Weaving Plastic Bag Mats

One easy project appropriate for ages six to adult is weaving a doormat from left over bags.

Weaving plastic bag mats.

Lots of plastic bags with as many different colours as possible. Flatten the plastic bag to best you can and straighten any of the bags creases. Approx 140 plastic bags or 1260 yds of plarn size us 11 8mm scissors. Gauge 12 sts x 24 rows 4 10 cm in garter stitch.

Plastic bags 500 700 grocery bags knitting needles size 10 or higher or crochet needles o or p recommended scissors. A large piece of strong cardboard an old box would work well ruler. Crafters from the nanaimo harbour city seniors are turning plastic grocery bags into sleeping mats for the homeless. The next thing is that they need to be loop together to string up the looms.

Parents can teach about recycling in the house and how plastic bags take years to decompose. Instead of becoming landfill plastic bags can be used for fun craft projects. Follow these simple instructions for plastic bag weaving below. Cut off the handles and the bottom seam so that you re left with a rectangle.

It takes about 700 bags and four hours to make one mat for an adult person klemmer said. Materials to make a sleep mat from plastic bags. The goal is a 3 by 6 size plastic yarn mat. Cutting the bags is just the first step in the process of turning plastic bags into sleeping mats.

The mats are insulating waterproof and the plastic material is unfriendly to insects klemmer said. Knitters and crocheters will use their experience to test the gauge which will determine the number of plarn stitches. Repeat step 3 until mat measures 72 183 cm from edge. 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.

Unwanted plastic bags can make fantastic eco mats for the garden and it s a great way to have fun recycling. Cast on 72 stitches.