Saturday, June 11, 2011

Plastic Bag Yarn


.myrecycledbags Photo Instructions

Instructions for cutting plastic bags & creating recycled plastic yarn

This process is a great way to recycle those old plastic bags into something useful. You can crochet or knit a cool tote bag similar to reusable promotional tote bags that are sold.
• Cutting
Lay recycled bag out flat
Fold in half lengthwise then fold in half again
Cut off top handles
Cut bag in strips about 1 inch wide or as desired
Set aside the end of bag where bottom edge was glued. The ends and the handles can be recycled either as stuffing for other projects, packing material for shipping, or taken to your local recycling bin for plastic bags.

• Tying strips together
Take two strips and inter-twine together
Gently pull on ends to knot two strips together
Connect next strip to last strip in the same manner
Continue connecting strips until you have a large ball of plastic “yarn”


Tips:
Pull ends evenly to create a smooth and flat strip.
If you find your strip doesn’t lie flat between knots, you didn’t pull
evenly which creates a bunched strip. Just make sure your strip is
even before you pull your knot tight between the two connected
strips. To fix a bunched strip, just loosen your knot between the strips
then pull on the ends again to make your strip flat and smooth.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Snow Peas


Snow Peas, Edible Podded Peas, and Sugar Snaps
Description - The pods of snow peas are flat and thin with the bulge of the tiny seed barely visible at prime eating stage.
The bright green pods should be turgid and crisp. They contain five to seven seeds and reach a length of two to three
inches. The pods of sugar snaps are plump like regular English peas but are sweet and tender, thus eaten whole
without being shelled, eaten raw or cooked. The vigorous growing vine is a legume.
Culture - Plant six to eight weeks before the last expected spring killing frost. Peas grow best in well-drained sandy soil.
Plant seed in single rows about one inch deep with seed spaced about five inches apart. Trellis the plants to support
the vines and keep pods from touching the soil. Maintain good soil moisture during bloom, pod set and pod fill for
tenderest, sweetest pods.
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Stir-fry snow peas
Serves 2 to 4
Ingredients:
8 - 10 ounces snow peas
1 tablespoon canola, olive, or peanut oil, or as needed
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 - 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (such as Kikkoman), to taste
Preparation:
Rinse the snow peas and trim the ends.
Heat the oil in a preheated wok or skillet on medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the finely chopped garlic. Stir-fry briefly until it is aromatic, then add the snow peas and salt.
Stir-fry briefly, then add the soy sauce. Stir-fry for another minute and serve. (Total stir-frying time for snow peas is about 2 minutes.)
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Chicken with snow peas
serves 3 - 4.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 37 minutes
Ingredients:
3/4 chicken meat (boneless, skinless chicken breasts are good)
Marinade:
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
1/2 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
Sauce:
1/3 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
Other:
6 - 8 ounces snow peas (mangetout)
1/4 -1/2 teaspoon salt, as desired
peanut or vegetable oil (canola is good) for blanching the chicken and stir-frying
Preparation:
1. Cut the chicken meat into large cubes. Add the marinade ingredients, adding the cornstarch last.
Marinate the chicken for 20 - 30 minutes.
2. While the chicken is marinating, prepare the sauce and ingredients. In a small bowl, combine the
sauce ingredients, whisking in the cornstarch. String the snow peas, rinse and pat dry with paper towels.
3. Heat the wok and add 1 1/2 cups oil. When the oil is hot, add the chicken cubes. Blanch in the hot oil for
about 30 seconds, using a spatula or long cooking chopsticks to separate the chicken cubes.
Remove the chicken cubes and drain.
4. Remove all but 2 tablespoons oil from the wok. Add the salt. Add the snow peas. Stir-fry until the snow peas turn bright green (about 2 minutes).
5. Add the chicken back into the pan. Give the sauce a quick re-stir and add in the middle of the wok, stirring quickly to thicken. When the sauce thickens, mix everything together. Heat through and serve hot.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Filet Crochet Courtship

courtship
Introduction Instructions

Starting at bottom of pattern chain 244. Chain 3 to turn which will count as first double crochet of first row. Double crochet in 5th chain from hook. Double crochet in next 2 chains to complete bottom right solid square of pattern. Continue following pattern for first row reading pattern right to left. After completing first row, chain 3 to turn to start next row. Continue following pattern until all rows are complete. At end of row 66 fasten off. (See "How to read pattern" below)

MATERIALS:
Crochet Cotton no. 5: about 684 yds, steel crochet hook US size 4 or SIZE FOR GAUGE.
Crochet Cotton no. 10: about 609 yds, steel crochet hook US size 7 or SIZE FOR GAUGE.
Crochet Cotton no. 20: about 572 yds, steel crochet hook US size 9 or SIZE FOR GAUGE.
Crochet Cotton no. 30: about 535 yds, steel crochet hook US size 11 or SIZE FOR GAUGE.
Fingering/Baby Weight: about 1336 yds, steel crochet hook US size F or SIZE FOR GAUGE.
Sport Weight: about 1550 yds, steel crochet hook US size G or SIZE FOR GAUGE.
Worsted Weight: about 1764 yds, steel crochet hook US size I or SIZE FOR GAUGE.

APPROXIMATE FINISHED SIZES:
Crochet Cotton size 5: width = 22.4 inches, height = 20.9 inches
Crochet Cotton size 10: width = 18.6 inches, height = 16.5 inches
Crochet Cotton size 20: width = 17.8 inches, height = 15.8 inches
Crochet Cotton size 30: width = 17.0 inches, height = 15.2 inches
Fingering/Baby Weight: width = 56.7 inches, height = 47.5 inches
Sport Weight: width = 64.8 inches, height = 54.1 inches
Worsted Weight: width = 72.9 inches, height = 60.7 inches

GAUGE:
Crochet Cotton size 5: 10 squares = 2.8 inches, 10 rows = 3.2 inches
Crochet Cotton size 10: 10 squares = 2.3 inches, 10 rows = 2.5 inches
Crochet Cotton size 20: 10 squares = 2.2 inches, 10 rows = 2.4 inches
Crochet Cotton size 30: 10 squares = 2.1 inches, 10 rows = 2.3 inches
Fingering/Baby Weight: 10 squares = 7.0 inches, 10 rows = 7.2 inches
Sport Weight: 10 squares = 8.0 inches, 10 rows = 8.2 inches
Worsted Weight: 10 squares = 9.0 inches, 10 rows = 9.2 inches

Courtship
Courtship Instructions
Starting at bottom of pattern chain 205. Chain 3 to turn which will count as first double crochet of first row. Double crochet in 5th chain from hook. Double crochet in next 2 chains to complete bottom right solid square of pattern. Continue following pattern for first row reading pattern right to left. After completing first row, chain 3 to turn to start next row. Continue following pattern until all rows are complete. At end of row 59 fasten off. (See "How to read pattern" below)
MATERIALS (based on crochet cotton size):
Crochet Cotton no. 5: about 514 yds, steel crochet hook US size 4 or SIZE FOR GAUGE.
Crochet Cotton no. 10: about 457 yds, steel crochet hook US size 7 or SIZE FOR GAUGE.
Crochet Cotton no. 20: about 429 yds, steel crochet hook US size 9 or SIZE FOR GAUGE.
Crochet Cotton no. 30: about 401 yds, steel crochet hook US size 11 or SIZE FOR GAUGE.
Fingering/Baby Weight: about 1003 yds, steel crochet hook US size F or SIZE FOR GAUGE.
Sport Weight: about 1163 yds, steel crochet hook US size G or SIZE FOR GAUGE.
Worsted Weight: about 1324 yds. steel crochet hook US size I or SIZE FOR GAUGE.
APPROXIMATE FINISHED SIZES:
Crochet Cotton size 5: width = 18.8 inches, height = 18.7 inches
Crochet Cotton size 10: width = 15.6 inches, height = 14.8 inches
Crochet Cotton size 20: width = 15.0 inches, height = 14.2 inches
Crochet Cotton size 30: width = 14.3 inches, height = 13.6 inches
Fingering/Baby Weight: width = 47.6 inches, height = 42.5 inches
Sport Weight: width = 54.4 inches, height = 48.4 inches
Worsted Weight: width = 61.2 inches, height = 54.3 inches
GAUGE:
Crochet Cotton size 5: 10 squares = 2.8 inches, 10 rows = 3.2 inches
Crochet Cotton size 10: 10 squares = 2.3 inches, 10 rows = 2.5 inches
Crochet Cotton size 20: 10 squares = 2.2 inches, 10 rows = 2.4 inches
Crochet Cotton size 30: 10 squares = 2.1 inches, 10 rows = 2.3 inches
Fingering/Baby Weight: 10 squares = 7.0 inches. 10 rows = 7.2 inches
Sport Weight: 10 squares = 8.0 inches, 10 rows = 8.2 inches
Worsted Weight: 10 squares = 9.0 inches, 10 rows = 9.2 inches
HOW TO READ PATTERN:
Each solid square is equal to 4 double crochets. Each open square is equal to 1 double crochet, followed by 2 chains, followed by 1 double crochet. The double crochet at the end of each square also counts as the first double crochet of the next square. For example, a solid square followed by an open square is 4 double crochets, 2 chains, 1 double crochet.
--runner
The chart for this table runner was designed by a male crochet designer,
Hugo Kirchmaier, in the year 1919.