Apr
Dishcloths Are Actually Where You Should Start
okay so dishcloths seem boring but they’re literally the most useful thing you can make and you’ll actually use them. I made like fifteen of them in spring 2022 when I was stuck at home with covid and honestly they’re still in my kitchen drawer right now. The cotton ones work way better than those synthetic sponges that start smelling weird after three days.
You want to use 100% cotton yarn for these because acrylic will just melt if you put hot pans on it or whatever. I usually grab Lily Sugar’n Cream because it’s cheap and everywhere – Target, Walmart, even some grocery stores have it. Peaches & Creme is basically the same thing, different brand. They’re like $2-3 per ball and one ball makes about two dishcloths depending on size.
The basic pattern is just single crochet back and forth until you have a square. Start with a chain of like 30 stitches, then single crochet across, chain one, turn, repeat until it’s square shaped. The annoying thing about dishcloths is you really gotta weave in the ends properly or they come undone in the wash, and I hate weaving in ends with a passion. Sometimes I just tie them and trim them short which probably isn’t the “right” way but it works.
Market Bags That Actually Hold Stuff
The mesh market bags are super practical if you remember to bring them to the store which I definitely don’t always do. But when I do use them people always ask where I got them. I made my first one summer 2024 and used it so much the handles started stretching out because I used regular acrylic yarn instead of cotton.
For market bags you want cotton again – I used Bernat Handicrafter Cotton for one and it held up really well. The pattern is basically making a big rectangle with chain spaces (chain 2, skip 2, single crochet, repeat) so you get that net effect. Then you fold it and seam up the sides and add handles.
The handles are the tricky part because they need to be sturdy. I usually chain like 40-50 stitches then single crochet back along the chain for like 3-4 rows to make a thick strap. Attach them securely to the bag – I mean really secure, not just a couple stitches, because you’re gonna put heavy stuff in there and nobody wants their groceries on the ground.
Pot Holders Because Apparently Adults Need These
I didn’t own pot holders until I made some myself which is kind of embarrassing but whatever. I just used dish towels before and burned my hands regularly. Made a set of pot holders in like fall 2023 and they’re thick enough to actually protect your hands.
You need to make these THICK. Like two layers thick minimum. What I do is make two squares of double crochet (works up faster than single crochet) and then single crochet them together around the edges. Use cotton yarn again – seeing a pattern here with the cotton. Red Heart is fine for these, doesn’t have to be fancy.
Add a little loop in one corner so you can hang it up. Just chain 10 or so and attach it while you’re doing the edging. Super simple but makes it way more functional because otherwise where do you even put pot holders when you’re not using them.
Baskets For All Your Random Stuff
Storage baskets are genuinely useful and you can make them custom sizes for whatever space you’re trying to fill. I have them on my bookshelf, in the bathroom, next to the couch – they just corral stuff that would otherwise be chaos.
The key to making baskets that actually stand up is using two strands of yarn held together or a really bulky yarn. I’ve used Bernat Blanket for bigger baskets and it works great. You can also use t-shirt yarn which is fun but kinda annoying to work with because it’s so thick and your hands get tired.
Start with a circle or oval base – magic ring, increase rounds until it’s the size you want. Then stop increasing and just work even rounds going up to make the sides. If you want it to have more structure, don’t make the sides perfectly straight – angle them out slightly by doing occasional increases, or angle them in for a bowl shape.
I made a rectangular basket once by starting with a chain foundation and it was… fine but circles are easier honestly. The rectangular one wanted to collapse on itself and I had to stuff it with plastic bags to make it hold its shape which defeated the purpose of having a basket.
Coasters Because Furniture Is Expensive
Coasters take like 15 minutes to make and they actually protect your tables from water rings. I made a bunch while watching The Bear season 2 – needed something mindless to do with my hands and coasters are perfect for that.
Just make small circles or squares, maybe 4 inches across. Cotton or acrylic, doesn’t really matter for coasters. I kind of prefer acrylic because it dries faster if it gets wet. The granny square pattern works good for these, or just a simple circle of double crochet.
You can make them match your decor or whatever but honestly I just use up scrap yarn for coasters. Nobody cares what they look like as long as they catch the condensation from your drink.
Washcloths and Face Scrubbies
Same concept as dishcloths but smaller and you use them on your face. Cotton yarn only – Lily Sugar’n Cream again or I’ve used We Are Knitters cotton which is softer but more expensive. The texture of the crochet stitches is good for gentle exfoliation or whatever.
Make them small, like 4×4 or 5×5 inches. Big enough to hold comfortably but not so big it’s awkward. Single crochet makes a tighter fabric that works better for washcloths than double crochet.
I made a set of these during a really bad breakup in winter 2023 and having a nice face cloth routine was actually kinda helpful for feeling like I had my life together even though I definitely didn’t. Not to get deep about washcloths but sometimes small stuff matters.
Oh and make a bunch because you’re gonna want to wash them frequently. I made like 10 so I always have clean ones available.
Plant Hangers If You’re Into That
Macrame plant hangers are technically not crochet but you can make crocheted ones that work pretty well. I made one for my pothos plant and it’s been hanging in my living room for like a year now.
Use a sturdy cotton yarn or jute twine. The pattern is basically making long chains that you attach to a ring at the top, then you create a netted holder for the pot by connecting the chains together at intervals. It’s hard to explain without showing you but there are patterns online that make sense once you see the pictures.
The thing that annoyed me about making plant hangers is getting the lengths even. If one chain is longer than the others your pot hangs crooked and it looks bad. Measure as you go or count your chains carefully.
Headbands That Stay On
Ear warmer headbands are practical for cold weather and they actually stay on your head better than hats sometimes. I made one with Red Heart Super Saver in like 2021 and wore it constantly that winter.
Measure around your head first – you want it snug but not tight. Chain enough to reach around your head with a bit of stretch, then work back and forth in whatever stitch pattern you want. Half double crochet works good because it’s thick but not too stiff. Make it like 3-4 inches wide.
Join the ends together to make a loop. You can sew them or slip stitch them closed. Some people add buttons or decorations but I just leave mine plain because I’m gonna shove it in my coat pocket anyway.
Coffee Cup Sleeves
These are kinda gimmicky but if you get coffee out a lot they’re actually nice to have. Plus they take like 20 minutes to make so it’s not a huge investment. I made a few as gifts and people seemed to like them.
You’re basically making a rectangle that wraps around a paper coffee cup. Measure your cup, make a chain that goes around it, work in rows until it’s tall enough to cover the cup area. Join it into a tube or leave it flat with a button closure.
Acrylic yarn is fine for these. Cotton works too but takes longer to dry if it gets wet. I used Caron Simply Soft for mine because it’s… soft and doesn’t irritate your hands when you’re holding your coffee.
Scrubby Pot Scrubbers
You can buy that Red Heart Scrubby yarn that’s specifically designed for pot scrubbers and it actually works. It’s scratchy acrylic that won’t scratch your pans but will scrub off stuck food. My cat tried to steal one off the counter once because I guess it looked like a toy.
Just make flat circles or squares with the scrubby yarn. Single crochet in a spiral until it’s the size you want. That’s it. Use them with dish soap to clean pots and pans. They last forever and you can throw them in the washing machine when they get gross.
I made like six of these and gave half to my mom who was skeptical but then admitted they work better than the sponges she was buying.
Grocery Bag Holders
If you’re someone who saves plastic grocery bags this is useful. It’s basically a tube with holes that you stuff bags into from the top and pull them out from the bottom. Keeps them contained instead of having a weird bag full of bags under your sink.
Make a long tube – chain enough to go around comfortably, join into a ring, then work in rounds going up. Use a stitch pattern with holes like chain spaces so the bags can breathe and don’t get musty. Make it like 18-24 inches long.
Add a loop at the top to hang it on a hook. Close the bottom with a drawstring or just make the opening smaller so bags don’t fall out but you can still pull them through.
Laptop or Tablet Sleeves
These actually protect your devices and you can make them custom sized. I made one for my laptop with some chunky acrylic yarn I had leftover from another project – I think it was Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick but I’m not totally sure.
Measure your device and add like an inch for ease. Make a rectangle that’s double the height of your device plus a couple inches for the flap. Work in single crochet or half double crochet for a tight fabric that won’t catch on stuff.
Fold it up and seam the sides. Add a button or snap closure on the flap. Line it with fabric if you want extra protection but honestly the yarn itself provides decent padding.
The annoying thing about these is making sure your tension is consistent so it doesn’t come out wonky shaped. If your tension varies your sleeve will be wider on one end than the other and your laptop will slide around.
Reusable Produce Bags
Similar to market bags but smaller for produce. The mesh design lets the checkout person see what’s inside and lets your vegetables breathe so they don’t get slimy in the fridge.
Make small bags with the same chain space technique as market bags. Add a drawstring top so you can close them. I use cotton yarn and make them in different sizes – small for mushrooms or green beans, medium for apples, large for like a head of lettuce or whatever.
These take a bit more time than dishcloths but they’re still pretty quick projects. And you feel slightly less guilty about plastic waste even though we all know the real problem is corporations not individuals but… anyway.
I made a set of six bags and actually do use them most of the time when I remember to grab them before going to the store which is maybe 60% of the time so better than nothing I guess.
