Handmade Recycled Fabric Crochet Bags: Sustainable Style

recycled fabric crochet bags

Plastic bags are a huge source of pollution, with only 1% of them being recycled. A great way to reduce, reuse and recycle is to turn them into plarn (plastic yarn) and crochet them into bags. Plarn is made by cutting plastic bags into strips and stringing them together. It's a sturdy and durable material, and you can make a variety of pretty and useful items with it, including shopping bags, placemats, coasters, and even bracelets. You can also crochet bags from t-shirt yarn, or cotton yarn, which is strong and long-lasting.

Characteristics of Recycled Fabric Crochet Bags

Characteristics Values
Materials Plastic grocery bags, t-shirt yarn, cotton yarn
Durability Strong and long-lasting
Environmental Impact Reduces carbon footprint and plastic waste
Cost A crochet bag made from scratch costs around $10
Maintenance Easy to wash and dries quickly
Design Wide handles, dense stitching, gapless, adjustable size

cycrochet

How to make 'plarn' (plastic yarn) from plastic bags

Plarn, or plastic yarn, is made by cutting plastic bags into strips and tying them together to form a long single strand. It is a great way to recycle plastic bags and create sturdy and durable crochet crafts. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make plarn from plastic bags:

Preparing the Plastic Bags

Lay out a plastic bag and flatten it by tucking in the side seams and smoothing it out. It is best to use thin plastic bags, as they are easier to work with. Cut off the very bottom of the bag, as well as the top of the bag where the handles are, and the bottom above the seam. This will result in a rectangular shape.

The Slit Skirt Method

Place the bag with the closed ends at the top and bottom and the open ends on each side. Cut the bag into strips, approximately 1/2 to 1 inch wide, starting from the bottom fold and working towards the other end. Leave about an inch of uncut space at the top. This will result in a "hula skirt" shape with a closed top edge. Open up the bag to a single layer, revealing the uncut section. Cut diagonally from the lower slit of one strip to the upper slit of the next, working your way across the bag.

The Spiral Method

This method involves cutting the bag in a continuous spiral. Choose one of the open sides and place it on top. Pick a starting point at one of the side seams and cut diagonally to a depth of about 1/2 to 1 inch (or your desired strip width). Continue cutting around the bag in a spiral, maintaining the same width. This method requires more precision to avoid cutting through both layers of the bag.

Joining the Strips

Once you have cut the bags into strips, it's time to join them together. Loop one strip around your thumb and index finger, holding the rest of the strip in your fist. Bring the loop over the next strip and grasp the end, pulling it partially through the loop. Continue pulling the knot tight. Repeat this process until all the strips are joined, forming a long strand of plarn.

Crocheting with Plarn

Plarn can be used in place of regular yarn for various projects. It is perfect for creating sturdy items like shopping bags, coasters, placemats, or even knitting a bag to hold plastic bags. You can use a size K crochet hook or larger for your plarn projects.

By following these steps, you can transform plastic bags into a useful crafting material, reducing waste and creating unique, durable items.

cycrochet

Crocheting with plarn

Plarn is a type of yarn made from recycled plastic bags. The name is a portmanteau of "plastic" and "yarn". It is created by cutting plastic bags into strips and tying the strips together to form a long, single strand. Plarn is a great way to upcycle plastic bags and reduce your carbon footprint. It can be used to create a variety of sturdy and durable items, such as bags, placemats, coasters, and even sleep mats for the homeless.

How to Make Plarn

The process of making plarn is straightforward. First, you will need to gather some plastic bags, preferably the thin ones from grocery stores, as they are easier to work with. Lay a bag flat, smoothing out any creases, and cut off the bottom edge. Next, fold the bag lengthwise and cut it into strips of approximately 1-inch width. Unfold one of the strips, loop it around your fingers, and join the strips by pulling one partially through the loop of the other. Continue this process until you have used up all your bags.

Once you have created your plarn, you can start crocheting! Plarn is best crocheted with a size K or larger crochet hook. You can find various free crochet patterns online specifically designed for plarn, including bags, placemats, and coasters. These patterns often require a certain number of plastic bags to complete, so it's important to have enough bags on hand before starting.

Benefits of Using Plarn

Using plarn is a fun and creative way to reduce waste and help the environment. Plastic bags are used for only about 12 minutes on average before being discarded, and only a small percentage of them are recycled. By turning these bags into plarn and crocheting them into reusable items, you can significantly reduce your environmental impact. Additionally, plarn creates sturdy and durable projects that will last a long time.

Crafting a Chic Crochet Twine Bag

You may want to see also

cycrochet

Crocheting with t-shirt yarn

T-shirt yarn is a great way to crochet with upcycled materials. It is durable, comes in a wide array of colours, and you can even make it yourself!

To make t-shirt yarn, you will need to use 100% cotton t-shirts as they have very little recovery. This means that after you cut the t-shirt into long strips, the edges will curl inward to form the yarn when you pull on the strips. If a t-shirt has spandex in it, the strips will bounce back and not form yarn in the same way. It is best to use blank t-shirts or t-shirts with minimal printing, as the print will be visible and the yarn will be stiffer in those areas.

When crocheting with t-shirt yarn, you will want to use a large hook – typically an 8mm or larger, depending on how stiff the finished project will be. T-shirt yarn can be used for all kinds of things, from hanging baskets to floor poufs to purses and market bags.

  • Hanging baskets for your craft room or a herb garden.
  • A target practice net for baseball or football.
  • A durable bag with handles.
  • A small notions basket for sewing supplies.
  • A rustic pumpkin decoration for your porch.
  • A casual Friday handbag.
  • A pencil case and cup set for back-to-school.
  • A super durable market bag or mesh bag.
  • Floor rugs, including a mandala floor rug for a nursery or patio.
  • A floor pouf.

cycrochet

How to cut plastic bags into strips

There are several methods for cutting plastic bags into strips, and the best method for you will depend on the type of bag you are using and the thickness of the strips you want to achieve. Here is a step-by-step guide to cutting plastic bags into strips:

Preparation:

First, lay your plastic bag on a flat surface. It is best to use thinner plastic bags for this process, as they are easier to work with. Smooth out the bag, removing any air pockets, and fold it in half lengthwise.

Cutting the Bag:

Using sharp scissors, cut off the very bottom of the bag. Then, cut the bag into strips, approximately 1 to 1.5 inches wide. You don't need to be too precise with your cutting; the strips don't have to be perfect.

Joining the Strips:

Once you have cut the bag into strips, unfold one of them and carefully loop it around your thumb and index finger. Grab another strip, unfold it, and repeat the process. Bring the loop in your right hand over the loop in your left hand, and pull the strip partially through the loop. Continue joining the strips until you've used up all your bags.

Creating Yarn:

After joining the strips, you will have a long continuous piece of "yarn." You can now wind this plastic yarn into a ball and begin crocheting!

Alternative Method: The Slit Skirt Method

This method is an alternative to the standard process described above. It involves cutting the bag in a specific way to create a "hula skirt" shape with a closed top edge. First, lay the bag flat, ensuring the side gussets are folded out, forming a rectangle. Trim off the top of the bag, where the handles are, and the bottom of the bag above the seam.

Next, cut the bag into strips, leaving it in two layers. Cut from the bottom fold to about 1 inch short of the other fold. The strips should be about 0.5 to 1 inch wide. Once you've made all the cuts, you'll have something resembling a hula skirt.

Now, open up the bag so you have a single layer with the uncut section in front of you. Cut diagonally from the lower slit of one strip to the upper slit of the next strip. Continue this process across the bag. Finally, cut the loop at the beginning of the bag at an angle to open it up, and trim any excess plastic.

Tips:

  • Work on a surface that won't get scratched, and consider placing a cutting mat or cardboard on your table to protect it.
  • Before cutting up all your bags, try cutting just a few first to see how comfortable you are with the process and whether you're achieving the desired thickness.
  • The strips don't have to be perfectly straight or evenly cut; remember, you're making yarn, not a kitchen cabinet!

cycrochet

How to join plastic bag strips

There are two methods for cutting up plastic bags to join them into strips: the spiral method and the slit skirt method.

The Spiral Method:

Turn the bag so that one of the open sides is on top and the other is at the bottom. Choose a starting point at one of the side seams and cut diagonally through a single layer of the bag to a depth of 1/2 to 1 inch (or to your desired strip width). Continue cutting around the bag, moving in a spiral, taking care to maintain the same width. This method is a little harder to control, and it's easy to accidentally cut off the strip. If this happens, just start cutting again from the beginning.

The Slit Skirt Method:

Flatten the bag so that the side gussets are folded out and the sides are straight, forming a rectangle. Trim the bag, removing the top and bottom above the seam. Turn the bag so that the closed ends are at the top and bottom, and the open ends are at each side. Cut the bag into 1/2 to 1-inch wide strips, working from the bottom fold to 1 inch short of the other fold. When you're done, you'll have something that looks like a hula skirt. Open up the bag to a single layer with the uncut section in front of you. Cut diagonally from the end of one slit to the start of another, working across the uncut space. Continue cutting diagonally from lower slit to upper slit all the way across the bag. Cut the first loop at an angle to open it up, and trim any extra bits of plastic to smooth the edge.

Once you've cut your strips, you can join them by placing the first strip with another strip overlapping to create a long strand. Continue adding loops, joining pieces with a small knot as you go, until you have a long single strand to crochet with.

Frequently asked questions

Plarn is "plastic yarn" and is created by cutting plastic grocery bags into strips and stringing them together in a long single strand.

It depends on the pattern. Some bags require 30 plastic bags, while others may need up to 56.

Using recycled fabric crochet bags helps to reduce your carbon footprint and minimise waste. They are also sturdy, durable, and long-lasting.

It is recommended to use thinner plastic bags from grocery stores as they are easier to work with. Cut off the bottom of the bag and cut the bag into strips. Join the strips together to form a long strand of "yarn". Use a size K crochet hook or larger to crochet the bag.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment