15 Useful Crochet Projects for Everyday Life
The following article may contain affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase from these links, I may receive affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend yarns which I believe are sustainable and suitable for the pattern.
One of the best things about crochet is being able to use the skill to make something functional that helps our everyday lives. I specifically love looking for useful crochet projects that will allow me to make zero waste swaps in my home or that will save me from buying something made from synthetic materials. Here is a list of 15 practical crochet patterns that I love.
When we have the skills to make things ourselves it means we can choose the materials that we want to use, to make them more sustainable, and choose the colours that we like, to match them with our home decor.
Which Yarns to Choose for Useful Projects?
Most of the crochet patterns listed here use cotton yarns and this is the best choice for making something that you will use and wash over and over. Cotton is a natural fibre but also hard wearing which makes it perfect for functional crochet items.
Which Cotton Yarns Are Best?
Which cotton yarns are sustainable though? Is standard cotton ok? It depends. If you already have cotton yarn in your stash, then use it up. Make sure you don’t leave it sat there waiting to be used. As long as it is 100% cotton you’re good to go.
If you need to buy some cotton yarn for one of these useful crochet projects then the most sustainable options are recycled cotton or organic cotton. Here are some of my favourites. Make sure you check the weight to see if it matches with your chosen project.
Yarn Suggestions
Free Crochet Hedgehog Pincushion - Chai Coffee Crochet
Cute and useful! I absolutely love this hedgehog pincushion. It’s an easy beginner crochet project with minimal sewing and once you’ve made it you will probably keep it forever. Make it even more functional and sustainable by stuffing it with yarn ends and scraps of material.
Daisy Clutch Crochet Project - The Crafty Therapist
So many purses and clutches are made using artificial leather that simply ends up shedding micro plastics everywhere. Why not make your own more sustainable purse with this versatile and useful crochet project. Make it the same size for a clutch or smaller for a purse.
Flat Out Crochet Makeup Bag - Doradoes
A super functional, circular crochet makeup bag pattern that opens out completely flat making it easy to see what’s inside. It also adjusts its shape to suit all the contents. Brilliant! It’s on my ‘to make’ list.
Free Produce Bag Pattern - byGoldenberry
One of the most useful projects I’ve crocheted for our house so far. These produce bags have saved me so many plastic bags and I absolutely love using them. If you use lace weight hemp, linen or cotton yarn they are also easily washable and super lightweight.
Crochet Water Bottle Holder - Blackstone Designs
If you’re planning a holiday soon or even just a hike in your local area, this water bottle holder will the best thing you take with you. The pattern includes 3 reinforced strap sizes and 2 bottle sizes to adjust to your needs. A phone pocket is attached with d-rings which allows you to also hook your keys keeping both hands free.
Practical Crochet Bowl Cozy - Simply Hooked by Janet
This super useful crochet pattern is perfect for protecting your hands against very hot or very cold bowls. Whether it’s soup from the microwave or ice cream from the freezer. The pattern includes 3 different sizes to choose from and make sure you use a 100% cotton or another natural fibre if you plan on putting it in the microwave.
Crochet Eyeglass Case - A Crocheted Simplicity
Save your reading glasses from getting scratched up with these really functional cases. The pattern uses worsted weight yarn and shows you two ways to close the case so you can use it to hold your crochet hooks instead.
Easy Soap Saver Crochet Pattern - byGoldenberry
A soap saver crochet project is one that you will keep in your files forever and this particular pattern is super easy to make. You can choose any weight of yarn up to DK to make it with and any hook to suit the yarn you have chosen. Before you know it, you will have made another small useful zero waste swap.
Cotton Yarn Pads - Hookfully
You will never want to use standard cotton wool pads again once you’ve made your own cotton yarn pads. They feel so lovely on your skin and you can use them over and over again saving loads of waste going to landfill.
Crochet Hand Towel - My Crochet Space
A crochet project for something that you will use every single day. You can make them any colour you like to suit your home aesthetic and modify the size to make it ideal for you. They’re useful as a hand towel, kitchen towel or dish towel.
Fallen Leaves Coaster Pattern - Stitch by Fay
Use a worsted weight cotton yarn to make some of these gorgeous coasters for your home. By using cotton yarn you are making sure that they are durable, absorbent, washable and heat resistant.
Crochet Chair Socks - Knitting with Chopsticks
Swap those felt, disposable pads on the bottom of chair legs for these reusable, cute chair socks. They are super easy to make, protect your chairs and the floor from scratching and keep the house quiet. The best part is they are easily washable.
Rosemary Pot Holder - The Crochet Village
This pot holder crochet project is super useful for keeping your hands safe from taking hot pans out of the oven or as a heat mat to protect your surfaces. Use a worsted weight cotton yarn or another yarn made of natural fibres to make sure it is heat resistant.
Crochet Flower Bookmark - Golden Lucy Crafts
I don’t know about you but I’m always using bits of paper (that I end up losing) to hold my page in a book. I would love to have a flower bookmark instead that won’t get lost as easy. All we need is a light/DK yarn.
Crochet Doorstop Pattern - Made by Gootie
A quick to work up useful crochet project. Line the bottom with something heavy like small stones, beans or rice and fill the rest with left over yarn, scraps of material or old clothes that can’t be fixed.
