Creative Ways To Reuse Plastic Bags With Crochet

Plastic bags are a common household item that often end up in landfills, but there is a growing trend of reusing these bags to create something new through crochet. This process involves cutting the bags into strips to create plarn (plastic yarn), which can then be crocheted into various items. This method of recycling plastic bags is a great way to reduce waste and create unique, sturdy items such as tote bags, coasters, placemats, and even sleeping mats for the homeless. With growing environmental concerns, this trend is an innovative and sustainable way to give plastic bags a new lease of life.

Cut plastic bags into strips to make 'plarn'

Plarn, or plastic yarn, is a recycled material made from plastic bags. It can be made from grocery, garbage, or bread bags—almost any kind of plastic will work. However, bags with seams, like potato chip bags, tend to break where the seams are.

Making plarn is an easy process that can be done in a multitude of ways. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cut plastic bags into strips to make plarn:

• Place a plastic bag on your cutting mat, folding in the sides and flattening it as much as possible.
• Remove the bag handles, cutting as closely and as straight as possible along the top. Then cut the bottom off the bag. The amount you cut off will depend on the desired width of your plarn strips. For example, for 1-inch strips, cut off the bottom 0.5 inches of the bag.
• Cut the bag into strips of your desired width. You can cut the bag into strips of approximately 1 to 2 inches wide. The strips do not have to be perfectly straight or evenly spaced.
• Open two of the strips into plastic rings and lay one ring on top of the other.
• Pull the left loop to the right and the right loop to the left, creating a knot. Pull the ends snug to form your first length of plarn.
• Repeat the above step, looping and knotting new rings of plastic until you have the desired length of plarn for your project.

Depending on the thickness of your strips, you can make about 8-10 yards of plarn per plastic bag. If you need more plarn, simply cut up another bag and add it to the end of your existing plarn.

Once you have your desired length of plarn, you can wind it into a ball and start crocheting!

Crochet plarn into tote bags

Crocheting Plarn into Tote Bags

Tote bags are a great way to reuse plastic bags through crocheting. The process involves turning plastic bags into 'plarn' (plastic yarn) and crocheting them into a tote bag. This guide will take you through the steps to create your own unique and environmentally friendly tote bag.

Preparing the Plarn

Firstly, gather thin plastic bags, preferably from grocery stores. Lay out each bag on a flat surface, smoothing out any creases. Using scissors, cut off the very bottom of the bag. Then, fold the bag lengthwise and cut it into strips approximately 1.5 to 2 inches wide. Unfold one of the strips and loop it around your thumb and index finger. Take another strip and repeat the process, interlocking the loops with a knot to create a long strand. Continue joining strips until you have a sufficient length for crocheting. You can wind the plarn into a ball or keep it loosely piled in a bag.

Crocheting the Tote Bag

Once you have prepared your plarn, you can begin crocheting your tote bag. Use a crochet hook, preferably size K or larger, to work with the plarn. You can find various patterns and tutorials online specifically designed for plarn projects, including tote bags. Choose a pattern that suits your skill level and follow the instructions carefully.

Customization

When creating your tote bag, you can customize it by using plastic bags of different colors or patterns. For example, you could use red and white bags for a unique design. Additionally, you can adjust the size of the bag by increasing or decreasing the number of rows you crochet. Remember to plan for strong bag handles by crocheting several rounds to ensure they can withstand the weight of groceries.

Care and Maintenance

To care for your plarn tote bag, avoid using harsh chemicals or cleaning products as they may degrade the plastic. Instead, gently wipe down the bag with a damp cloth if it becomes dirty. Store your tote bag in a cool, dry place when not in use to prevent damage or discoloration.

Make coasters and placemats

Plastic bags can be reused to make coasters and placemats. The process involves cutting the plastic bags into "plarn" (plastic yarn) and crocheting them into the desired shape. This is a simple and sustainable way to create something practical and pretty.

To make coasters and placemats, start by laying your plastic bag flat and cutting it into a tube about 5cm wide. Remove the handles and cut the bag width-wise along the tube. Open each loop and connect them to create one piece of yarn. Repeat this process until you have enough yarn, winding it into a ball as you go to avoid tangles.

Once you have your plarn, you can start crocheting. For coasters and placemats, you will need a crochet hook size K or larger and a stitch marker to keep track of your rows. The pattern for the coasters and placemats is worked in a spiral, with single crochet stitches (sc) and double crochet stitches (dc) in each round.

The pattern for the placemat is as follows:

Row 1 (B): Work 1 dc in 3rd ch from the hook and each ch across, turn.

Row 2 (W): 1 sc in each ch across, turn — 28 sts.

Row 3 (R): 1 sc in each ch across, turn.

Row 4 (W): 1 sc in each ch across, turn.

Row 5 (R): 1 dc in each ch across, turn.

Row 6 (W): 1 sc in each ch across, turn.

Row 7 (R): 1 hdc in each ch across, turn.

Row 8 (W): 1 sc in each ch across, turn.

Row 9 (W): 1 dc in each ch across, turn.

Row 10 (B): 1 sc in each ch across, turn.

Row 11 (W): 1 sc in each ch across, turn.

Row 12 (R): 1 sc in each ch across, turn.

Row 13 (B): 1 dc in each ch across, turn.

Row 14 (W): 1 dc in each ch across, turn.

Row 15 (B): 1 sc in each ch across, turn.

Row 16 (W): 1 hdc in each ch across, turn.

Row 17 (R): 1 dc in each ch across, turn.

Row 18 (W): 1 sc in each ch across, do not turn.

For the edging, work 2 sc in the same st as the last sc made, continue to work sc around the mat, working 3 sc in each corner, and join. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

The coaster is worked in a similar way but without joining at the end of each round. It is helpful to use a stitch marker to keep track of the rounds. With colour B, ch 4, join to form a ring. The pattern for the coaster is as follows:

Round 1 (B): Ch 1, work 6 sc in the ring — 6 sts.

Round 2 (R): 2 sc in each st around — 12 sts.

Round 3 (R): *2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in the next, rep around* — 18 sts.

Round 4 (W): *2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, rep around* — 24 sts.

Round 5 (R): *2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, rep around* — 30 sts.

Round 6 (B): *2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts, rep around* — 36 sts.

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

By following this pattern, you can create a set of coasters and placemats that are not only useful but also unique and environmentally friendly.

Create sleeping mats for the homeless

Plastic bags are a significant source of pollution, ending up in landfills and the ocean. One way to reuse them is to crochet them into sleeping mats for the homeless. These mats are hygienic, waterproof, easily transportable, and provide protection from the cold ground. They are also free to make and keep plastic out of landfills.

To make these mats, you will need a large crochet hook (10mm or larger) and 500-700 plastic bags. Start by flattening the plastic bags and cutting off the handles and the bottom seam, leaving you with a rectangle. Cut this rectangle into four strips that become loops when opened up. You can then tie these loops together with a basic larks head knot, overlapping the loops end-to-end and pulling the top of one end through the middle intersection. Repeat this step until you have a long chain of loops, or 'plarn' (short for plastic yarn).

Now you can begin crocheting! Chain approximately 42 stitches, and then continue until you reach your desired length. Remember not to make your chains and knots too tight, or they will break. You can add a strap to the mat by crocheting a 6-foot chain and then single-crocheting down its length. Put the two ends together and fasten off.

If you are interested in making these mats, you can contact local homeless shelters or charities to find out if they are accepting donations. You can also reach out to organizations like The Movement Crew, Blanket Melbourne, or The Melbourne Period Project, which have already taken on this initiative.

Weave plastic bag yarn into a bag

Plastic bags are a versatile crafting material that can be woven into various items, such as bags, coasters, placemats, and even sleep mats for the homeless. The process of turning plastic bags into yarn, also known as "plarn," is simple and can be done in several ways. Here is a step-by-step guide to weaving plastic bag yarn into a bag:

Preparing the Plastic Bags:

Start by laying out a plastic bag, preferably the thin ones from grocery stores, on a flat surface. Tuck in the side seams and smooth out any creases to create a flat rectangle. Using sharp scissors, cut off the bottom edge of the bag, as close to the seam as possible, to create an even surface.

Creating the Strips:

The next step is to cut the bag into strips. You can choose between the "strip method" or the "spiral method." For the strip method, fold the bag lengthwise, then cut it into strips, approximately 1-2 inches wide, leaving about an inch uncut at the top. This will result in a tube-like structure. Open up the bag and cut across the uncut area, connecting the strips diagonally. For the spiral method, cut the bag diagonally at one of the open ends and continue cutting in a continuous spiral, maintaining a consistent width of about 1-2 inches.

Joining the Strips:

To create a longer strand of plarn, unfold one of the cut strips and loop it around your thumb and index finger. Take another strip, and grasp the end partially through the loop, pulling it tight to create a knot. Continue joining strips in this manner until you have a long, single strand. You can wind the plarn into a ball or keep it loosely piled in a bag.

Weaving the Bag:

Now that you have your plarn ready, you can start weaving your bag. You can follow any crochet or knitting pattern that calls for yarn. For a bag, you can follow a simple pattern for a market bag or a shopping bag. You can also add handles by chaining stitches and slip-stitching to form sturdy handles.

Tips:

• When cutting the plastic bags, use a hard, flat surface, and consider placing a cutting mat, tablecloth, or cardboard to protect your work surface.
• Avoid using fabric scissors to cut the plastic bags, as it may dull the blades.
• Experiment with different colours of plastic bags to create unique designs.
• You can also add cork lining or a waterproof base to your bag to make it more durable and functional.

By following these steps, you can create a unique and environmentally friendly bag from plastic bags. This process is an excellent way to recycle plastic bags and give them a new purpose while exploring your creativity.

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