There is nothing worse for me than the last dregs of a project. The sewing in ends when knitting, the trimming and hiding of loose threads in sewing. The TIDYING UP part of any crafting – by the time I get to that stage, I’m just over it. I have very few semi-completed projects because I really hate having things left unfinished and I also have a mad drive once I’ve started something – I must get this finished ASAP!
This is why I’m quite surprised at my latest endeavour. You may have noticed that I’m on a bit of a knitting bent right now and after finishing up a bookmark earlier in the week I decided to try something a little more experimental.
That there is yarn made from plastic bags (also known by the hideously cutesy term “plarn”), a process which I promise to document with a tutorial this week sometime. I don’t know what it’s going to be yet but I’m rather enjoying the novelty of doing something a bit wacky and out there. The orange at the bottom is Sainsbury’s carrier bags and the green at the top is the wrapper from a pack of pampers. To be honest the pampers pack didn’t work so well, it’s very thick and not stretchy so it was difficult to manipulate and has become a far heavier fabric than the orange bags, but this is a learning curve and this knowledge in itself is handy to know.
So tell me – have you crafted with any supplies that are not exactly the norm? And do you enjoy the process of crafting more or the end result?
A reminder too that the sign-ups for the Little and Large swap are still open – it would be great to have some more participants!
Posted under knitting
This post was written by Vonnie on April 3, 2010
Excellent! I’ve been meaning to try plarn for ages but haven’t got round to it yet. I’ve tried using ripped up tights though!
I made a bag from it, they pictures are here if you are interested?
http://wints.is-a-geek.net/pookledo/wordpress/?p=26
Is it ok if I link to your blog from mine?
This is very cool. you could use it as a toy sling for your bathroom?
How interesting, never heard of plarn! The colours are great
Another person here who keeps meaning to try ‘plarn’ (yuck- is that really the best name for it?!) I’m planning on making a shopping bag out of it…one day….too many ideas too little time.
Like you I hate the fiddly bits you have to do at the end of any project. You have great fun then all of a sudden before you can sit back and admire your creation you have hours of boring stuff to do. Prob why I have a skirt that has been unfinished for years. Alls I have to do is hem it but thats just fiddly and boring!
Wish I had a handy little person to sign up for your swap. Sounds like much fun.
My grandmother used to crochet with plastic carrier bags about 20 years ago (back in Australia). From memory she made round tote type bags – handy for the beach because if any sand gets in it just falls back out through the holes.
Is it worth a post to the loos to get some more participants? Can’t think how it would trigger anyone :p
I did plarn, couldn’t get to grips with knitting it though and talking to people it seemed most find it easier to crochet but I can’t hook for toffee! I layered bits together and the ironed them together to create a new fabric that I could sew in the machine, looked rather good, will have to dig out the post and show you…….
That’s such a cool idea, I like the thought of something like carrier bags being recycled in this way. What do you plan on making with it?