APRIL NEWSLETTER

Hello, my friends! It’s good to have you here. Monday, April 22, is Earth Day, and I’ve designed a new produce bag collection to help make our everyday lives a little greener (more multicolored actually, as you’ll see).

My husband and I moved to Pocatello, Idaho, a few years ago to escape the hustle and bustle of city life in Denver. And while we’re loving the quiet, simple life out here in the country, one thing I do miss is the ample recycling opportunities we enjoyed back in Colorado.

I imagine it’s just part of life in a small town. With a smaller population, small towns aren’t able to support a large, robust recycling program. While the municipal waste management system here does provide a curbside recycling option for homeowners, the program doesn’t include apartment complexes.

So we’re left with fewer options when it comes to recycling. We’ve found a few drop-off locations for aluminum, glass, cardboard, and paper, but there’s no facility to collect plastic.

I decided the best option would be to limit the amount of plastic I purchase in the first place. When grocery shopping, I’ll opt for olive oil in a glass bottle over the oil in a plastic one, even if it’s a little more expensive. I’ll buy one bar of package-free soap instead of the plastic-wrapped 24-pack from Costco. And I make sure to bring along a few of my handmade produce bags so that I can opt for the loose fruits and veggies on my list instead of those in the plastic containers. I know it’s not perfect, and I’m sure I should do more, but it’s a start.

If, like me, you’re looking for small steps you can take to curb your plastic use, try switching to reusable shopping bags and produce bags. I’ve noticed that using my crocheted produce bags adds a touch of whimsy to my weekly shopping excursions. There’s something really sweet about carefully picking out individual mushrooms and placing them in my handmade bag. And then to see all the cute crochet bags lined up in my cart just makes me happy.

If you’d like to try your hand at crocheting your own produce bags, I have a treat for you! I’ve just released an eBook with a new produce bag pattern that features 10 unique filet crochet designs. Four of the designs are also available as individual patterns.

PATTERN NEWS

Celebrate Earth Day with These Brand-New Crochet Produce Bag Designs!

Get ready for your next trip to the farmer’s market or grocery store with filet crochet produce bags.

One of the things I love about filet crochet is how easily you can use it to customize a simple bag and make it truly your own. In this new produce bag pattern collection, you can choose from ten different designs (shown below), or create your own design using the blank chart to make a one-of-a-kind bag you’ll want to take everywhere.

How It’s Made

This drawstring bag is crocheted in the round from the bottom up, working on the right side throughout. After crocheting the mesh base, you’ll move on to the filet section. Each filet design is presented on its own page, which includes:

• written instructions for the first few filet crochet rounds to get you started

• photo of the finished crochet design

• full crochet filet chart for the design

• stitch key

• quick reference guide for how to work open and closed blocks

Once you’ve completed your filet crochet design for the sides of the bag, you’ll add a top edge using simple stitches while creating the holes through which a crochet drawstring can be threaded.

Pattern Details

Skill Level: Confident Beginner

Finished Measurements: 9 inches (23 cm) wide across top edge x 9 inches (23 cm) long, measured flat

Materials for One Bag

• Aunt Lydia’s Classic Crochet Thread Size 10 lace weight 100% mercerized cotton (350 yds/320 m per ball): 1 ball

• Size 4/0/1.75 mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge

• Tapestry/yarn needle

• 5/8 inch (16 mm) wooden round bead with 3/16 inch (5 mm) hole

Suggested Yarn Substitutes

Red Heart Classic Crochet Thread No. 10; Hobbii Rainbow Lace Yarn; Artiste #10 Cotton Crochet Thread; Scheepjes Maxi or Maxi Sugar Rush

This pattern includes

• Premium pattern pdf with professional full-color photographs

• List of abbreviations used, plus detailed instructions for special stitches and techniques

• 10 filet crochet charts, featuring fruits and vegetables, flowers, and popular geometric designs

• 1 bonus blank chart to help you draw your own design

• Tips to help you crochet filet designs that are balanced and look great

• How to read the crochet filet charts in this pattern

• Instructions for crocheting a simple drawstring and adding it to your bag

• Care tips for your bag

Whether you’re an expert with filet crochet or you’re trying it for the first time, you will love using this traditional technique to make unique bags you can use every day.

In addition to the eBook, you can also purchase the Green Grocer, Cherries, Flowers, and Strawberries Produce Bag patterns separately. Each one comes with a bonus design and a blank chart to design your own.

As a newsletter subscriber, you get 20% off each of these new patterns! Use coupon code EARTHDAY24 when you check out on Etsy or Ravelry now through the end of April.

Local Yarn Shop Day Is April 27

Don’t forget, Local Yarn Shop Day is next Saturday, April 27! I’m looking forward to checking out a shop that just opened a few months ago in downtown Pocatello.

The Knotty Twist is run by Alana Leonhardy, an entrepreneurial fiber enthusiast who is blind. The Idaho State Journal covered her journey to make her long-time dream of opening a yarn shop a reality in a recent article. Her story of planning the business, curating her yarn selection with the help of AI and assistive technology, and finding her place in the Pocatello fiber community is nothing short of inspirational.

Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter!

Having you in my crochet circle means so much to me. I aim to publish a new pattern every quarter and a new tutorial every month, but I’ll only send you crochet content that I think you will enjoy. In the meantime, you can contact me by replying to this email or crochet@JenniferOlivarez.com. I would love to hear from you!