How to Knit a "Plarn" Shopping Bag

If you've been saving up your plastic bags and turning them into plarn (plastic yarn) little by little, you might be wondering just when you are going to get enough to make something. About 60 plastic bags worth is enough for a moderate sized shopping bag. Here is how I made mine:

- Use #11 bamboo knitting needles.
- Cast on 40 st.
- Knit 10, purl 1, Knit 29
- Purl 29, knit 1, Purl 10.
- This is your basic stockinet stitch with the single stitch reversed for where the bag will bend around the corner. Continue these two rows until your piece measures approximately 16" long.
- On a knit row, cast off 10, then purl the remainder of that row.
- Go back to normal stockinet stitch for about 3". This will be the bottom of your bag.
- On a knit row, purl the row and then cast on 10 stitches at the end of it.
- Purl 10, Knit 1, Purl 29.
- Knit 29, Purl 1, Knit 10
- You will have the sides on opposite sides of your rectangle. (See blog for picture.)
- Repeat those two rows until the new side of the bag is as tall as the first side.
- When the two sides are even, cast off. Fold the bag into a rectangular box shape and sew the sides together.
- Create handles by making two rectangles in stockinet stitch 7 stitches wide and about 14" long. Affix the two handles to the open end of the bag, one on either side.

Plarn bags are striking. Every one who sees my plarn bag comments on how cool it is. I think I am just going to print up a bunch of directions for making them and keep them in the bag and give them out. I think every one who lives in a country where plastic bags are still used should make a plarn bag. It will force you to think about these things that otherwise become toxic garbage.