Learn how to make plarn to recycle that pile of plastic bags in your closet and turn them into some really cool creations! Read on to see how to make plarn. Wondering what to make with plarn? No worries, I have links to some fun plarn projects for you to try.
I’m always looking for ways to reduce waste and reuse and recycle what I can. Although I try to use reusable bags whenever I go grocery shopping, I inevitably forget once in awhile and end up with a stash of plastic bags. So what better way to use them than to make plarn and crochet them into something new!
What Is Plarn?
To put it simply, plarn is plastic yarn. Plarn is made by cutting plastic grocery bags into strips and tying them together to create plastic yarn, or plarn. Some of the benefits of using plarn, aside from the positive effects on the environment, are that finished items are surprisingly durable and can be washed in warm soapy water and reused again and again.
What to Make With Plarn
And what are those finished items? You can use plarn to crochet items such as doormats, tote bags (like this super-easy grocery tote crochet pattern), knee pads for gardening, dish scrubbers, storage baskets, coasters, beach bags, table accessories (like this festive outdoor placemat crochet pattern set), camping mats, and almost anything else you can think of. Some organizations are even encouraging their volunteers to use plarn to make bedrolls for the homeless. Now, I said it is good for almost anything … plarn really isn’t ideal for clothing, however. Besides that fact that it would probably not be the most comfortable thing to wear, it also doesn’t breath well. Plarn also shouldn’t be used for anything that would be used near heat, such as potholders or trivets, because it will melt.
How to Make Plarn
First, sort through your plastic bags and discard any dirty or ripped bags to your recycling container. Now it’s time to choose colors. You can choose bags of the same color or use a mix of colored bags for a variegated look. Or you can separate the colors to make different designs by switching colors every few rows.
Once you have your bags ready, follow the steps below to turn it into plarn. Once you are comfortable with the process, you can even stack two or three bags at a time help speed things along. …
Step 1: Flatten your bag making sure the sides are tucked in.
Step 4: Cut off the bottom of the bag and the handles and discard to your recycling container.
Step 5: Then cut the rest of the bag into 1-in. strips. Each of these strips creates a plastic loop.
Step 7: Working with two strips, bring one end of the second strip under and through the loop of the first strip. Then bring it over and back through the second loop, gently tug to secure.
LOVE THE IDEA OF CROCHETING WITH PLASTIC BAGS. …
I HAVE A TON OF THEM EVEN AFTER I CLEAN THE LITTER
BOX DAILY!!!!!!!!
It’s a great way to put them to use 🙂
plarning plastic bags into sleeping mats for the homeless.
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/new-life-old-bags-ruth-werstler-homeless-recycle/Content?oid=11261669
Just yesterday a male friend of mine was using a popcan cover made out of plastic bags (plarn). I looked at the pattern and think I can recreate it, and I am so excited to find this tutorial, since I probably would have done a whole lot more cutting. Thanks!!!!
I love it! Reminds me of my Mom. She made use of everything she could out of whatever she could get her hands on. I think she was the original recycler!! I especially liked her Plarn and Rag Rugs at every door. Sure was easy to just hose em off and hang them up to drip dry. As we always had a garden they got a lot of muddy wear and tear 🙂 Thanks for the memories!!
That is a great way to be 🙂 I love thinking of new ways to use things. Thanks for your sweet comment!
OMG! This is the best thing ever for my library! My husband always gives me the bags from places like T and W. The ones with food, he recycles. I use them when it rains for our patrons,to protect the library books but some of the books are heavy and I end up using 2 bags. This just fixed all that! THANK YOU SO MUCH. And please remember to SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY!
Hi Marsha! I’m so glad you like it!! Sounds like a great use for you 🙂 I LOVE my library!! We are there all the time 🙂
I hope you don’t mind, but I have copied off your instructions, enlarged the font, and photos for my 88 yr old Mom. She’s blind in one eye due to macular degeneration and can no longer work with crochet thread, but thinks she can see welll enough to make some of these totes for the church bazaar this fall.
I don’t mind at all! I hope she likes it 🙂
What size crochet hook works best?
A larger hook works best, such as an M or N hook.
Thanks for sharing this tutorial and the pattern as well. I sponsor a Fiber Arts Club at the middle school where I teach. I think this will make a good Earth Day project for this month.
What a great idea!! I wish you much success!
Fantastic tutorial – thanks for sharing! I’ve made plarn before but this explains it really well. I included a link to this post on my blog this morning:
Thanks for including in your post! Very cool!
This is one of the best ways to recycle plastics. You can use it in making yarns. It is important to recycle plastics in order not to ruin our environment.
I agree! Thanks for stopping by 🙂