Do you ever feel bad when you hear the question at the grocery store “Paper or Plastic?” because all your bags are still in the trunk of your car? Our European friends probably do not know what I am talking about. Well here is my solution.
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There are a couple of ladies in our county club that do such a thing. My daughter in law gave me a container to hold pencils and such that a co-worker made. These are too much for my hands. I have both thumb joint replacements. I can do small projects if easy enough. Any bags with color on them [like yours] gives a pretty touch to otherwise plain bags.
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by crafter2243
23 Sep 2015
You are right. This is not a project for anyone having problems with their hands/wrists. The plastic does not move as easy as yarn would. You better receive them as gifts :-)
18488Interesting work. For the past 4 years in my bit of the UK we have had to pay for all poly bags when shopping so I always have bags with me. As a result of having to buy poly bags the use of them has decreased greatly and most people have bags with them when shopping
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by crafter2243
19 Sep 2015
Correct. We in States are behind in that effort and in my area the bags are still free. I think it will change pretty soon. I have reusable shopping bags in my trunk, but it is difficult to brake the old habit. Consequently I forget to take them with me in the store. I am getting a bit better about it.
115755a wonderful way to recycle all those silly bags! well done. ~hugs~
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299559I like your bag, great for all kinds of things. Thank you for sharing.
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9792Great idea I crochet mats to wipe feet before entering house when its wet and messy outside/Lillian
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1457912023Thank you for showing us this. You inspired me to do something about the plastic bags I have accumulated. So I did a search and found this site which has a lot of information on plastic bag yarn and things to do with plastic bags.
www.needlepointers.com
1 comment
by crafter2243
edited 29 Jul 2015
I am glad you found it useful. Have fun. There are many ways of making the strips. For the bag I like this one I like this method the best. Search on YouTube for
---Making Plarn, Method 3 linking loops------
When I add the link here it does not work
16707Great idea here is a pattern very similar to yours!
www.canadianliving.com
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by crafter2243
29 Jul 2015
Thank you. I saw another one like mine. I guess others thought of how to accomplish it.
33350This is a great and handy idea, although most bags made now are biodegradable.
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by crafter2243
29 Jul 2015
So far I have not seen any. I guess eventually they will degrade but it takes a long long time.
3385This is a great idea. I usually take my plastic bags to the farmers market or thrift stores by me or give to the ones selling produce from their gardens locally. they have to buy them so why not help them out since I don't need or want them.
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35301I've never seen these. Is there a pattern to follow?
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by crafter2243
27 Jul 2015
Sorry Toogie. I made it up but it is real basic. I did crochet a rectangular piece to the size I wanted.Then just went around and around till I had the height. I know there are patterns on the internet. I had started with a small Easter basket. Google PLARN and you might find some.
by Patricia109
31 Jul 2015
Toogie, could you use the blended plastic bag fabric instead of that baby waterproof fabric that is said to be going out of circulation??
1097809754I remember my mother making a bag out of the bread wrappers decades ago. Is it hard on the hands to crochet this bag. And yes, my bags are a;ways in the car. Unfortunately, often the wrong car or way in the back if I am in my car. Now where did my memory go?
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by crafter2243
27 Jul 2015
That was a lot more work, because the diameter is so much smaller. Working with this is a bit harder and I would not recommend for anyone dealing with wrist pain. The plastic sticks to the crochet hook a bit more.
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70755my mom made those out of bread wrappers, just for the colors and rugs for the mudroom. this one looks great!
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1826Well done! Lots of gold star stickers for you! (Remember those?) :)
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by crafter2243
27 Jul 2015
Thank you. I am old but do not remember gold star stickers. Clue me in :-)
by sharonleekesner
27 Jul 2015
Hahahaha, when we were little and if we had a really great teacher a little gold star would be on the top of our paper. Sometimes the star was an actual sticker and sometimes it was just drawn. I think they are still used to this day for different groups and classes.
by crafter2243
27 Jul 2015
That explains it. I grew up in Germany and no gold stickers from teachers. Have lived in the US for over 50 years.
by gramsbear
27 Jul 2015
Yes, My GGS just finished 2nd grade & his papers had Stars, smily faces plus other stickers on good papers!!! He is a 3rd grader this year, so I think the stickers stay in 2nd grade!!! hahaha!
by joansatx
27 Jul 2015
Ya'll are so funny! AND...the stickers used to be lick-'em style not peel&press :) My first few piano teachers used them, too, as we progressed through each book.
9536This is an excellent beach tote! I have mostly ugly grey or brown bags so my piece would not look so great. I have recycled these bags back at the store in the past. I do believe they will be phased out and I will be required to think before going shopping. It is hard enough to remember the list let alone writing it. Lol! You did a fabulous job on this.
1 comment
by crafter2243
edited 27 Jul 2015
Ha ha. You are right. Remembering is the hard part. I am too much a creature of habit and old ones are hard to brake.
173693Great way to recycle!! very serviceable--take anywhere-- Great job!!
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3074Fantastic. I need to see a tutorial.
3 comments
by crafter2243
27 Jul 2015
http://bagsbegone.com/learn/
This will help and if you search for PLARN you get all kind of ideas. Outdoor place mats, plant hanger etc. My kids use the bag for the beach. One can also knit but the crochet hold it's shape better
by jrob
27 Jul 2015
Thanks, I'll take a look. Although I'm not sure why, because I've never crocheted. Sometimes, I'm delusional and think I can do anything. :)
by crafter2243
27 Jul 2015
They have knitting patterns too. I would not recommend learning to crochet with this medium. Ha, ha
158716318443Well done a great way to recycle those pesky bags.. I had bought approx 20 of those reusable bags but when I got sick DH took over the shopping and he always forgets now we have them coming out our ears you'd think after 4yrs of my nagging he'd get the message. lol
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by crafter2243
27 Jul 2015
I also have reusable bags in my trunk. Problem is with me, that I have not gotten used to bring them with me into the store. Old habits are hard to brake.
Maybe you can have your husband sit down and cut those bags into strips. :)
45918Excellent - how wide do you cut your strips?
England is following the rest of Britain in bringing in a charge for plastic bags in the autumn. For years now, though, we have carried re-usable bags with us.
2 comments
by crafter2243
edited 28 Jul 2015
Between 1 to 1 1/2 inch. I kind of eyeball it. The way I cut them and interlock them they end up being double. Here is the method I used. It is a video on Youtube. Link would not work. Search for
Making Plarn, Method 3 linking loop
by poletticel
29 Jul 2015
Hère in France if you request a plastic bag in a store, grocery or supermarket you havé to pay for it, and you can only have reusable bags. Great idea this upcycling big tote, contrats !!!
140717wow. You did a great recycling here !!! Compliments to you!
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743286Excellent recycle, you would have needed quite a few plastic bag for this. Well done. Sandra.
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by crafter2243
27 Jul 2015
It does take a lot. Honestly they do seem to multiply in my house. So far no shortage.
24331The majority don't ask that question here, you are supposed to think of a way to take it home yourself. Some stores have (used) cardboard boxes you can grab or sturdy bags (at a price). Funnily it's shops like quiltshops or knitting wool and fabric stores that still supply plastic bags.
I love your recycled one, the tiny bits of colour gives it just that little bit extra.
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by crafter2243
27 Jul 2015
It's the different writing and advertisement that creates those flex. Here we are bit spoiled verses Europe. A person bags your groceries for you and the bags are still free. I think it will change soon, and we will have to pay for those bags
145304Im guilty of watching the girl pack my shopping into plastic bags , and I have my own in my hand Doh what a great bag
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by crafter2243
27 Jul 2015
This one is made from the plastic bags I brought home, because of my forgetfulness.
23581Oh yes we do know what you mean, in the shops (Belgium) they don't give any bags anymore unless you pay for it.
Great solution. How do you keep it in shape when heavy things are in it ?
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148901Lovely bag. Did you crochet with strips of plastic? Great for recycling
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by crafter2243
27 Jul 2015
Yes I did. It removes the guilt after requesting plastic. My kids and grand kids love them for the beach.
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