Plarn 101: Tools and Equipment

1.      Big Sharp Scissors - You certainly need this to cut up the plastic bags. The correct size is the one that lets you cut up a folded plastic bag with one snip. If you use dull ones, you'll have jagged strips which may give you problems later on. Moreover, plastic bags shift a lot while being cut. Having sharp scissors minimizes this.

2.      Small Trash Can with Lid - You'll be cutting and accumulating bits and pieces of plastic bags as you make and crochet plarn. Clean as you go and put these bits and pieces of plastic bags immediately into a small trash can. Bits of plastic bags are very light and will be all over the place. If you have a little child at home, these could also pose health risks.

Alternative: I use an empty cigarette box with a flip top or any box with a flip top. I think piggy banks would be great too.

3.      Small Bowl - While cutting up plastic bags, it's best to put the strips in a bowl with a little water. I do this for two reasons: a) it weighs down the plastic strips in case there's a sudden gust of wind courtesy of our electric fan; and b) it strengthens and moistens the plastic strips so they'll be easier to tie together and make that perfectly tight knot. (The knots have to be very tight so they become unnoticeable in your crocheted item.)

4.      Iron - For flat pieces of crocheted plarn, ironing it between two pieces of paper sets crochet stitches in place. I got this idea from fusing plastic bags, although I learned from other plarn crocheters that they are already practicing it. (For more discussions on working with alternative yarn like plarn, join the group Alternative Yarn on Ravelry. Your not on Ravelry yet? You should if like crochet or knitting!)

5.      White Oslo Paper - When ironing crocheted plarn pieces between two pieces of paper, the best paper to use is Oslo paper. Oslo paper is a kind of paper used for drawing because it does not tear easily when wet. I've tried various papers (bond paper, newspaper, Manila paper, etc) but Oslo paper gave the most desirable effect. It seems to distribute heat evenly and slowly, so as not to burn the plarn. But if there's no Oslo paper around, use white paper.

My group-mates in Ravelry's Alternative Yarn Group have been very generous in sharing their first hand experience with plarn. Here's what they use aside from the ones I personally use. I have to be honest, this part is just second hand information.

Xine: She cuts her plarn using rotary cutter, and cutting mat along with clear plastic ruler because she can't her hands can't survive cutting plarn with scissors.

KristyRecylcles: She is known in Ravelry to spins plarn with other alternative yarns to create gorgeous plarn combos. Thus she uses various kinds of spindles: drop spindle, Navajo spindle, and spinning wheel. She also uses a ball winder because she finds plarn easier to deal with in that form.