We celebrate our planet all year round, but this time of year it feels extra special. Whether you are choosing eco-friendly yarns, making projects to reduce your impact on the environment or choosing to use digital patterns to limit your paper consumption, it all adds up! We thought it would be fun to feature some patterns that allow us to help Mother Nature in our own crafty ways.

Here are some knit and crochet ideas for those of us looking to save the world, one project at a time!

Cleaning products can produce quite a bit of waste. These patterns offer ways to reduce the number of single use cleaning pads and dusting cloths you use!

This reversible sweeper cloth has a fluffy side for getting the dust and loose bits and a smoother side for giving your spaces a good scrub down. Easy to use, it just slips over the broom like a sock!

©Linda Permann

Pattern: Reversible Swiffer Sock
Designer: Linda Permann
Craft: Crochet
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
Tools: H (5mm) hook
Suggested Yarn: WORSTED acrylic

Using cotton for durability and/or acrylic to create the static cling for trapping dust and hair, this crocheted sweeper pad uses strategic bobbles for attaching the cloth to the broom!

©Birdy Evans

Pattern: Swiffer Re-Usable Cloth
Designer: Birdy Evans
Craft: Knitting
Difficulty: Beginner/Advanced Beginner
Tools: US 7 (4.5mm) needles
Suggested Yarn: Lang Splash (77% cotton, 23% acrylic)

A super quick, good-for-leftover-yarn project, the duster sweeper cloth will fit on most handles and has a nice fluffy surface for getting all the gunk!

©Krysten Lewelling

Pattern: Biffer Duster Wig
Designer: Krysten Lewelling
Craft: Crochet
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
Tools: H (5mm) hook
Suggested Yarn: Knitting Fever Painted Cotton (100% Giza cotton)

The knitted duster features a fun loop stitch to create maximum dirt-grabbing surface area and even has little slots for the handle prongs!

©Sarah Burton

Pattern: Twisted Loop Double Knit Reusable Duster
Designer: Sarah Burton
Craft: Knitting
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate
Tools: US 6 (4mm) needles
Suggested Yarn: Berroco Comfort (50% acrylic, 50% nylon)

Another popular way to reduce our impact on the environment is through reusable grocery bags. This eliminates the need for plastic bags that take extra work to recycle and too often end up in landfills or waterways.

This knitted bag has a solid bottom so nothing slips out, and it looks fantastic in both solids and variegated colorways! Did you notice it also uses Size 10.5 and 15 needles? It will practically knit itself!

©Lady Rhiannon

Pattern: F208 Fantasy Naturale Market Bag
Designer: JoAnne Turcotte
Craft: Knitting
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
Tools: US 10.5 (6.5mm) needles, US 15 (10mm) 24” circular needles
Suggested Yarn: Plymouth Yarns Fantasy Naturale (100% mercerized cotton)

The perfect reusable grocery bag does exist! This stylish and sturdy mesh bag can handle the farmers market today and take you to the beach tomorrow. You’ll be looking for reasons to use it!

©Two of Wands

Pattern: French Market Bag
Designer: Alexandra Tavel
Craft: Crochet
Difficulty: Intermediate
Tools: G (4mm) hook
Suggested Yarn: Berroco Remix (30% nylon, 27% cotton, 24% acrylic, 10% silk, 9% linen)

If you’re looking for something with smaller holes, or a pattern than can double as an everyday tote bag, look no more! This bag is stylish, functional and reducing your need for plastic all in one!

©Cathy Phillips

Pattern: Lacy V Shopping Bag
Designer: Cathy Phillips
Craft: Crochet
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
Tools: F (3.75mm) hook
Suggested Yarn:  Blue Sky Fibers Organic Cotton Worsted (100% organic cotton)

Eliminating plastic bottles is a huge undertaking, but we can help by having reusable bottles with us. Here are a couple of patterns for making your bottles easier to travel with!

This knit mesh bag will give your reusable bottle a nice hug as you tote your beverage. No need for a plastic bottle with this guy around!

©Georgie Hallam

Pattern: Bishi
Designer: Georgie Nicolson
Craft: Knitting
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
Tools: US 6 (4mm) needles, US 7 (4.5mm)
Suggested Yarn: Schachenmayr Arizona (100% cotton)

Why do a standard mesh when you can make something so much more stylish? This simple crochet lace will stand out and keep your reusable bottle handy!

©Goddess Crochet

Pattern: What a Mesh Bottle Holder
Designer: Goddess Crochet
Craft: Crochet
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
Tools: H (5mm) hook
Suggested Yarn: Universal Yarns Clean Cotton Multi (85% cotton, 15% recycled polyester)

Another source of waste that isn't too difficult to reduce is paper towel usage. Having a washable option nearby for spills and messes can eliminate the need for single use products!

Sometimes, simple is best and this dishcloth is a prime example. Elegant and textured, this will be your go to cloth for any type of mess and will have you wondering why you ever thought you needed paper towels!

©Michelle Krause

Pattern: Copycat Dishcloth
Designer: Michelle Krause
Craft: Knitting
Difficulty: Beginner
Tools: US 8 (5mm) needles
Suggested Yarn: Blue Sky Fibers Multi Cotton (100% organic cotton)

A textured tea towel sized cloth is perfect for a quick counter top scrub or floor spill. Doesn’t hurt when it looks cute waiting to be used too!

©Jamey from Dabbles and Babbles

Pattern: Aligned Cobble Tea Towel
Designer: Jamey from Dabbles and Babbles
Craft: Crochet
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
Tools: H (5mm) hook
Suggested Yarn: Universal Yarns Cotton Supreme Batik or Waves (100% cotton)

Ditch the single use face wipes and whip up a few facial scrubbies instead! Use them, throw them in the wash and use them again! A pretty set in someone’s favorite colors would also make a fantastic gift!

This ingenious face scrubbie pattern has a handle so you don’t lose your grip on the little guys!

©Knits by West

Pattern: Facial Scrubbies
Designer: Deborah West
Craft: Knitting
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
Tools: US 5 (3.75mm) needles
Suggested Yarn: Blue Sky Fibers Printed Organic Cotton (100% organic cotton)

Using a puff stitch, this circular makeup remover pattern includes two sizes, and the products are as beautiful as they are functional!

©Kylie Moleta

Pattern: Stitched Up Make Up Scrubbies
Designer: Kylie Moleta
Craft: Crochet
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
Tools: G (4mm) or H (5mm) hook
Suggested Yarn: Blue Sky Fibers Organic Cotton Worsted (100% organic cotton)

How about a little challenge… Which one of these could you craft this month in honor of Earth Day? Do you have patterns you’d add to this list? Share what you’re working on in the comments below so we can spread inspiration and cheer you on!