Each photo below is thumbnailed, click on photo to view larger size
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 totes 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 as shown
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.
This is such a great idea – we have used your information and some of your patterns on our site about living a green life in Australia!
At times I feel like my kitchen is swamped with these bags, even though I am not much of a crafter this really does look simply enough to follow! I will give it a go and cut back on the bags that I use the shops with the new bag I plan to make!
Thank you again – and the doormat idea is also a really good one too. The cat will love to laze around on something new now!
http://www.mygreenaustralia.com/2009/10/plastic-bag-craft/
.-= Rebecca´s last blog ..Plastic Bag Craft =-.
This is so easy to do!!! I need my mom to teach me how to knit but this was fun and e-z to do. I have already done 7 bags in about 10 minutes!!
Thanks!
I am making your bag as we speak 😀 Thank you so much for the pattern .. I love it!!!
Cindy…thank you for sharing all of this. I’m so happy!
I love this idea. I’m looking to make a beach bag, and I think plarn would be an awesome material for it. Thanks!
I am so impressed by Plarn !! You have really inspired me 🙂
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It’s great to see others have the same ideas!! (I love the term PLARN) I’ve toying with making netted bags out of the plastic bags but found it quite tedious as I was using the “crochet” pattern for netting. So thank you for simplifying this process…
Cheers Zinda
I have been making and crocheting with plarn for 7 years….make great door mats and tote bags…..great to see so many others excited about recycling the plastic bags
Thank you for sharing this wonderful information. I love recycling ideas.
The book I wrote is printed on recycled paper. It is entitled:
Purposeful (Not Random) Acts of Kindness (AKA Beginning Steps for Overcoming Spoiled Brat-aholism). It is a book of 52 “common sense rules” told in a humorous manner.
Love the patterns for plarn and other recycled crochet material. I found this site by accident and have never thought of crocheting with anything but yarn. creativity is not my strong suit but I am excited and cannot wait to crochet my first project using plarn.
I have been using plarn for over two years now, and amazingly this summer so far the response of those who pass by my booth has been tremendous. I also use the black video casette tape in my totes. In the sunlight they simply dazzle. A woman came to my booth just two days ago and was so impressed with the work i had on display ( 56 ) different patterns and varieties. She took my name and number and told me she worked for our local newspaper and she would be getting back in touch with me for a feature story. I am very excited about getting the word out there, but my efforts to begin a small co-op of plarn and recycle up-cycle crafters has failed. I will keep up the good fight and wish you all very well. and thanks for all the ideas and how to’s.
AWESOME!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
I love this idea! My ‘old’ idea wastes all that good shopping bag use, and this is SO much better! Thank you!
Thanks for the information on making plarn. About 25 years ago my Great Grandmother gave me a padded coat hanger she bought at a street stall which was made from knitted sandwich bags. I still have it, it is still in good condition and I use it every day.
I have read that some of u dont know what to do with the leftover plastic after making plarn (plastic bag yarn). Here is what I do I take one of the plastic bags and put the leftovers in it and take it to my local store for recylcing. (here super value and walmart has recycling of the plastic bags).
This is soooo cool. I can’t wait to try it. 🙂
I was looking for recycling materials for a college project, and I think this would do it! I’m planing to weave with plarn and I’m wondering though, if it’s possible to sew over this. I see your bags are lined with fabric, so it might work? And, what would you use for sewing two weaved pieces? (meaning, two plastic pieces together)
Thanks!
@Soledad:
It is hard to machine sew over the crocheted plarn as it is very thick. My linings are hand sewn in and when I do it I just use a heavy needle and stitch into the plastic a bit to hold the lining in place. Its still pretty hard going. As far as what to use to sew two pieces together, I would use that clear nylon thread which is like fishing twine. I’m not sure what it’s called but its strong and doesn’t shown much.
Best wishes and good luck with your project.
This is a much easier way of cutting the bags. I was cutting a big spiral slowly by hand, time consuming! I used my plarn to weave a bag. It is currently still on my loom but I’m going to wait until I weave a few more (with plarn cut in the easier way) until I either run out of plarn or my warp!
Thanks for the detailed instructions, I can’t wait to give this a try!
Thank you for providing this information. Both of my daughters are in Girl Scouts and this would be a great Eco/Craft project for them to work on. AND, finally, a craft I can do without having to go out and buy supplies. I have everything on hand for this already!
Whenever I make plarn I first fold the bag so there is about two to three inches along one edge.((this is of course after I cut the bottom and handles off. Then I fold the folded end up to meet the previous folded area. Then I cut to the edge of the last folded part so there is still the two to three inches left then I open the bag up and along the now four to six inches I cut diagonally from one slit to the next making a continuous piece for me to use