Different uses for plastic grocery bag

The embargo on the distribution of plastic polyethylene bags in commerce in several Brazilian cities generated a strong controversy among government agencies, consumer protection agencies, nature protection institutions and traders. As the decision was made for the distribution of these bags to be free again, it is important that we learn upcycling, preventing the lack of definition of this conflict from causing us to accumulate piles of plastic bags and harm nature.

According to the Ministry of the Environment, the use of plastics by society, even though it is not as high as that of the industry, is quite impressive, since the plastic bag, the most common item of disposal, harms cities so much – clogging up drains, causing flooding and allowing with accumulation of water the proliferation of the dengue mosquito; as for nature–polluting the waters and killing animals that ingest it by mistake.

Many people aware of this damage to nature have developed techniques to reuse plastic bags and give them a new use, transforming them into useful objects for their own home or for themselves. The invention has been so well accepted that many of these products have gone on to be sold and generate extra income for creatives.

Crafts with plastic bags

All possible products to be generated from plastic bags originate from a single technique: crochet. The only difference between traditional crochet and plastic bag crochet is that instead of wool or fabric yarn, strips cut from plastic bags are used to form a ball of plastic yarn.

There are no limitations on the crochet stitches to be made with the plastic thread, nor on the result of the final product, including the crochet of plastic bags generates more resistant and waterproof products.

To make this type of craft you will need the following materials:

• Plastic bags;
• Moisturizing cream – use a cheap one;
• crochet hooks;
• Scissors.

The way to do it is very simple: start by cutting the handles and also the bottom of the bag you are going to use. Stretch the bag well so that its natural folds are undone. Then, fold one of the sides to the middle of the bag and fold it again, using the same measurement as before, leaving a part unbent. Cut vertical strips along the entire length of the folded part of the bag.

Unfold the strips and in the first one make a diagonal cut to form a tip. Take the end and follow it to the part that is not cut, cut by joining the next strip until a single strand is formed.

This huge yarn must be wound by hand to form the plastic ball to be crocheted. The moisturizer must be placed in the hand that will not be used with the needle and every time the needle is stitched, the tip of the needle must be wetted in the moisturizer so that the plastic thread created becomes more malleable for work.

If you were insecure for not having knowledge about crochet stitches, there are several specialized magazines on newsstands and artisan blogs that give the step by step of different types of braiding. Be sure to unleash your imagination and potential to make beautiful crafts that help nature on top of that.