Rose's Rows Crochet

Filet crochet is a sequence of meshes and solid spaces alternated to form a larger picture, as complex or simple as desired. The term "filet crochet" has been around since at least 1912, but this simple technique - made to mimic more complicated lace techniques and formerly called "square crochet" - has been around for much longer. It is versatile in both what you can make, and the fact that you can use nearly any kind of needlepoint graph, grid, or chart to create a filet crochet piece. You can even make your own on graph paper, or use websites like StitchFiddle to make a digital version. You can even reverse designs so that open squares are solid and vice versa for a different look. Written instructions for filet crochet exist but they are less common than the chart form, so this post will focus on how to read and interpret filet graphs and translate them to written form. Plain mesh is pretty simple to create - typically 1 dc, 2 ch, sk 2, repeat ad nauseam ,...

Got more plastic grocery bags than you know what to do with? Consider plarn (aka. plastic bag yarn)! Plarn is sturdy, washable, economical, and environmentally friendly. This tutorial leads you through flattening, cutting, and joining your plarn loops. I have personally made plarn market bags and  metal water bottle cozies , but it has a variety of applications, including sleeping mats for the homeless, rugs or doormats, and more. A cozy for a 3" bottle takes 20+ grocery bags, and a market bag close to 90 (!), so you can easily clear your bags out and save them from the landfill at the same time. How eco-friendly! So get ready to make some plarn with me below! You can choose to just use the video, but the text instructions have some additional tips to get nice even plarn, plus the minute/second markers from the video where the different steps happen. 0:00 - Flattening Start by laying your bag out with handles pointing towards your dominant (scissor-using) si...