plastic bags

Oh this is very fasinating I have never heard of anyone doing this before, I think that they would look lovely but they sure would not fit my shopping in them, as my shopping is too big and I have never done this as I have never heard of this before.

My is doing similar things. She uses old clothes and other materials made of cloth to make rags by cutting them to smaller circles about 6" diameter and sew the pieces together. I know of a couple who is doing this as their business and they are doing pretty well.

I've made many of these types of rugs, and I use them by my back door (outside) and the door from the garage coming into the house. I find they are very durable and waterproof. I cut 2" strips of the bread bags, starting at the top of the bag and spiraling my way down to the bottom. Then I take a G or H crochet hook and crochet. I crochet them using a simple stitch so that they stay flat, and that way I don't have to do any sewing with a needle at all. I've made oblong ones, and rectangular ones, making them just as you would any crocheted rag rugs of those shapes. It's really easy, and fun to do. In the end, when you're done, you would never know that it was made out of used bread wrappers. I always buy the same brands of bread over and over, so the colors are consistant. (I buy a brand that has red, white and blue wrappers.) Try it Gerty, it's fun, and even the kids like to make them.

Plastic bag crochet seems to be an art unto itself. I don't crochet, but I tried to knit with strips from plastic grocery bags and found it hard to do, as the plastic doesn't act the same way as yarn. I kept making the stitches too tight. I do think it's smart to use up things like that to make things we can use. Our world is overflowing with trash, so why not recycle in our own homes?

We used to make them all the time when I was smaller. We knotted them together after we cut the strips. They are very sturdy. They make great rugs. You would be surprised at the dirt that is caught under these kinds of rugs. Shopping bags look cool but I dont think I want a purse made out of them. I sorta like my purse to be more "ME" LOL

Hey! I have crocheted with supermarket plastic bags. I have made a doormat and bowls! I just love creative recycling! CH

Sounds quite interesting. I haven't done what you mentioned, but I have made Christmas wreaths with the plastic bags. You cut them into rectangels, and then fold like a fan as you put a wire hanger through the middle. When done, you spray paint it, and add cones, balls or anything else you like. They are quite beautiful.

I have tried to save bread wrappers w/o success. Hubby tosses them before I even get my hands on them. The rugs are great. Not sure about the bags.

Wow! That is pretty impressive to make something out of plastic shopping bags. And here I thought I was doing good by saving money and using them as small trash can liners in the bathrooms! LOL But to make a purse and other things from the thin material that normally rips from a box that pokes through, that is really impressive! Nor have I heard of break wrappers being changed into rugs! I would like to see something like that to try to figure out how to do it myself!!! I might just have to look that one up! A new hobby for this coming summer! :) Thanks!

I will have to try this. I love throw rugs, I have them all over.This does sound like something that would work well in front of the door. I also love big bags. I would not use them for shopping so I can get more bags. This could be a great gift gor a new home ( the door mat idea) and a friend of mine just got an apartment, and this would be good for her. Thank you for this great idea, This is a reason I added you as a friend!

I have never done this, but I think it would be neat. I have seen it growing up but not now. The newest thing that I seen close to this was the Caprisun purses, I never bought one cause I don't carry a purse but I thought it was neat. I think I would enjoy learning how to do this, I would definately use it.

Gerty, I wasn't a member here 8 months ago when you started this discussion, so I'll chip in now. Yes, I have knitted clean plastic grocery bags on a circle loom to make useful little things such as door mats and bags. I love to do that sort of thing. The Handle is chained with a crochet hook.

Definitely sounds like something I would have done before I had a baby. I had so much free time it was ridiculous. I was always getting into time consuming crafts and such. Perhaps when she gets into school, I will have my free time back. Before then, I have to restrict myself to buying the stuff I need and not home-crafting them. Sounds interesting, though. Perhaps I will keep hold of the idea and use it later. I am always getting extra bags and never know what to do with them. Most times they just turn into extra bags for the small trash cans and nothing more. Always seems a waste not to recycle them better.

I saw an interesting one where a woman weaves things out of old audio and video tape. They had a gadget that allowed someone to hear sound when they ran the head of it over the rugs. It was pretty cool.

I have seen these from time to time at Craft Fairs, etc. and actually think they are quite interesting. Even thought once this would be something that I would be interested in trying. As far as I know, I have never owned one, but it would not bother me to own one.

I have tried a couple of times to do this. When I was a teen, I babysat for a woman who worked in a cafeteria. She saved the bread bags and crocheted them into rugs. They were great. She said they were the best rug to have in front of the door because they caught all the dirt from the shoes.

That does sound neat! I've never tried it but wouldn't mind giving it a try! I read the directions that someone else posted and it doesn't seem that hard... maybe I will give it a try!

I haven't done this; but I have made christmas wreaths from the plastice bags. Actually I use the handles . I tie them on a wire hanger that's been rounded to a nice shape. And then I add decorations. I've made 3 so far. This is a great way to recycle your bags. You can even cut the rest of the bag into the same size strips to use for the wreaths.

I hadn't thought of doing this before, but find it a very interesting idea. Like some of the others I have only been recycling my plastic bags as liners for the small trash cans, but I like the idea of making a rug out of them. I imagine they would be a little easier to clean them as you'd only have to spray them with the water hose, lol. Thanks for the crafty idea. :)

Wow this would be a good idea. But with them being plastic, how does this work? How do you sew them together without them ripping. I think I'll try it and so what happens. I love to knit, so I would try knitting them. I use them as garbage bags instead of buying bags. They fit perfectly in my garbage can. I double them though, because they seem to always have little holes in the bottom and then I get drippings from my garbage in the bottom of the can. To store them I roll them up into little balls and put them in another bag. This way they don't take up too much room.