crochet
crochet idea
crochet with plastic grocery bags
plarn
plastic grocery bags
recyle plastic grocery bags
reuse plastic bags
yarn from plastic bags
Plarn - Make Yarn From Plastic Trash Bags! Go green!
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
January 22, 2011 6:33pm CST
I don't remember if it was here or not, but if not, I bet there are many of you out there that would like to know about this. I had heard some were looking for how to crochet using the plastic "t-shirt" style grocery bags.
Well, I stumbled on this today and although no patterns, it does show how to cut the bags and make "plarn" and if you know how to crochet...you can probably create a pattern of your own. Good luck to any that give it a try! And if you don't crochet, make the log "plarn" and give it to someone that does! A great way to reuse those plastic bags.
http://www.squidoo.com/browse/show/greencrafts
1 person likes this
10 responses
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
23 Jan 11
I've heard of doing this, some people make welcome mats for the doors inside, I've heard of others making little rugs for the kitchen and someone else crocheted a reusable shopping tote out of them. Since I use them for trash and the like I haven't been too much into using them this way. Sometimes, when I get too many, I will take them back to the store to be recycled.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Jan 11
The grocery I go to has this rewards thing for points based on purchase and then redeemed for cash (to use at the store) and they give 5 points per bag you bring back and use up to 10 per visit. I currently have $25 of free money to spend there next month! I bring in bags every time I shop...they only give credit for 10 bags or less, but hey, if you go in for just a few things and only use 4 bags, that 40 points and I think it is kind of100 pts equals a dollar once you pass 500 points or something like that. They pay per calender quarter so it is easy to collect $25 each quarter.
I also use them for trash bags and for packing material when I pack things away. I keep a few in the trunk of the car for emergencies...like when my little grand daughter threw up in the back seat...!
1 person likes this
@marsha32 (6631)
• United States
24 Jan 11
I have bags and bags of bags cut into strips in my closet to make into plarn. I got on the kick for a bit and made several projects. After cutting all my bags and sorting it by colors I got into something else.
I love squidoo though and I'm right off to check out the lens. Thanks for taking the time to share it.
Marsha
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Jan 11
I'm a Squidooer myself!
It might take time to make enough plarn to complete a project. But ask others to save theirs for you...might get some good colors you might not have! But for me...collecting the materials on something like this and not being able to start the project for some time, eventually, like you..I'd venture off to something else too.
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
23 Jan 11
That was quite interesting. Thanks for sharing that. I would like to see what a finished product would be like. What would be good candidates for a plarn project? I'm thinking about the fact that plarn is still plastic. If you have a scarf or something like that, it may be primarily water proof, but it won't breath well, which might make it uncomfortable.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Jan 11
ONly thing I have seen made out of them is tote bags or purse related items. Rugs is another things..like for the back door outside. Someone said shirts, but I would think that would be rather scratchy, sweaty and uncomfortable. A christmas tree skirt would be a good thing...make a huge "rug" and then put that on the floor and then your tree and then your decorative tree skirt and it would protect the carpet from water (live tree only!) and then you'd have extra help in collecting the needles that fall off!
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
23 Jan 11
Wow! I have seen the purses made out of bags....and they are pretty nice! Last summer someone was making them at our campgrounds...I wonder how it would feel though wearing a shirt made from bags.....I think it would be very warm! Thanks for sharing the link!
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Jan 11
Never seen shirts made out of them, but not sure I'd like that! Would be to hot,sweaty and scratchy! But hey, whatever a person decides. I have only seen them made to totes/purses. It'd be a great project for any kids group (or adult!), crocheting is pretty easy for just the single or double crochet stitch
@my52cents (569)
• United States
23 Jan 11
Crocheting seems to be coming back into vogue these days and I'm so glad, especially with this fabulous idea. I have a huge bag full of plastic bags and I could do this! Thanks so much for the link and the idea!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Jan 11
I used to crochet...everything, back in the day! But not anymore. Vision problem you know! But it is a great way to use up the bags!
@curtangel (108)
• United States
23 Jan 11
That's awesome! I guess that probable wouldn't work for knitting - that's primarily what I know how to do. I once came across a video with instruction on how to make a kind of plastic "fabric" by ironing together plastic bags to make them thicker - I've always wanted to try it, but never have. My daughter crochets a bit, though - I could maker her the plarn and have her make a welcome mat.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Jan 11
I used to be a excellent crocherer back in the day and only didn't learn knitting cause they were so similar...I think it'd work for knitting also. Just roll them a little tighter as you use the length. Maybe save the bags and make the plarn for her and then give her the big rolls and say "mother's day is coming up...I need some heavy duty tote bags!"
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
23 Jan 11
I make cute little bags out of them by cutting the used grocery bag into strips and weaving them together into "fabric" on a circle loom. I save every single shopping bag and reuse all of them in some way. The cleanest ones in the prettiest colors end up being utility bags. They are quite handy and not unattractive. In fact I posted a photo of one of mine in some discussion here years ago.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Jan 11
Ive seen them only made into tote bags or related size. Yeah, since there are so many different color plastic bags out there, you could make different lengths and make a design easily.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
4 Jun 11
I did try doing that the other year. It's not the easiest to work with and once in a while you'd break a spot in your ball of plarn. I dunno it isn't for me I guess.
@buggles64 (2709)
• United States
23 Jan 11
This is cool..My grandmother use to make crocheted rugs out of bread bags. She would cut them up in strips, and tie them together and make kitchen rugs...they were pretty cool looking!! She also use to take bleach bottles and make totes out of those...she was very creative.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Jan 11
yeah, we used to do so many things out of other stuff back in the day! Remember the piggy banks out of bleach bottles?
@machivado (528)
• Indonesia
23 Jan 11
That's amazing...a simple idea, however if it can be implanted in all countries it really could make much difference to environment...imagine how much plastic bags will be reduced.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Jan 11
It is a great way to recycle, but at the same time...just a matter of time before the item made from this gets tossed in the trash too. I just don't understand why they can't take this kind of plastic and recycle it into something else..flower pots or something like that.
