shaping feel overly complicated.

I would call this an easy to confident beginner crochet pattern rather than a very first crochet project. You’ll want to be comfortable working in the round, counting repeats, and making double crochet clusters. Once the rhythm clicks, though, it becomes a relaxing, repeat-friendly project — the sort of crochet you can work on while half-watching TV, provided you don’t lose count during the increase rounds. Ask me how I know.

This pattern also has great colour-play potential. The yellow version feels sunny and wearable, the scrap yarn version has brilliant festival energy, and a red-and-green version would make a surprisingly cute Christmas market hat. It would also be a good stash-busting crochet project if you have leftover cotton yarns hanging around from dishcloths, bags, or summer tops.

Overall, the Georgie Granny Square Bucket Hat is a cheerful, wearable crochet pattern with strong Etsy appeal. It hits that sweet spot between nostalgic granny square style and modern handmade fashion, making it a great pattern for festival outfits, summer wardrobes, handmade gifts, and market sellers looking for a trendy crochet accessory.

Best for: confident beginners, granny stitch lovers, summer crochet projects, festival fashion, scrap yarn makes, and crocheters who want a wearable project that feels fun rather than fussy.