Ethan Clarke
Making yarn out of recycled plastic is an easy, quick, and eco-friendly process. It involves recycling plastic bags from the grocery store or shredding PET plastic bottles into fine strips. The strips are then heated and back-combed until tiny fibres form. These fibres are then spun and stretched to create soft and resilient yarn. This yarn can be dyed using non-toxic colours and hand-loomed using traditional weaving techniques to create rugs, cushions, and other textiles. The process is similar when using plastic bags, where the bag is flattened, cut into strips, and then wound into a ball of plastic yarn, also known as plarn. This method produces about 8-10 yards of plarn per plastic bag and can be used for knitting, crocheting, or crafting.
How to make yarn out of recycled plastic
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Plastic bottles, plastic bags |
| Process | Shredding, heating, backcombing, spinning, stretching, dyeing, hand-looming |
| Benefits | Eco-friendly, uses fewer resources, reduces pollution, uses non-toxic dyes |
| Tips | Cut plastic bags into strips, fold and flatten bags before cutting, cut off handles and bottom of the bag |
| Yield | 8-10 yards of yarn per plastic bag |
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What You'll Learn
Flattening and cutting plastic bags into strips
To begin, place a plastic bag on a cutting mat, flattening it as much as possible and folding in the sides to form a rectangle. It's okay if there are wrinkles in the plastic, as they won't be noticeable in the final product. Next, remove the bag handles by cutting as closely and straight as you can along the top of the bag. Cut the bottom of the bag as well, removing about ½ inch.
Now, you can start cutting the bag into strips. Cut straight across the bag, making strips that are approximately 1 inch wide. The strips don't have to be perfectly straight, but try to keep them relatively even. You can also cut the bag diagonally, working from the end of one slit to the start of another. This method can create shorter lengths of yarn, but it's important to pay attention to ensure you don't cut through both layers of the bag.
If you prefer a continuous strand of yarn, try the "spiral" cutting method. Cut across the bag diagonally from the lower first slit to the second top slit. Continue cutting diagonally from lower slit to upper slit all the way across the bag. As you make more cuts, the strip will start to unwind, and you'll be left with a long, continuous strip of plastic yarn.
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Preparing the fibres
Preparing the Plastic
Start by gathering a sufficient quantity of plastic material, such as plastic bags or bottles. For plastic bags, flatten each bag to form a rectangle, removing the handles and the bottom above the seam. This preparation step is the same for both cutting methods: the spiral method and the "slit skirt" method.
Cutting the Plastic
The next step is to cut the plastic into strips. For the spiral method, begin by cutting across the space between the lower first slit and the second top slit at an angle. Leave the top first slit for later. Continue cutting diagonally from the lower slit to the upper slit across the bag. As you make more cuts, the strip will start to unwind, and you will see the yarn forming. Cut any extra bits of plastic to smooth the edge.
For the "slit skirt" method, cut the plastic bags into strips of approximately 1" width. Open two of these strips into plastic rings and lay one ring on top of the other. Pull the left loop to the right from the top and pull the right loop to the left from the bottom. This method will create a continuous strip of plastic yarn.
Handling Short Strips
If you accidentally cut the bag into two strips, don't worry! You can simply restart cutting as needed. You will have some shorter lengths instead of one long strand of yarn. It is recommended to work with the bag over your knee or with a piece of cardboard between the bag layers to ensure you are only cutting through one layer at a time.
Creating a Ball of Yarn
Once you have your continuous strip, wind it into a ball. You can now use this plastic yarn for knitting, crocheting, or other crafting projects. Depending on the thickness of your strips, you can make about 8-10 yards of yarn per plastic bag. If needed, cut additional bags and add them to the end of your yarn ball.
Preparing Fibres for Spinning
If you plan to spin your own yarn, you can further prepare the fibres by brushing them out. Pull apart or unply the yarn into its individual strands, and brush them as you would brush your hair. Continue brushing until the fibres no longer resemble yarn and look like soft, brushed hair. Lay the fibres on a flat surface, adding more until you have several good-sized handfuls. Finally, roll up the fibres width-wise to create a rolag, which is a roll of fibres ready for spinning into yarn.
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Spinning the fibres into yarn
If you are using plastic bags, you can cut them into strips of your desired thickness and then open these strips into plastic rings. Lay one ring on top of the other and pull the left loop to the right and the right loop to the left. This will create a continuous strand of yarn that you can then wind into a ball.
For fibres derived from other sources, such as PET plastic bottles, the process is slightly different. First, you will need to brush out the fibres until they are soft and resemble brushed hair. It is important to ensure that the fibres are facing the same way as you brush them out. Then, lay the fibres down on a flat surface and roll them up width-wise to create a rolag.
Once you have a rolag, you can begin the spinning process. Spinning involves twisting two or more strands of fibre together to create a continuous length of interlocked fibres, or yarn. This can be done by hand or using a spinning wheel. When spinning by hand, hold the rolag in one hand and draft, or pull, the fibres gently with the other hand. Twist the drafted fibres between your fingers, and then gently release the twist as you continue drafting the fibres. This will create a continuous yarn that you can wind into a ball as you go.
When using a spinning wheel, the process is similar, but the wheel does the work of twisting the fibres for you. Feed the rolag into the orifice, or opening, of the wheel, and use your hands to control the speed and tension of the spinning. As the wheel turns, it will twist the fibres into yarn, which you can then wind onto a bobbin or spool.
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Dyeing the yarn
The process of dyeing recycled plastic yarn starts with sorting the plastic bottles by colour. Clear bottles will produce a white-ish yarn, while green bottles will produce a green-ish yarn. The bottles are then ground into small flakes, dried, and melted into a thick liquid. This liquid is then filtered through a dye plate with tiny holes to create the yarn. For lighter-coloured flakes, bleaching can be used to achieve the desired shade.
When it comes to dyeing the yarn, there are a few different methods you can use. One method is to add the dye directly to the molten plastic before it is extruded into fibres. This method allows for a more consistent colour throughout the yarn. Another method is to dye the yarn after it has been spun, using traditional fibre dyeing techniques. This method allows for more creativity and experimentation with colours.
To add the dye to the molten plastic, you will need to invest in a dye plate with tiny holes. This plate will need to be placed at the end of the pipe through which the liquid plastic is extruded. The dye is then added to the plate, and the plastic is pushed through, mixing with the dye as it goes. This method creates a more consistent colour throughout the yarn, as the dye is incorporated into the plastic itself.
If you wish to dye the yarn after it has been spun, you can use traditional fibre dyeing techniques. This method allows for more flexibility in terms of colours and techniques. You can use natural or synthetic dyes, depending on your preference and the desired shade. Keep in mind that dyeing the yarn after spinning may result in a less consistent colour, but it opens up a world of creative possibilities.
Dyeing recycled plastic yarn allows for a range of colours and shades to be achieved, from light and natural tones to rich, dark hues. The choice of dye and technique will depend on the desired colour, as well as the equipment and resources available. Whether you choose to dye the molten plastic or the spun yarn, always remember to wear protective gear and work in a well-ventilated area when handling dyes and molten plastic.
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Weaving the yarn into textiles
Weaving yarn into textiles is a complex process that requires careful preparation and the right tools. Before weaving, it is important to decide on the type of weave you want to create. The two most common types of weaves are the plain weave and the twill weave. A plain weave is the most fundamental type of weaving, where the yarn is woven one over the other, creating a robust, long-lasting, and simple-to-sew fabric. A twill weave, on the other hand, is when the yarn is passed over one or more other yarns in the same direction, creating a variety of parallel diagonal ribs that are more aesthetically pleasing and wrinkle-free.
Once you have decided on the type of weave, it is important to prepare the yarn. This includes cutting the plastic into strips of uniform width, removing any wrinkles, and ensuring that the yarn is free of any knots or tangles. After the yarn is prepared, it is time to set up the loom. The loom is the device used to hold the vertical and horizontal yarns in place while weaving. There are two types of looms: handlooms and power looms. A handloom is manually operated, while a power loom uses electricity.
When setting up the loom, it is important to follow the correct warp preparation process. This includes warping, slashing, and drawing-in or tying-in the yarns. Warping involves transferring the yarns from cones and winding them onto a section beam in a parallel arrangement called a yarn sheet. Drawing-in is a critical step where the warp yarns are drawn into heddles, which are long, thin devices with an eye that group the yarns together and control the weave design. The heddles are held in harnesses, which raise and lower the yarns according to the fabric design.
After the loom is set up and the yarns are properly drawn in, the actual weaving process can begin. Weaving involves alternating between the vertical and horizontal yarns to create the desired fabric design. Coloured yarns can also be included to create varied designs in the fabric. It is important to ensure that the yarns are spaced evenly and that any broken yarns are addressed promptly to maintain the efficiency and quality of the weaving process.
Overall, weaving yarn into textiles requires careful preparation, the right tools, and a methodical approach to create the desired fabric design. With practice and patience, it is possible to create beautiful and unique textiles from recycled plastic yarn.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use any plastic bags, such as grocery store bags or plastic water bottles.
Depending on the thickness of the yarn, you can make about 8-10 yards of yarn per bag.
First, cut off the handles and the bottom of the bag. Then, cut the bag into strips. Once you have a continuous strip, roll the plastic into a ball.
