My Recycled Bags.com

39 Responses to “Instructions for cutting plastic bags & creating recycled plastic yarn”

1. Betty, on April 12th, 2007 at 5:40 am Said:

   I’ve copied these out as well. I love the idea of recycling things, giving them new life in our world of use and toss.

2. The Sietch Blog » Guest Author: RecycleCindy On Green Plarn Crafting, on July 9th, 2007 at 8:51 am Said:

   […] by adding another strip to the last and so on until you have a long, continuous strip.  Here is a link to a picture tutorial that shows the step-by-step process to create your own […]

3. Péitseoga, on July 30th, 2007 at 2:47 pm Said:

   Just what I’ve been looking for!
   Would it be sturdy enough for a net bag? That’s what I want to crochet.

4. Cindy, on July 30th, 2007 at 4:18 pm Said:

   Hello Peitseoga,
   Yes you could crochet a net bag using plastic bag yarn. You can just wipe it clean and it’s a great way to use up some of those bags!

5. Plarn! « Kamrin’s Karma, on August 1st, 2007 at 5:36 am Said:

   […] Plarn! August 1, 2007 at 1:36 pm | In Uncategorized | That is what those in the know call that stuff I make out of plastic bags! I have discovered a new site called http://www.myrecycledbags.com/ And I love her way of cutting the bags so much better than the way I was doing it! instructions-for-cutting-plastic-bags… […]

6. Jeanne, on August 2nd, 2007 at 5:31 am Said:

   I was wondering if you use the strips doubled? It doesn’t say anything about cutting them apart.
   I got another pattern a few years ago that suggested cutting the bag in 1″ strips going around and around which took a little longer but you ended up with one long “string” that could be used as “yarn” rather than having to link smaller strips together.
   I am also finding that some of the bags I have gotten are a thinner plastic and it doesn’t seem to work as well, it stretches too easily.

7. Cindy, on August 2nd, 2007 at 7:46 am Said:

   Jeanne:
   Yes my strips are doubled if you look at the pictures of the interlinking, you can see how I do it. I have tried the single long string method too. I didn’t like it as well as your “yarn” isn’t as strong and the cutting took longer. It is true that some bags are very thin and stretch too much. I try and not use those type except for a center motif or a small striped area. Best wishes on your recycling projects!

8. Frank, on August 17th, 2007 at 1:28 am Said:

   How cool! I’ve wondered how carrier bags were woven into things, and now I know

9. First Fruits: plastic and the green etrog « TikkunKnits, on September 6th, 2007 at 6:23 am Said:

   […] about making and working with plastic bag yarn can be found all over the internet - try here, here and here for a some of the clearest and best illustrated discussions of looped yarn, and “How […]

10. First Fruits: knitting the sukkah « A TikkunKnitter’s Miscellaney, on September 6th, 2007 at 6:58 pm Said:

    […] about making and working with plastic bag yarn can be found all over the internet - try here[…]

11. Cindy Stepper, on November 24th, 2007 at 4:56 pm Said:

    This is wonderful! My Mom is an avid crocheter as well as recycling fiend, she throws absolutly nothing away and often incorperates plastic soda bottles, wire, string and other bits in her crafts. She will adore this! I have printed off the pattern for the tote and instructions for the plarn and am mailing it off to her up in Canada today! Thank you so much, from a family of thrifty crafters before recycling was called green!

12. Judy, on November 25th, 2007 at 12:08 pm Said:

    i have used the crochet version of making the recycled plastic grocery tote bag. i am not much of a crocheter, would love to find a knitted version, can you help?
    sunfiregtgrl@yahoo.com

13. Cindy, on November 25th, 2007 at 1:32 pm Said:

    Judy,
    I have a few knitted pattern links available on my patterns link page. Here is the link. Just scroll down to knitted patterns on that page.

14. Sarah, on January 3rd, 2008 at 1:29 pm Said:

    I just wanted to say how clever this is! I’m going to try this as soon as I can!

15. Alternative Fiber #1 « hawthorn + rosehip, on January 9th, 2008 at 11:46 am Said:

    […] vortenjou In my quest for alternative fibers and eco-conscious options, I somehow happened upon this site - giving instructions on how to turn plastic grocery bags into “yarn”. Yes, of course, […]

16. Crafting link of the week - My Recycled Bags - Recycle your plastic bags · Musings from a male knitter, on January 29th, 2008 at 3:20 am Said:

    […] get you started here is a detailed description on how you can make plastic yarn (or plarn as she calls it) out of plastic […]

17. perigrine, on February 3rd, 2008 at 3:38 pm Said:

    roughly how many bags would you need to make your door mat?

18. Cindy, on February 4th, 2008 at 6:21 am Said:

    @Periqrine:
    This doormat rug requires between 30-40 bags. It all depends on the bag size and your cutting methods but that should give you an estimate. Thanks for stopping by.

19. Home Craft Ideeas » Blog Archive » Crafting link of the week - My Recycled Bags - Recycle your plastic bags, on February 13th, 2008 at 7:00 pm Said:

    […] get you started here is a detailed description on how you can make plastic yarn (or plarn as she calls it) out of plastic […]

20. Jerry Scovel, on March 3rd, 2008 at 3:05 pm Said:

    It is my plan to use the waste plastic bottles that now clog our landfills
    to build ocean rafts. The rafts could provide not only food, water, energy
    and a place to live for billions of humans but would also lower the
    temperature of the ocean beneath them.

    The problem that I have is connecting the bottles in such a way that they
    will support the weight of the structures on them and still be economical enough to be built by people in the third world. I believe that plarn might be the way to join these bottles, any suggestions?

21. Cindy, on March 3rd, 2008 at 6:36 pm Said:

    @Jerry- Wow sounds like a wonderful project. I don’t know if plarn is strong enough. You may need a nylon rope or something stronger than plastic bags. You must be aware that some may be bio-degradable and therefore for not useful in the water or over long term use. You could try knots to connect the bottles using nylon rope and see how that works for you.

    Best wishes and let me know how it works out. I’d love to see a picture.

22. J Shirey, on March 6th, 2008 at 2:29 pm Said:

    This is amazing… I can’t wait to make my own!!! We use cloth totes most of the time but sometimes I forget to bring them, sometimes we don’t know we’re going to a store when we’re out so we don’t bring totes with us, and so we end up with plastic bags kicking around… I can’t wait to crochet my own bags, thank you so much for creating this site!!

23. Annie, on March 9th, 2008 at 6:21 pm Said:

    I learned another way to cut your bag so you get one long continuous strip. I put it on my flickr account above, if you would like to see it.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/annieofbluegables/sets/72157601475416398/

    I just discovered your site and intend to explore it further when I get a chance.

    ~a

24. Cindy, on March 9th, 2008 at 6:30 pm Said:

    @Annie,
    Yes I seen this method and even tried it myself. I personally still prefer the loop method but this is definitely another great way to make recycled plastic bags into yarn. Thanks for sharing this.

25. Dasilefu, on March 15th, 2008 at 6:18 am Said:

    I love this pattern! Another use for the crocheted totes……beach/picnic use! The sand will fall out of the bag as it’s packed (if you give it a good shake after it’s packed the loose sand will fall out) and if the towels/clothes are wet it won’t matter. Wish I had this 30 years ago! Keep up the great work, and thanks so much for sharing!

26. TIPS, on April 6th, 2008 at 8:16 am Said:

    […] My Recycled Bags.com » Instructions for cutting plastic bags & creating recycled plastic yarn […]

27. PurpleJenn, on April 19th, 2008 at 8:04 am Said:

    I have come across this site when looking for a pattern for a crocheted rug… I am very excited about new and unique projects. I have many grocery bags around the house, because I can not bear to throw them out. I have started cutting bags… this is my weekend project (April 19/20).

28. My Recycled Bags.com » Green Tote for Earth Day, on April 21st, 2008 at 2:00 pm Said:

    […] is made using recycled plastic bags which have been repurposed into plarn or plastic bag yarn. Here is a picture tutorial to show you the step-by-step process to making plarn. What better way to celebrate Earth Day than […]

29. Monica Salyer, on April 21st, 2008 at 3:49 pm Said:

    Your bags combine two of my passions: crochet, and reusable shopping bags. I can hardly wait to make my own bags, instead of buying them!

30. Happy Earth Day « Old School Music Lover, on April 22nd, 2008 at 3:22 am Said:

    […] of my shopping, but to rid my presence of all plastic bags I have been collecting them and preparing plarn (plastic yarn) with the intent of crocheting a tote bag with […]

31. Creative Recycling for Every Day « My Happy Earth, on April 22nd, 2008 at 1:37 pm Said:

    […] Can you knit or crochet?  Try using them instead of yarn.  Check out these easy to follow instructions.      - Ever thought of fusing them?  Makes for an easily washable and fun textured […]

32. it’s not easy being green « transplanting me, on May 7th, 2008 at 9:05 am Said:

    […] you want to know how to make plarn go here. and the pattern i used? this won’t be all that helpful, but i googled hobo bag knitting […]

33. Green Link Love - Other Great Green Sites 3 from Life Goggles, on May 22nd, 2008 at 8:01 am Said:

    […] also love My Recycled Bags which shows us how to create bags from old plastic bags using plastic yarn (plarn). I hope you’re feeling better Cindy, best […]

34. Toadstools, smoadstools. at House of Wool Repute, on May 22nd, 2008 at 12:39 pm Said:

    […] bag situation was so totally out of control that something had to be done. I was talked out of making plarn at the time and my everlasting bag stopper has helped. Now I’m down to only 3 huge bags of […]

35. Plastic Bag Rehabilitation Center » Blog Archive » Making Plarn: version 1, on May 27th, 2008 at 3:26 pm Said:

    […] being called “plarn” (plastic yarn). One way is describer in picture-perfect detail on My Recycled Bags website. I don’t cut mine up in this manner, but this is just as effective. Each technique […]

36. Ferrett, on June 16th, 2008 at 6:24 am Said:

    I find your method of making ‘plarn’ easier than all the prevoius ones I’ve seen.

    Thank you and keep up the good work!

37. Rose Hill, on June 17th, 2008 at 12:12 pm Said:

    This is similar to what my grandmother did years ago with bread wrappers. She cut them in one long strip around and then used them to make crochet rugs. Bread wrappers have more color to them.

38. jennyleigh, on June 26th, 2008 at 9:40 am Said:

    What do you do with the leftover ends?

39. Cindy, on June 26th, 2008 at 10:18 am Said:

    @Jennyleigh,
    Here are a few ideas:
    Use them for packing material, stuffing in craft projects, fringe on plastic projects, or make plastic flowers. These are just a few ideas that I have heard or seen done.

Leave a Reply