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We
may get some inspiration on how to use up plastic bags!
One environment consious reader made some interesting
suggestions which provide frugal possibilitiesthat are
endless.
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NOTE: It is important that we do not use bags
that we bring meat / fish from home.
We should take little pain to wash these bags and send
for recycling. |
There are 2 ways to cut bags. |
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| 1
) This first way is to use for a J hook or smaller.
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| 2)
Lay your bag down, leave the creases in and fold
in half longways. (See Figure 1 and Figure 2. ) |
| 3)
Cut off the bottom and the handles (see Figure 2
and Figure 3. [Note: We save these for stuffing
or to use as fringe for rugs, or makeing wreaths.]
) |
4)
Hold you bag in your hand and cut at an angle.
(see Figure 4.) |
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5)
Start cutting around the bag (see Figure 5) about
2 - 3 inches wide, or just use your finger as a
guide, they don't have to be perfect!! Just keep
cutting around and around until you finish up with
the bag. Now you have a long strip and can start
crocheting, or cut alot of bags, wind up the strips,
and start crocheting!! |
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The second method is for a J hook or larger. |
| 1)
Lay your bag down, leave the creases in and fold
in half longways. (See Figure 1 and Figure 2). [NOTE:
You can cut more than 1 bag at a time using this
method, by putting the folded bags on top of each
other, not too many, they do slip and slid when
cutting!!] |
| 2)
Cut off the bottom and the handles (see Figure 2
and Figure 3) [NOTE: I save these for stuffing,
fringe on rugs, or making wreaths.] |
| 3)
Again, you can decide how wide you want your strips.
I cut mine about 2 inches wide. Just cut the bags
across and you'll end up with loops, then connect
the loops to make your strips as long as you want
them. You can roll them up in a ball and start crocheting.
You can also use this method with a cutting board
and a rotary blade, the kind they use in quilting.
When you're crocheting it's easy just to add another
ball to it, just slide the beginning loop under
the last loop and push the new ball through the
new loop and pull - its attached!! |
| 4)
(For a Q hook use 2 of the strips together, as directions
above.) |
If
you bought bags - We hope you didn't, but if you did
- to match your color in your kitchen/bedroom or whatever,
cut these bags 4 to 5 inches wide as they are really
thin and will tear easly. We don't know how the color
will hold up yet either. We will update when we will
find out.
You
can also make stuffed animals, pumpkins anthing!!
All you need to use is a hot glue gun to put it together,
because the heat melts the plastic's together, but
don't let children play with these, they are for decorative
purposes only!! When stuffing an item, place your
stuffing inside two bags; that will make it water
proof, and the stuffing will not come out. Tie the
bags closed and tuck in the ends in the bag. (These
make great outdoor decorations!!) great outdoor decorations!!)
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We
also make alot of rugs, and yes they are washable, we
usually wash them with my towels, but if you add bleach
to them the reds turn an orange color, and please don't
put them in the dryer, let them air dry. The more you
wash them the softer the plastic gets, feels so good
on your feet!!
Plastic
bags are fun to work with and are very sturdy, we
didn't need to starch the angel we made as she stands
all by herself!! Plastic will not give like yarn does,
so you need to take more breaks until you get use
to the feel of it.
You can
use just about any pattern you find, just let your
imagination and plastic bags make a creations all
your own!!
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