How to Prepare Plastic Bags for Knitting or Crochet

Last Updated: October 8, 2020

If you have decided to knit or crochet a bag from plastic bags, you'll need to know how to prepare the plastic bag first. This article demonstrates how to create the ribbon of plastic needed for creating the "plastic yarn" that you can use for knitting or crocheting your new bag.

Steps

1
Trim the bottom seam from the plastic bag.^{[1]
X
Research source}
2
Unfold as much of the bag as possible. Flatten it out.^{[2]
X
Research source}
3
Fold the bag not quite in half width wise (with the fold perpendicular to the seam you cut off). Let one of the edges stick out about 1 inch/2.5 cm. Fold the part you already folded in half, repeating until the folded part is also about 1 inch/2.5 cm wide.
4
Cut off the handles.^{[3]
X
Research source}
5
About every inch or 2.5 cm, cut the folded part of the bag with vertical slits. Make sure you cut all the way through the folded part, but try not to cut into the unfolded part of the bag.^{[4]
X
Research source}
6
Grab the unfolded part of the bag, and shake gently. The folded part will unroll into a fringe.^{[5]
X
Research source}
7
Open up the unfolded part of the bag and spread flat. It helps to slide in a piece of cardboard or a cardboard tube under the unfolded part so that you don't accidentally cut through the fringe area.
8
Make a cut from the center (width wise) of the unfolded part to the nearest cut, diagonally.
9
Keep cutting across the unfolded part, diagonally, connecting the different cuts.
10
The last cut will be similar to the first, finishing in the center, width wise, of the unfolded part. You have just turned the plastic bag into a single long, thin, plastic ribbon.
11
Roll the plastic ribbon into a ball. Now you can knit something like a pencil holder.

Community Q&A

Question

What is the best way to join the plastic ribbons together when they end?

Community Answer

Hold the ends of the two ribbons together with cut ends facing in the same direction. Make a small slit through both ribbons, like a buttonhole, and pull the end of the new ribbon through both slits to secure it.
Question

Can "plarn" be used on a knitting loom?

Rebekah Armstrong

Community Answer

I have not tried to use plarn on a knitting loom, but I can tell you that it is not spun. Loops are cut from plastic grocery bags and then joined to form long strands of plastic.
Question

Is there a video that can help me?

Community Answer

Yes, you can find lots of videos on YouTube to help you prepare your bags for knitting or crocheting.
Question

I am not getting good results trying to join the loose ends based on the above instructions. What can I do?

Community Answer

Instead of cutting it into ribbons, cut across the bag so that you have the full circle. Then, join them like you would rubber bands, by looping it through.
Question

What size crochet hooks work best?

Community Answer

It depends on the final size of your plastic bag ribbons and the gauge of your project.
Question

Is there a place to buy colored plastic bags?

Community Answer

You can buy plastic bags online, such as Amazon. You can also go to retail stores; many clothing and makeup supply shops have colorful bags.
Question

Where can I buy colored Lastic?

Community Answer

You can buy colored Lastic at most craft stores such as Joann's or Hobby Lobby.

Warnings

Keep plastic bags away from small children. They are a potential source of suffocation.

Thanks!
Helpful 27 Not Helpful 9
Cats are also notorious for swallowing things they shouldn't. Plastic yarn could mean an expensive trip to the vet.

Thanks!
Helpful 32 Not Helpful 12
Beware of the cat––claws and plastic bag yarn don't mix.

Thanks!
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0