Sofia Martinez
Plastic bags are not accepted in home recycling bins and can end up in landfills, so what can we do with them? One option is to make mats out of them. This process, called plarning, involves cutting the bags into strips and crocheting them into mats. These mats can be donated to the homeless, who will be glad to receive them. They can also be used as camping mats or rugs. To make a mat, you will need around 500-700 plastic bags, a crochet hook size 10 or above, and some time and patience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Process | Plarning involves cutting plastic bags into strips and crocheting them into mats. |
| Number of Bags | It takes 500-700 plastic bags to make one mat. |
| Bag Colour | Using bags of different colours can create a multicoloured mat. |
| Bag Type | Any kind of plastic bag can be used, including thicker bags and those from the grocery store or dry cleaners. |
| Bag Preparation | Cut the bags along the side seams through the handles, then fold the long cut edges inward until the strip is about 2 inches wide. Cut thicker bags lengthwise to make extra strips. |
| Braid Type | A 3-strand braid is recommended. |
| Mat Size | The width of the mat can vary depending on the user's measurements, while a good length to aim for is about 6 feet. |
| Mat Use | Mats can be used for camping, backyard lounging, pets, or donated to those in need, such as the homeless. |
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What You'll Learn
How to cut plastic bags for plarning
Plarning is an excellent way to upcycle plastic bags into something useful and beautiful. The process involves cutting plastic bags into strips and crocheting them into mats. Here is a detailed guide on how to cut plastic bags for plarning:
Firstly, collect and sort the plastic bags according to their colours. This step is essential if you want to create a patterned mat. You can skip this step if you don't want your mat to follow a specific pattern.
Next, prepare the bags for cutting. Lay each bag flat, with the pretty or printed side facing down. Smooth out any wrinkles, as this will make the cutting process easier. You can also iron the bags on low heat to get rid of any creases.
Now, you can start cutting the bags. There are two popular methods for this: the spiral method and the slit skirt method. For the spiral method, cut along both side seams of the bag, through the handles. This will allow the bag to lay flat with minimal cuts. Then, fold the long cut edges inward until you have a strip that is approximately 2 inches wide.
The slit skirt method involves cutting the bag from one side to the other, leaving a connected space at the top. You can use a good pair of scissors or a razor knife for this. Cut diagonally from the lower slit to the upper slit across the bag. As you make more cuts, the strip will start to unwind. Cut the first slit at an angle to open it up, and trim any excess plastic to smooth the edges.
Repeat these steps for all the plastic bags. You can now use these strips to crochet or knit your mat. Remember to keep the strips organised by colour to help you create patterns or designs for your mat.
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Crocheting the mats
The process of turning plastic bags into mats is called "plarning". It involves cutting regular plastic shopping bags into strips and crocheting them into mats. You can use any kind of plastic bag, even from your dry cleaners. If you want a multi-coloured mat, you must collect bags of different colours.
To begin, straighten out each bag by pulling at the ends and the handles, so that it becomes nice, smooth and flat. Then, cut off the plastic bag handles and the bottom of the bag. For a plastic grocery bag that’s standard in size and thickness, cut each bag into four rings. Loop these rings together to form one long plastic chain, which is called "plarn", short for plastic yarn. You can then begin to crochet.
You will need a crochet hook size 10 or above. A larger crochet hook will make it easier to crochet looser, making the mat more cushiony and comfortable to work with. You can start by making a small mat to get a feel for the process. When you are ready, you can contact your local homeless shelter or charity and start collecting plastic bags.
If designs matter to you, sort the plastic bags by colour so you can work with them in batches. You can also embellish your mat with a plastic bag crochet flower or two.
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Braiding the bags together
To begin braiding plastic bags together to make a mat, cut the bags along both side seams through the handles. This is the easiest way to get the bag to lay flat and requires the fewest cuts. Once the bags are cut, lay the bag open with the original outside (pretty side) facing down. Fold the long cut edges inward until the whole strip is about 2 inches wide. The bags will try to unroll, but laying them on the back of a chair will help keep them in the right shape. If you have extra-large bags or bags that are thicker, divide them lengthwise (parallel to the original side seam cuts) to make extra strips.
Once you have your strips, tie three of them together and place a heavy object like a book on the knot. Then, start braiding. If you don't know how to braid, you can find instructions online or in a braid-making guide.
To form the braided bags into a mat, lay the braid in a spiral pattern. Use straight pins to temporarily hold the spiral together. You may want to practice this step before attempting it with your braided bags. Once you've pinned the bags into the proper spiral, you're ready to fuse the backing on. The backing is simply another plastic bag that has been split open. Put the spiral pin-side down on an ironing board or another heat-safe surface. Then, lay your sheet of plastic over the back of the spiral, with the ink side facing down to prevent any ink transfer. Finally, lay a piece of wax paper on top of the plastic sheet. The plastic bags will melt and fuse together when you iron them.
If you want to make a mat for someone experiencing homelessness, consider joining or forming a community group to help with the process. Plarn, or yarn made from plastic bags, is very durable and can be crocheted into mats. These mats can then be donated to those in need. It takes about 500-600 bags to make one mat, so it's helpful to have a group working together to collect and prepare the bags.
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Creating a pattern
If you want to crochet your mat, you can follow a pattern such as the one provided by Dawn Warmbold, which can be found online. You will need a crochet hook size 10 or above. A larger crochet hook will make it easier to crochet looser, creating a more cushiony mat. You can also add embellishments to your mat, such as crochet flowers.
If you want to weave your mat, you will need to create a warp and weft with your plarn. To do this, you can follow the instructions provided by Instructables. You will need to create 4 strands of plarn by separating two bags of different colours. Then, bring one bag over and through an opening in the first row, and continue with an over, under, over, under weaving pattern.
To create a pattern with colours, you will need to sort your bags by colour before creating your plarn. You can then follow a pattern as you crochet or weave your mat, such as the Brown-Blue-White pattern used in the Instructables guide.
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Donating the mats
If you've made mats from plastic bags and want to donate them, there are several options. You can donate them to your local dog shelter or pound—some people have expressed concern that dogs might chew on and choke on the mats, but one person who does this said they've had no complaints from their local pound.
Another option is to donate them to homeless individuals or organizations that serve homeless people. The mats are useful because they don't hold moisture and therefore don't get moldy. Some organizations that accept these mats include DreamWeave Alliance and Wisconsin 4-H. You can also check with local organizations in your area to see if they would be interested in receiving mat donations.
In Live Oak, Florida, mats made from plastic bags are now in every patrol car, and hundreds of mats were sent to the Florida Panhandle after Hurricane Michael.
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Frequently asked questions
The process of making mats from plastic bags is called "plarning". It involves cutting plastic bags into strips and crocheting them into mats.
Depending on the size of the mat, you will need anywhere from 150 to 700 plastic bags.
Cut along both side seams through the handles. This makes it easier to lay the bag flat and requires the fewest cuts.
