What to do with plastic bags? Make something!

With the hubbub about Barrington possibly banning plastic bags from grocery stores, I thought I'd share some fun things to do with those bags.

Two years ago, The General Federation of Women's Clubs, Bristol County Women's Club (GFWC-BCWC) started working on making bags and rugs out of plastic grocery bags.  These projects turned out to be pretty, durable and fun to make.  We got together as a group and made the "plarn" - plastic yarn - and then individuals took the plarn home and knitted or crochetted some beautiful creations.  Since these grocery bags come in so many different colors, with things written on them in yet more colors, the bags and rugs and other projects are versitile and fun to make.

GFWC has an entire department dedicated to conservation, so this fit right into our programs and projects.  We even presented the International President with a handbag made out of plarn. 

So - if you're the crafty sort, attached are directions on how to make plarn, along with one knit and one crochet pattern to start you off.  You can find all sorts of patterns all over the Internet.  Or, just substitute plarn for your favorite pattern - be creative!