How to Make Plarn (Plastic Yarn)

Are you one of those people who loves crocheting or knitting and cannot get enough of new techniques? Do you, like so many American families, have hundreds of plastic bags taking up space under your sink or in a pantry cupboard? One fun new way for crafters to recycle their old grocery bags is to create plastic yarn, or plarn as it is commonly called in crafting circles.

To begin with you will need plastic bags, scissors and a small bag for scraps. Take your plastic bag and fold it so the sides are pleated under. It will look like a big square with thin handles. (See picture) Then you will fold the plastic bag in half lengthwise twice, so you have a long, thin plastic strip. You will need to cut off the top handles and the bottom part of the bag, where it is glued. Once that last step is done you can get started on cutting the individual strips. Cut the bag into short, thin strips. Keep in mind the thickness of the plastic itself. If the bag is very thin, wider strips will be needed, however if the plastic is thick then you will be safe cutting the strips thinner.

Once you have all the strips cut (they will resemble large plastic rings) you can begin connecting them. To do this you will take two circles and lay one on top of the other with a minor overlap, reminiscent of a Venn diagram. Circle A will lay on top of circle B. Grab the overlapped part of circle B from under circle A and pull the overlapped part of circle A from under circle B and lightly pull. This will create the first link. From there on it gets easier. Make sure the ends are pulled to their full lengths. It will not matter what side you decide to expand on. Grab the end of one of the joined circles and place a new circle through it, creating a "U" shape. Grab one end of the "U" and pull it through the middle of the other side of the "U" slowly. This will be how you attach the plastic rings from there on in.

Now, once you have a good long line of plarn you can roll it up into a ball and begin a project! Some great ideas for plarn projects are clothespin bags, laundry totes and welcome mats. One of my favorite things is making new re-usable market bags. I know it is a lot of work just to use plarn for a new shopping bag, but its durability is so much better and it is just fun to make new bags!

Here is a free pattern I love from Lion Brand's website. Substitute Cotton Ease with plarn and you have a gorgeous new Market Bag!

Market Bag
Lion Brand^® Cotton-Ease (new)

GAUGE:

15 dc + 10 rnds = 4 in. [10 cm] working back and forth in sps between dc. BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you less stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.

STITCH EXPLANATION:

dc2tog (dc dec) Yo, insert hook in sp between next 2 sts and draw up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops. Yo, insert hook in next sp and draw up a loop. Yo, draw through 2 loops, yo and draw through all loops on hook.

NOTES:

Work dcs into sps between sts, rather than into sts.

BAG
Ch 3, join with sl st to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), work 11 more dc in ring; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc - 12 dc.
Rnd 2: Ch 3, turn, dc in same sp as join, *2 dc in next sp between sts; rep from * around; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc - 24 dc.
Rnd 3: Ch 3, turn, dc in same sp as join, dc in next sp between sts, *2 dc in next sp between sts, dc in next sp between sts; rep from * around; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc - 36 dc.
Rnd 4: Ch 3, turn, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 2 sps between sts, *2 dc in next sp between sts, dc in next 2 sps between sts; rep from * around; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc - 48 dc.
Rnd 5: Ch 3, turn, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 3 sps between sts, *2 dc in next sp between sts, dc in next 3 sps between sts; rep from * around; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc - 60 dc
Rnd 6: Ch 3, turn, dc in each sp around; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc.
Rnd 7: Ch 3, turn, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 4 sps between sts, *2 dc in next sp between sts, dc in next 4 sps between sts; rep from * around; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc - 72 dc.
Rnd 8: Ch 3, turn, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 7 sps between sts, *2 dc in next sp between sts, dc in next 7 sps between sts; rep from * around; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc - 81 dc.
Rnd 9: Ch 3, turn, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 8 sps between sts, *2 dc in next sp between sts, dc in next 8 sps between sts; rep from * around; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc - 90 dc.
Rnd 10: Ch 3, turn, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 9 sps between sts, *2 dc in next sp between sts, dc in next 9 sps between sts; rep from * around; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc - 99 dc.
Rnd 11: Rep Rnd 6.
Rnd 12: Ch 3, turn, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 10 sps between sts, *2 dc in next sp between sts, dc in next 10 sps between sts; rep from * around; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc - 108 dc.
Rnd 13: Ch 3, turn, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 17 sps between sts, *2 dc in next sp between sts, dc in next 17 sps between sts; rep from * around; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc - 114 dc.
Rnd 14: Ch 3, turn, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 18 sps between sts, *2 dc in next sp between sts, dc in next 18 sps between sts; rep from * around; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc - 120 dc.
Rnds 15-28: Rep Rnd 6.
Rnd 29: Ch 3, turn, dc in next 7 sps between sts, dc2tog, *dc in next 8 sps between sts, dc2tog; repeat from * around; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc - 108 dc.
Rnd 30: Rep Rnd 6.
Rnd 31: Ch 3, turn, dc in next 3 sps between sts, dc2tog, *dc in next 4 sps between sts, dc2tog; repeat from * around; join with sl st in sp between beg ch and next dc - 90 dc.
Rnd 32: Rep Rnd 6. Do not fasten off.

Handles
Row 33: Ch 3, dc2tog, dc in next 29 sps, dc2tog, dc in next sp; leave remaining sts unworked - 33 sts.
Rows 34-45: Ch 3, turn, dc2tog, dc in each sp across to last 3 sps, dc2tog, dc in next sp - 9 sts.
Rows 46-56: Ch 3, turn, dc in each sp across - 9 sts. Fasten off at end of Row 56.
Sk 10 sps from last st worked on Rnd 32. Join yarn with sl st in next sp, ch 3 and work same as for First Handle. Do not fasten off. From wrong side, sc ends of handles tog.

FINISHING
From right side, sc evenly around edges of Handles. Weave in ends.