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PLASTIC BAGS REPURPOSED

How to make PLARN

I've been asked how to make plastic yarn (PLARN) for crocheting, knitting, weaving purposes. So here's a brief run down for anyone who is interested.

Grab a clean (but used) supermarket plastic bag and smooth it out. Cut off the handles at the top and the seam at the bottom then open out the folded sides so you end up with a looped plastic bag

This has had the tops and seam cut off and the sides opened out to create a rectangular tube of plastic bag

Now fold it neatly as per the photo leaving about 3cm of the looped section not folded

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Next cut strips through the folded section but not into the looped section at this stage

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The tricky bit starts here!! I turn over my plastic bag so it's now upside down and the first cut is from the edge on the right to the first plastic bag slice, but only cut through the top layer of the looped section.

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Here's a picture of what you are trying to achieve. The angle section in this diagram is the looped uncut section.

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I turn it back over and open out the cut sections so it looks like a grass skirt. I place either my arm or a cardboard cylinder through the looped section and start cutting diagonally as per the above diagram finishing with your last cut going to the edge

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I roll it all up onto cardboard cylinder so I'm repurposing the foil or glad wrap cylinders as well.

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If you need further explanation you might like to access this youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo0xsp5SCFE

I hope you have fun making PLARN. I've experimented with tableware, bracelets, knitting and weaving. You may find it's a little difficult to use at times (it doesn't slide as well as yarn), but it's a great way to use up plastic bags and produce something artistic. 

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