Clean and used grocery plastic bag is not a waste and should not end up in the landfill. We can turn the bags into many useful and fun items, for examples: Welcome Mat, Sleeping Mat, a tote bag, a banner, even a dress to play costume or for other fun occasions.
Here is a very simple guide on how to start the project to upcycle plastic bags:
How to collect Plastic Bags
DO. NOT. PURCHASE. THEM. or collect them from restaurants or other stores.
In Chicago, we have to pay 7 cents to get plastic bags at grocery store. What a waste of money! Yes, we still can get plastic bags from restaurants, but that is NOT an eco-friendly way to collect plastic bags.
The best way to get them is from collection bins located in many grocery stores. Or, ask people to donate their plastic bags.
How to store plastic bags
If you end up collecting lots of plastic bags, save space by folding them into a triangle. This will not only save space but also keep your plastic bags clean and ready to be used for crafting purpose.
Step 1: Fold the end corner of plastic bag into triangle shape
Step 2: Fold it again
Step 3: Repeat it until the end
Step 4: At the end of it, fold the remaining part of the plastic into the pocket
How to create Plarn (plastic yarn)
To create the plastic yarn for crocheting, follow these simple steps:
Step 1:
Cut the plastic bags into 3 parts as shown (top, middle, bottom). Fold the middle part into two and folded it again. Cut it into 4 pieces with the same size. Keep the top and bottom parts to be used for the project or other purposes.
Step 2:
Open up all the 4 pieces to make 4 plarns, as shown in this picture.
Step 3:
Connect all the 4 plarns like shown in the picture. To make it clear, here we use different color of plarn.
Step 4:
After all plarns are connected, we are ready to crochet. For crocheting plarn, we use 19-20 mm hook.
How to crochet plarn for beginners
There are many videos on the internet on how to crochet plarn. This is one of them. It also explains from the beginning how to create plarn and provides many useful tips on crocheting plarn.