Crafts : Crochet : Crocheted Plastic : Home & Garden Television

Carol Duvall

Today’s segment was indeed a blast from the past...and it’s an idea that keeps being rediscovered over the years. It was back in the '70s that I was first introduced to the idea of using throwaway plastic wrappers for crocheting.

Figure A

Back then it was bread wrappers we used, and the favorite items to crochet were throw rugs. Mrs. Morris Johnson, who sent the rug I showed (Figure A), said that she had friends from all over the country sending her their bread wrappers. Nowadays, the plastic we use isn’t nearly as colorful or as heavy but we can collect enough to practically fill a room with just one trip to the grocery store. Because we use the plastic bags that our groceries come in, and from the items and photos that were sent to me, there is almost no limit to the items that can be made from these bags.

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Tote bags, either round drawstring bags or rectangle tote bags (Figure B), seem to be the favorites but I have also received small cell phone bags, a tubular water bottle holder, doilies and a stuffed doll (Figure C). Of all the items mentioned, however, I think that Mildred Lallasher of Linden, N.J., takes the prize for inventiveness. Mildred sent a photograph of herself dressed in her crocheted skirt and vest and carrying a crocheted purse (Figure D). To top it all off, everything was fringed! And everything was made from shopping bags.

Like making baked beans, everybody seems to have their own method. The same is true for cutting the bags but these seem to be the most popular.

Figure E

Figure F

Method #1
1. Flatten and smooth the bag then cut off the top to remove the handles (Figure E), and the bottom to remove the closed end (Figure F). This will render a tube open at both ends.

Figure G

2. Cut across the bag, cutting about two inches up from the bottom. This will render a ring of plastic. Continue cutting these two-inch wide rings up the entire length of the bag. To make things go faster, fold the bag lengthwise several times first then cut the strips (Figure G).

Figure H

3. Open the rings and connect them one at a time using a lark's head knot until you have a length of the rings (Figure H). Continue until you have enough to form a ball large enough to start crocheting. You will be crocheting with a double strand which is fine because the plastic is so thin.

Figure I

Method #2
1. Flatten and cut the top and bottom off of the bag as described above (Figure I).

Figure J

Figure K

2. Open the bag and starting at either the top or the bottom cut at an angle up about two inches (Figure J) then continue to cut around and around (Figure K) until you have cut the entire bag into one long two-inch wide strip. Angle the end as you did at the beginning.

3. Cut many, many strips as described. They can be joined with a simple square knot or do not bother to tie them together but simply overlap the ends when crocheting and they will stay together.

Method #3
This method seems a little tricky at first but is a favorite with several of our viewers and seems to go fast once you get the hang of it.
1. Flatten the bag as described and cut off the top and bottom.

Figure L

2. Undo the pleats on each side and press the bag flat (Figure L).

Figure M

Figure N

3. Fold one side of the bag over lengthwise about two inches (Figure M) and continue to fold it over and over until you come to within about one inch of the other side (Figure N).

Figure O

4. Cut through the folded plastic in two-inch wide strips cutting through the folded sections only. Do not cut through the one inch at the other side (Figure O).

Figure P

Figure Q

Figure R

Figure S

5. Open the top end of the bag and poke your finger all the way through the uncut one-inch strip at the other side of the bag (Figure P). Unfold the folded strip on the right and cut the end closest to you to the cut on the opposite side of the second strip (Figure Q). Continue cutting from each strip to the one next to it (Figure R) until all strips are cut (Figure S). There will be one section back at the beginning that needs to be cut. You will have one long strip.

The size hook to use is a matter of choice. Often it will depend on the weight of the plastic and the width of the strips. I usually used a K hook when I crocheted bread wrappers or trash bags. Paula Chavis, who has many items that she has made with plastic shopping bags on the Internet, usually uses a J and when using several thicknesses of the plastic even uses a Q. It’s all experimental. Look for a lot Paula’s ideas and other crocheters’ suggestions by searching the Internet for "crochet plastic bags."

Also in this Episode

Carol Duvall Show : Episode CDS-1924
•	Carved Eggs With Lisa Pavelka
•	Caged Bead and Wire Cuff
•	Crocheted Plastic

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Crocheted Plastic

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