What is "plarn?"
Plarn, or plastic yarn, is the process of taking non-recyclable plastic bags and repurposing them into strips to be used as yarn to create something new. In particular plarn can be used as sleeping mats for people without access to shelter. As sleeping mats, they're more hygienic, water proof, easily transportable, and provide protection from the cold concrete. They're a welcome comfort to those living rough, while also keeping more plastic out of landfill and our marine systems!
How to make sleeping mats
What you'll need:
- 500-700 plastic shopping bags (for a person-sized mat, but can vary depending on what you're using the mat for)
- 10mm or larger Crochet hook
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Flatten the plastic bag to best you can and straighten any of the bags creases
- Cut off the handles and the bottom seam so that you're left with a rectangle. This can then be cut into four strips that become loops when opened up.
- After you have lots of loops, hook them together with a basic larks head knot. This is done by overlapping two of the loops end-to-end, then pulling the top of one end through the middle intersection of the two loops. Repeat this step.
- From here you can start to crochet! You'll need approximately 42 chain stitches, and then continue to crochet until you arrive at your desired length.
- Recycle the scrap plastic at your local grocery store to ensure that nothing is wasted.