How to Make Yarn From Plastic Bags

Going green is fun when you re-use plastic shopping bags as yarn for your crochet projects.

Instructions

1. Collect plastic bags in various colors. Your project will dictate how many of each color you will need, and ultimately, you will have to use trial and error to determine how many bags you need to make a generous ball of yarn. Make sure your bags are clean and dry, and free of any lingering odors. Icky bags can be washed and dried before using.

2. Lay the bags out flat. Tuck in the gussets in at the sides so that the bag is flat with no bunching or wadding. Feel free to make a neat stack of flattened bags before proceeding to the next step.

3. Cut off the handles and seamed bottom ends of the bags. Use sharp scissors and make the cuts even and clean. Discard the cut off pieces or save them to make embellishments on your finished project.

4. Fold the bag in half lengthwise, and then in half again. This leaves you with a flat, neat strip of plastic bag. Make certain your folds are even and everything is still tucked in evenly.

5. Snip the strip into pieces. Make cuts evenly along the strip to cut the bag into pieces, that when opened, form a loop.

6. Connect the loops together by looping them on themselves and pulling tightly. Connect each loop to the string until your yarn is as long as you need to complete your project. Roll your plastic bag yarn into a ball as the strand grows to prevent it from tangling.