This is an easy way to recycle. It is a simple plastic bag bag that only requires a basic
knowledge of two words: over and under. The only materials that you need can be found in
almost any home and the end product is useful, not just something pretty that sits on a shelf.
Step 1What You'll Need
For this bag you'll need:
1. An ample supply of plastic bags
2. Cardboard ( a little bit bigger than your finished bag)
3. Scissors
4. Yarn
5. Duct Tape (any color, I just happened to have teal)
Step 2Make Your Loom
Take your card board and cut small slits on the top and bottom sides. They should be about
half an inch apart and both sides should be identical. Its fine if they're not, but it makes it a
little bit easier if they are.
Step 3Threading your Loom
Now you are going to add the warp threads to your loom. The warp threads are the ones that
run vertically across your loom, later you will weave the weft threads on (plastic bags). This
is where your yarn comes in. You're going to need a lot so don't cut your piece off until your
done threading. Take the end and stick it through one of the end slots and wrap it around the
slot. Next hook it over the corresponding slot. Turn your loom over and hook your yarn
through another slot. Keep going like this until you've used all the slots up. Wrap the final end
around its slot. I know that all that sounds confusing, but hopefully my pictures will help.
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Step 4Making your "Yarn"
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Take your plastic bag and lay it out flat, with the side seams tucked in. Cut off the bottom and
the handles so that you are left with a plastic tube. You can weave these in later. Fold your
bag length wise and cut it into pieces about an inch and a half wide. Once you unfold and cut
these, they will be your yarn. (They will be loops until you make a small cut, the pictures will
explain more)
Step 5Shuttles!
This step is totally optional, but it makes weaving a whole lot quicker! Some people like using
shuttles and others don't, so its your choice. A shuttle (in this case) is a piece of left over
cardboard that is the same length as your loom. You use it like your plastic bags. Once you're
done with a side and you flip your loom over to keep going, set your plastic aside and pick up
your shuttle. Weave with it like you would with the plastic bag. Once you have it woven
through turn it on its side and pull your plastic through! (I know that wasn't very clear, but it
was the only way I could think of explaining it. Hopefully the pics will help.)
Step 6Begin Weaving!
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Now you will start adding your weft threads (a.k.a. plastic bag strips). Take the end of one
plastic bag strip and hook it through the same slot that you hooked your yarn through. Take
the other end and weave it through the warp threads. (Over, under, over, under). When you
get to the edge, note whether you went over or under last and do the opposite on the other
side. When you get to the end of one, tie on another and keep going. This is where it gets
tedious, so make sure that you make your "yarn" as you go along so that you'll have
something else to do. I reccomend doing this over a period of time, just because it takes so
long. It takes hours, I'm not kidding. I have pictures of my bag as I went along below so you
can see mine take shape.
Step 7Taking it Off the Loom!
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Yes, its finally time to take your hard work off your cardboard loom! Before you do this
though you have to tie off the ends. Take the yarn that was stuck through the slit at the bottom
of your bag and tie it to the end of the first plastic bag that you wove with. Do the same for
the other side. Now you will start the part that always makes me nervous. Cut the yarn that
toward the top part of your bag. I know this sounds confusing but I hope that the pictures
help. Tie strings that are next to each other together then flip it over and do the same. Finally
pull it off! this may take some wiggling but I promise that your bag will eventually come off.
It looks pretty messed up when it first comes off, but you can adjust it by pulling it however
you want to.
Step 8Handles
Now it is time to make and attach some handles to your new woven plastic bag bag. You can
make these however you want and out of whatever you want, but if you use plastic bags make
sure that they are strong enough to support your bag and whatever you put into it. Mine were
made from plastic bag handles twisted then braided together. OK, now that you have the
handles it is time to attach them! If you are well versed in the ways of fusing plastic bags you
can fuse them on. I however used duct tape. MAKE SURE YOUR BAG IS INSIDE
OUT!!!!!!!
Step 9Add a Lining
There are multiple ways to do this step. Again one way to do it is by fusing, but the other is
duct tape. If you use duct tape then follow these steps, if you decide to fuse, then I can't help
you, but I'll try to get a version using fusing up as soon as I learn how. So, the first step using
duct tape is to tear off one long piece that can go around your whole bag. This piece will then
need to be rolled up so that the sticky side is facing out. Make sure your bag is turned inside
out and wrap this around the top of your bag. Then make smaller rolls of tape and stick them
on other parts of your bag. Then take yet another plastic bag and cut the handles off. You then
need to figure out how much you need to cut off the top to make it fit your bag. You your bag
to fit snugly into it. (Remember, your bag is inside out) Attach the lining to your bag by
putting your bag inside and making sure that all the tape is secure.
Update: If you want to fuse your plastic lining onto the inside of your bag, then all that you
have to do is cut the handles and bottom off of a bag and but down the seam so you have a
long rectangular piece of plastic.Lay the plastic over the area you want to fuse. Place a piece
of parchment paper inside your bag and another one over your weaving and plastic rectangle.
Take an iron and put it on its third setting, then rub it over the parchment
paper/weaving/plastic. Do this all over the inside of your bag, then trim the extras. This gives
you an even and smoother lining for the inside of your bag.
Step 10Turn Right Side Out
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Turn it right side out! You have now made a recycled reusable shopping bag, purse, beach
bag, or what ever else you want to use it for.