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Turn Plastic Bags into Creative Crochet Projects with Plarn

Most of us can say we are guilty of hopping in the car, driving to the store, grabbing supplies, going through the checkout line and leaving with our hands full with plastic bags.

Some have greener intentions and have a reusable bag hung in the kitchen as a reminder to reduce and reuse. For those with a plentiful mound of bags stuffed away in the kitchen, there is a clever upcycling activity that provides a crafty and eco-friendly project using plastic bags.

Plarn is durable as well as versatile and can be used for making bags, rugs, and even shoes. The fabric is easily made with those plastic bags which tend to be hoarded after a visit to the market. The up side, is there are many creative plarn projects that are easy and fun.

Plarn sun hats provide wonderful shade from the hot summer sun.


How to make plarn:

1. Flatten the bag.
2. Fold the bag lengthwise.
3. Fold it a few more times lengthwise until a long strip forms.
4. Cut off the bottom of the bag as well as the handles.
5. Cut into equal chunks.
6. Ten pieces total should remain.
7. Unfold the pieces. Loop them one by one (such as linking rubber bands).
8. A long chain of plarn remains after looping.


Plarn crocket projects are fun, creative and eco-friendly.

Crocheting projects can be substituted with the use of the plastic fabric. Crocheting with plarn is a fun way to repurpose plastic bags into a useful, fun and handy item. Furthermore, plarn is recyclable, reusable, and durable.

 A variety of things can be made with plarn:

• Rugs
– Perfect for mud rooms, campers, or bathmats.

• Bags
– Great for the beach or packing for daycare.

• Hats
– Makes a wonderful sun hat.

• Sandals
– Perfect beachwear or shower shoe

• Colorful flowerpot, coasters, and placemats.

Only fractions of the 1 billion shopping bags Americans use per year are recycled creating nearly 300,000 tons of landfill waste. Since plastic bags don’t biodegrade, light breaks them down into small particles that contaminate the soil and water. Once contaminated, it becomes difficult and expensive to remove.

Those plastic bags that are continuously collecting can become a fun project on a rainy day. Rather than continuously opting to use bags plastic at the store, switch it up and use a reusable bag once you have finished you creative plarn project until you begin a new one. Place a few reusable bags in your vehicle that are readily accessible for unplanned trips to the store or in the chance when you have left your reusable bag at home.

A traditional crocheting project can turn into a fresh and fun recycling activity with the use of plastic bags. The creative items that are made from plarn are durable, recyclable, reusable, and waterproof. The environment will benefit greatly with a little creativity from an eco-friendly plarn crocheting project.

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