How to Make Plarn (Plastic Yarn)

T​he other day I made use of my gazillions of Tops/Wal-Mart/Dollar General/Dollar Tree, etc. grocery sacks. I made SO MUCH PLARN! 

Isn't it fun to say? Plarn plarn plarn!
You may be asking yourself why anyone would want to make plarn. Reason number one is to recycle those plastic bags. How many bags could we keep out of landfills or from floating in our lakes, creeks, and rivers? Plastic bags litter beaches and roadsides and they sit in landfills just... sitting... not decomposing. Besides the environmental and aesthetic benefits, you get to de-clutter your pantry or under-sink areas.
What can you do with plastic yarn? Anything your brain can come up with. Weave a basket. Make some coasters. Knit or crochet a reusable grocery bag (one that won't rip the second time you use it). Make a doggy treat bag and to take with you on walks. Make a sleeping mat for a homeless person. Just think, it's easily washed off and provides insulation and a barrier for someone who may be sleeping on the ground. That's gold. There are many great ideas out there to make use of your plarn.

At long last, here is a step by step, with pictures, for making plarn. It takes a little time if you make as much as I did, but it's a great way to use up the plastic bags that you say you're going to recycle but you always forget to grab them when you go to Wal-Mart.

Step 1: Gather bags

I don't have a picture of bags, but I'm pretty sure you know what they look like. 

Step 2: Fold the bags all nice and neat

You have to make sure the bags aren't crumpled up. Lay them out flat and fold them the way they are made to fold. 

Fold the bags in half.

Fold the bag in half again.

Step 3: Snip snip!

Cut off the handles below that ripped spot at the top. You don't want little tattered pieces.

  

Also cut the sealed seam at the bottom of the bag. If you don't cut that seam then you can't open the bottom piece of plastic. 

Next cut the plastic bag into strips. I cut mine about 2 inches wide. The wider you cut the strips the thicker and stronger the plarn will be. I don't suggest cutting thinner than an inch. The plarn won't be very strong.

 

Step 4: Connecting the dots 

Here is where you open the little pieces you've cut. They make big plastic rings. You have to tie the bags together. I admit that I have no idea what the proper name of this knot is. So lay the two rings one on top of the other like a vinn diagram. Let's say the left ring is on top.

Reach under the right side of the right loop and grab the left loop.

Then grab the left side of the right loop and pull the two pieces you're holding away from one another.

Viola. You have the first link. Continue in this fashion until you have as much plarn as you want.

 

Step 5: Spinning (optional)

Spinning the plarn isn't necessary and it does take a long time if you have made a lot of plarn. Spinning makes the plarn a little stronger and more like worsted weight yarn. If you don't spin the plarn, no big deal, it's just going to be kinda puffy and more like bulky yarn.

 

That's all I have for today! I hope you enjoy your plarn. If you don't want to take all the time to do this yourself, or if you need more than what you have, check out my Etsy shop.

~Katie