Plarn

So each time we go to the grocery store, we try and bring our own bags.  But we forget, and end up with a ton of plastic bags.  For years I have been wanting to learn how to turn it in to yarn and make things with it.  Yesterday I figured it out and Sage and I made a bunch of plarn to take on our trip with us.

Lay out the bag

Roll it up

Cut of bottom

Cut off handles

Straighten it out

Roll it back up leaving three inches unrolled

Cut in 1.5 inch increments.  Do not cut 3 inch border.

Open it up and then cut diagonally so that you have one long piece of plarn.

Tie it on to your bobbin winder.

Wind it up.

Voila!

I found this pattern that I think I am going to use to make the scrubbies

http://www.allfreecrochet.com/Dishcloths/Plarn-n-Yarn-Pot-Scrubber#

Plarn 'n Yarn Pot Scrubber [Pattern]

plarn side of the scrubbie

This pattern requires the use of any worsted weight yarn (acrylic preferably) and plarn. For those of you not familiar, plarn is plastic yarn - created by up-cycling plastic bags. If you don't know how to make plarn, I've created a lovely tutorial that you can view here.

This pattern is for a circle pot scrubber. It is created in two pieces - a yarn side and a plarn side. There is an optional loop for hanging.

The trick with this pot scrubbie is when you join them, make sure "tail sides" are facing eachother (the inside of the scrubbie) and that you pay attention to how they are lining up as you join them.



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Plarn 'n Yarn Pot Scrubber
By Cris

Hook Size: K and N
Yarn: 2 or 3 bags made into plarn and ww yarn (acrylic). Any color yarn will work.

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
sl = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
st = stitch (normally referring to the top of the stitch below the current row)

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PLARN CIRCLE
Ch 4 using N hook
sl to join into a ring

Row 1
ch 2 (counts as dc), 11 dc into ring, sl in ch 2 to join (12 dc)

Row 2
ch 2 (counts as dc), 1 dc into same st as sl in bottom st, 2 dc in every st around, sl at end to join (24 dc)

Row 3
ch 1 (counts as sc), 2 sc in next st, *1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st* repeat between * around circle (36 sc)
sl in ch to join at end.

Tie off as you would with yarn.

YARN CIRCLE
Ch 4 using K hook
sl to join into a ring

Row 1
do not turn 
ch 2 (counts as dc), 11 dc into ring, sl in ch to join at the end (12 dc)

Row 2
do not turn
ch 2 (counts as dc), dc in same st as sl join, 2 dc in every st around, sl at end to join (24 dc)

Row 3
ch 2 (counts as dc) and turn work over
dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, single dc in next st* repeat between * around circle (36 dc)
sl in end to join

JOINING PLARN AND YARN CIRCLES
Trim any plarn tails down to about 2 inches. Trim the starting yarn tail down to a couple inches. There is no need to weave these tails in since they will be in the middle of the scrubbie.

Lay the inside of the yarn circle and inside of the plarn circle together (usually where the tails are sticking out). Your circles should be approximately the same size. Both have 36 stitches around the outside of the circle; however, as you go around, you must use sense in matching them up. You may need to put 2 stitches in the same plarn st but different yarn stitches to "catch up" between the size of the yarn stitches and the plarn stitches. Obviously, the plarn stitches are bigger since they used a larger hook.

Hold the circles, faces together, with the plarn towards you.

The yarn is what is being worked as the edging. The plarn should be tied off and not being used as all.


ch 1 (counts as an hdc)
YO and insert your hook into the first st of the plarn circle and the next st of the yarn piece. YO and pull through. YO again and pull through all 3 loops of the hook (this is the hdc).

hdc all the way around the circle (approximately 36 hdc) until the circles are joined together. As I said - pay attention that the circles are lined up. As you go around it will not be a perfect 1 - 1 ratio of plarn st to yarn st. You must watch and adjust as needed.

when finished with hdc's around the circle, sl to join.

(if you want a hanging loop): ch 12, sl in the base of the ch 12 to join. sl in next st to the left.

Tie off and weave in end.