McDonald’s purse

This is one of the few purses I knit instead of crocheting (read my comparison here). Back in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, my husband and I did some volunteer work with a disaster relief organization where some of the victims were relocated. Some of the meals we served were donated by McDonald’s and they provided a box of the bags they use for their to-go salad orders. The plastic bags happened to have a lot of lime green on them and just a touch of red and black. Since the disaster relief organization had no use for them after the meals were served, I asked if I could have them to repurpose and recycle for my Bags2Bags purses.

My daughter is partial to this shade of green and requested a knit bag (sized to fit a novel in addition to the regularly carried items) to be finished with the store-bought purse handles. Working with the McDonald’s plastic bags is a little more difficult because the plastic is thicker and stiffer than the average shopping (read more here). I rose to the challenge and repurposed the McD’s plastic and knit away to create a custom lime green handbag for my girl.

Wisconsin with love

Late last summer, we visited friends in Wisconsin for brunch. I gave Rita and Randy a mini snowman and Rita a purse. Fall was on its way so she chose a handbag in fall colors. I have made  several with yellows, oranges and browns. Each one of them has been unique.

Rita then surprised me by giving me a beautiful shawl she had knit. She is fairly new to knitting and has lots of fun meeting and knitting with other knitters in her home town. She’s been making shawls, dishcloths,slippers and afghans.She does beautiful work.Thanks Rita!

Ugg baby slippers

I do sometimes make things from material other than plastic. There are actually several other projects I have been working besides my crocheted plastic B2B purses. Here is one of them:

a knitted yarn version of Ugg booties for babies

I was searching for fun baby bootie patterns and came across this pattern for Ugg booties. The site could use some design help, but the pattern is worth it.

These are knit (all my plastic purses and totes are crocheted) and I found the pattern pretty easy to follow so you can make your own adorable little ugg boots for your baby (or for a gift). I used left over brown yarn and had some textured cream color yarn that makes the fluffy part look like the real fleecy lining. These are going in my box of gifts to be ready for the next baby who comes along.