Let's Knit Magazine - Your knitting, your style

This was mentioned on another thread but no-one has come back to tell poor old Granny Gill what it is sooooo

[bWHAT IS IT please????? 

Sorry Gill i dont know what it is either,in fact i have never heard of it.

I had a google and found this on etsy Gill
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11076433

Or this one
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/640467/how_to_make_plarn_plastic_yarn.html

is plarn the “yarn” you make when you take apart plastic bags or old videos/cassettes and crochet/knit with them?

http://www.myrecycledbags.com/tutorial-for-making-plarn-yarn/

Hi Gill, just checked on “youtube” and its got a video of “plarn”. 

Its cutting up plastic bags into strips and joining them together.  Then you knit with them or crochet with them.

“pl=plastic, arn=yarn”

Hope this is of help.  Love Sues

I will stay with WOOL etc thank you. Ta very much Cheryl for the information, and Gayle. It must be my age ......I am just not “with it” enough but to me that seems like a load of old rubbish (no pun intended). What happens if you use these new fangled bags that decompose after so long????????

Shopping on the floor!!!!!

That is all they would be good for..........IS IT ME again   but yeuk!!!

Thank you SUES, as you can see ...I am not impressed.

I agree Gill,i will stay with wool,people knit with anythink now dont they?

Come on guys - it might not suit you but why be so derogatory? As my Nan always says, “It wouldn’t do for us all to be the same”.

From an environmental point of view it’s quite a good idea to turn old, clean, non-degradable plastic bags into stronger, reusable, hand-knitted or hand-crocheted (therefore very little extra energy input) shopping bags.

I doubt the process would be as enjoyable as knitting with yarn but I think you could get interesting results with their own kind of beauty, and “plarn” is probably stronger and less stretchy when knitted, so better for bags.

If people are knitting like this and enjoying making useful things from “rubbish”, what’s not to like?  I enjoy trying to find new uses for things that would get chucked out too, it’s actually a very creative process, and I’ve been thinking of having a go at this for a while - probably shall do sometime.

Hi,Shirls here,
I remember there was a phase when I was much younger - in my teens- when the ‘in thing’ then was to knit with old tights or stockings which were cut into shreds and knitted up on large needles. It had an interesting effect, especially if using different coloured tights/stockings. I’m not really surprised people are experimenting with alternative materials, that is after all how we now have such a wonderful selection of yarns to choose from. What a far cry from the days when there was only wool or nylon.
Now the yarns are so varied and the colours totally amazing I think as knitters we’re spoilt for choice, which is why we all have so much stashed away. I keep saying I have to keep buying ready for when I retire!
I hope you all have a good day, maybe sitting in the sun, rather than at work like me,Chained to the desk by a headsetjust looking out at it!

I personally haven’t used plarn but on Youtube I saw some clips of women in Africa going to vast rubbish tips and collecting plastic bags, washing them and then knitting/crocheting bags to sell to tourists etc. They were beautiful bags and helped generate money from nothing (the ultimate in recycling).

As you mention Gill, probably using the bags that quickly decompose won’t last as long but if they are looked after and not left to decompose they should be fine.

I don’t think I’ll be doing it though cos I have my bags for life and any carrier bags I use get used and used, then recycled anyway.

It’s certainly a new concept, just goes to show how inventive we knitters can be where ever we live in the world doesn’t it?

It certainly does!

It certainly does!

The weather here in Exeter is lovely and sunny, hope it’s the same where you are, especially if you’re sat outside knitting, used to do that a lot back in my pregnant days!

Where are you all?

Claire75 - 03 July 2008 12:18 PM

Come on guys - it might not suit you but why be so derogatory? As my Nan always says, “It wouldn’t do for us all to be the same”.

From an environmental point of view it’s quite a good idea to turn old, clean, non-degradable plastic bags into stronger, reusable, hand-knitted or hand-crocheted (therefore very little extra energy input) shopping bags.

I doubt the process would be as enjoyable as knitting with yarn but I think you could get interesting results with their own kind of beauty, and “plarn” is probably stronger and less stretchy when knitted, so better for bags.

If people are knitting like this and enjoying making useful things from “rubbish”, what’s not to like?  I enjoy trying to find new uses for things that would get chucked out too, it’s actually a very creative process, and I’ve been thinking of having a go at this for a while - probably shall do sometime.

I am not being “derogatory”, just giving my own opinion. I remember the 60s as well when we were experimenting with that kind of thing. We did’nt call it “plarn” though which is why I was confused.
It would’nt do if we were all the same, I know that. But after a life of make do and mend bringing up my children and recycling as a normal thing for saving money then I enjoy using all the lovely wools that are around now.