What To Do With Plastic Bags?

My New Plastic Bag Crochet Blog

2010-05-23T00:12:00.000-07:00

I started a new blog about my plastic bag crochet endeavors.
From now on, all new posts will be here:
BagsBeGone.com

Themed Plastic Bag Crochet Bags

2009-10-31T12:56:00.000-07:00

It's always fun to make themed plastic bag bags - for holidays, special events, or sports teams.

For example, steelers fans are a really enthusiastic bunch - and my grandma, who lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is one of them. I crocheted her this plastic bag Steelers bag for her birthday. She takes it with her every time she goes to the Giant Eagle grocery shore and she always gets tons of compliments!

Plastic Bag Crochet Class in Reykjavik, Iceland

2009-10-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

I recently spent some time traveling around Iceland. And while I was there, I ended up teaching a plastic bag crochet workshop in Reykjavik. Some of the girls at the meeting were part of an organization called Green Drinks. I'm not too familiar with it, but it sounds pretty cool.

Plastic Bag Water Bottle Holder

2009-09-04T08:46:00.000-07:00

Sick of holding your heavy water bottle while you go on hikes in the desert? With a water bottle backpack made from plastic bags, now you don't have to.

Plastic Crocheted Shopping Bag - Photo from a Happy Customer

2009-08-31T05:06:00.000-07:00

A man from North Carolina bought a crocheted shopping bag from me about a year ago. I recently got an email from him telling me how much he likes his bag:

"I'd like to tell you I still use this bag at least once a week and almost always get comments on it.
It is often, 'I love this bag'. You did a great job. You're work is very impressive."

Here's a photo he sent me of two girls at the Harris Teeter grocery store filling up the bag.

Craft Magazine Maker Faire Podcast - Plastic Bag Crochet

2009-08-31T04:17:00.000-07:00

I participated in the 2007 Maker Faire in Austin, TX.
The editors of MAKE and CRAFT magazines selected some of their favorite projects and I was awarded a blue ribbon.

Here is a video of my workshop at the Maker Faire. I just found it on YouTube!

My project was about crocheting plastic bags to make plastic bag koosies with handles. You know...those things that you put your beer (or any canned beverage) in to keep it nice and cold.

Here are some photos of my booth:

The event was great fun and lots of people came out to give it a try.
:)

Plastic Bag Crochet Class in Bangkok, Thailand

2009-03-26T22:36:00.000-07:00

When I was staying in a guest house in Bangkok, I taught one of the women working there how to crochet. She was thrilled!

And the next day, the guest house owners helped me round up all the kids from the neighborhood and I taught a plastic bag crochet class. Most of the kids picked it up pretty easily and I bought enough crochet hooks that they were all able to go home with one. I saw some of the kids later in the alley and they all smiled and showed me their crochet hooks that they had safely hidden in their pockets. Cute.

The problem is that good, cheap crochet hooks are difficult to come by. The only affordable ones I could find at the fabric shop in Bangkok were crappy plastic ones and a few of them broke in the first few minutes. I'd like to do a project like this on a larger scale and set up an online shop where these kids can actually profit from the stuff they make. But it'll be hard to explain to them that this is a great way to help the environment AND make money when good crochet hooks in Bangkok sell for about $8-10 each!
I wish cheap, good quality crochet hooks were easier to come by. Anyone have any ideas?

Another Plastic Bag Backpack

2009-03-12T13:13:00.000-07:00

Recycled Plastic Cocktail Party in Perth, Australia

2009-03-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

When I was in Perth, I went to King's Park with my friend Amy and taught her how to crochet with plastic bags.

She also got really into fusing plastic bags and I went to her house to see a big stack of sheets she was making. Really impressive - and beautiful! They look like lace.

After I left, Amy and some of my other friends decided to throw a recycled plastic cocktail party. Everyone showed up to the party wearing a clothing item they made from recycled plastic.

Check out their lovely outfits. All from plastic!

I'm sad I missed the party. But I'm happy I was able to spread the love of making things with plastic bags.

Plastic Bag Tube Top

2008-09-04T21:35:00.000-07:00

Reusing Plastic Bags

2008-09-04T21:32:00.001-07:00

It's really satisfying to collect trash and reuse it. That way you feel like you're really truly recycling. When I was in Mexico, I collected colorful plastic bags from the streets, washed them in the shower, dried them, then crocheted them.

Here's a pretty picture of some of the bags I found:

Plastic Bag Crochet Rug

2008-09-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

Fusing Plastic Bags

2008-09-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

In April, I visited my grandma in Pittsburgh. We spent a day hanging out in her basement and fusing plastic bags together with an iron.

Fusing several layers of plastic bags is a cheap and easy way to create a durable, waterproof fabric. Once you've made some fabric, you can sew the sheets together to make pretty much anything you want.

Materials Needed:

plastic bags of any size or color
iron
wax paper, parchment paper, freezer paper, or laminated card stock (to protect the iron).

Check out these tutorials for instructions about fusing plastic bags:
http://etsylabs.blogspot.com/2007/05/long-overdue-fusing-plastic-bag.html
http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/2309732

Here's a great video tutorial about making a fused plastic bag messenger bag:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB1mE8e35UY

Sunset Valley ArtFest - Photos

2008-09-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

I just came across some old photos that I forgot to post.
These are from the Austin Green Art booth at the Sunset Valley ArtFest.

Video - Bleed Orange. Think Green.

2008-05-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

My bags are featured on this video.
Check it out!

http://www.utexas.edu/oncampus/2008/05/08/bleed-orange-think-green

~ Sunset Valley ArtFest ~

2008-04-20T18:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend (Saturday, 9am to 6pm), I will be with Austin Green Art at the Sunset Valley ArtFest in conjunction with the Sunset Valley Farmers' Market. Come check it out.

~ Tan Plastic Bag Shopping Bag with Pockets ~

2008-04-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

~ Earth Day Pictures ~

2008-04-20T18:08:00.001-07:00

Earth Day was a lot of fun. I sold a bunch of koozies, taught a few people how to crochet with plastic bags, and made some new friends. Here are my pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11758393@N00/sets/72157604643990086/

~ Earth Day at Republic Square Park - Plastic Bag Art ~

2008-04-15T18:41:00.000-07:00

This weekend (Saturday 9am-6pm) Austin Green Art will be installing the Baggy Booth for the Earth Day event at Republic Square Park. It will be the same set up as the Clean Sweep - lots of plastic bag projects and fun collaborative art. I will be manning the booth and showing some of my creations. Come check it out: www.austinearthday.com

~ Austin Clean Sweep - Plastic Bag Art ~

2008-04-14T22:49:00.001-07:00

I collaborated with Austin Green Art and several other people to make little booklets of plastic bag projects. They were handed out at the Austin Clean Sweep. Here is an online version:

http://austingreenart.org/PlasticBagProjects-Book-01.pdf

Here are a few more plastic bag projects I found online that didn't make it into the final book:

Unfortunately I was out of town this past week and wasn't able to make it to the Austin Clean Sweep. It looks like it was a great time though. I got to display my plastic bag crochet projects, there was interactive plastic bag art, Virginia was there with her bag-o-matic kits, and there were hands on tutorials about fusing plastic bags. Here are some pictures:

~ Colorful Plastic Bag Shopping Bag with Pockets ~

2008-03-30T19:47:00.001-07:00

Shopping Bag with Pockets
Originally uploaded by Cristen Rene

~ Plastic Bag Shopping Bag ~

2008-02-06T22:44:00.001-08:00

Look at all the groceries this bag holds!

~ New Creations - Not Made From Plastic Bags, But Still Fun ~

2008-02-06T22:26:00.001-08:00

Dog Sweater (made from recycled yarn)

Floor Rug (made from recycled ribbon scraps)

Wall Hanging or Trivet (made from recycled magazines, newspapers, and phone books)

~ Updates ~

2008-01-22T23:27:00.000-08:00

*I started an account with Etsy - an online platform for buying and selling handmade things.
Here is my online store: http://cristencrochet.etsy.com

*Natalie, the editor of Craftzine posted a podcast of me at the Austin MakerFaire. Check it Out

~ Plastic Bag Backpacks ~

2007-10-18T17:47:00.001-07:00

plastic bag backpacks
Originally uploaded by Cristen Rene

~ Plastic Bag Hats ~

2007-10-15T13:48:00.001-07:00

Plastic Bag Hat
Originally uploaded by Cristen Rene

~ Preparing Plastic Bags for Crocheting ~

2007-08-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

Preparing plastic bags is pretty simple.

Start with a plastic bag.

Fold it in half.

Fold it in half several more times.

Cut the handles off.

Cut the bottom off.

Cut the bag into about one-inch strips.

You should end up with about 10 pieces per bag.

Unfold 2 pieces and loop them together.

Loop all the bag pieces together to form a chain.

Roll the plastic bag chain into a ball.

I typically wait until I have a lot of bags. Then I cut them all up and end up with a crazy mess like this. Then I roll this mess into several large balls.

~ Other (non plastic bag) Stuff I Crochet ~

2007-08-25T10:05:00.001-07:00

I like finding yarn at garage sales and thrift stores. I especially like really old yarn that was probably sitting in some old lady's closet for several decades. It makes me happy that someone probably bought the yarn with a specific project in mind, never got around to doing it (but thought they would, so kept it around forever just in case), finally got rid of the yarn, and now I'm able to put it to good use.
Here are some things I made with this yarn:

~ Plastic Bag Koosies ~

2007-08-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

~ Plastic Bag Backpacks ~

2007-08-23T07:40:00.000-07:00

White Bags -- HEB
Brown Bags -- Fiesta, Central Market, Whole Foods, and Wheatsville

Brown bags -- HEB
Green bags -- HEB in Mexico
Yellow and Blue bags -- Various places in Mexico

White Bags -- HEB and various other stores
Colored Bags -- various gift bags

Colored Bags -- collected on the streets of Monterrey and Tampico
Yellow bottom -- Best Buy and American Statesman

A little bit of everything