Every time we go to any retail store, we can guarantee ourselves we will return with just as many bags as we do items. Well, almost, it just feels that way. The plastic bags are items we have purchased are placed in seem to multiply like rabbits.
There are quite a few household uses for these little multipliers. Those plastic bags can be used for trash can liners for the bathroom, reused on grocery shopping day, to coat chicken or fish for frying, to take on walks with your dog for pooper scooping, for the cat litter box when you are cleaning it, and for placing newspapers in for recycling.
While those ideas are not all the useful tips for those plastic bags, there are crafts for those little annoyances. You can use them for a paint palet, hold your scraps of material for future projects, making small area rugs, as a cover for areas you do not want to spray paint, and as a hair protector when you are painting your home or craft projects.
By using the plastic bags in making area rugs, you can create an insulated insert with them. While you do not have to insert them into fabric, you can leave them uncovered.
Materials for Making an Area Rug Out of Plastic Bags
Plastic bags from the produce department or the retail plastic packing bags. These will be used for making the area rug.
Crochet hook. Sizes: Any size you would use to crochet an afghan or similar projects.
Fabric. (Optional) The fabric will be used to make a slip cover for the plastic bag area rug. The fabric can be color matching or accenting the room being placed in.
Directions for Starting an Area Rug Out of Plastic Bags
You will want to start by separating the plastic bags into the different colors you have. By doing this, you can create a solid colored rug. If you are going to make the rug for an insert into a cover made from fabric, you will not have to separate the different colors of plastic bags.
Cut the bottom and handle seams from the bags.
Cut the bags into 1/4 or ½ inch strips the length of the bags. You will have shorter strips in between the handles.
Make a starter loop in the first strip you choose to use.
Making a Round Plastic Bag Area Rug
See note above when coming to each end of the strips.
Crochet a single crochet line of six. Make a circle with a slip stitch in the beginning stitch.
You will single crochet around the circle until you have the desired size of the plastic bag area rug.
Making A Square or Rectangular Plastic Bag Area Rug
NOTE: When you come to the last half inch of each strip, lay another strip on the last half inch of the strip to continue crocheting. You will do this at the end of each strip. By placing each end at the half inch mark, this will hold the ends together when being crocheted into the rug.
Crochet a chain the desired length you want the area rug to be.
For example: To make a 12-inch square rug, crochet a chain that has 39 stitches. Turn and crochet a single crochet into the third stitch from the hook. You will want to remember to chain two at the end of each row. This will keep your rug in a square.
You will want to continue the process until you have the desired size as with the round crocheted area rug.
Making a Slip Cover for Your Plastic Bag Area Rug
Measure the area rug with an extra half inch in all directions. The half inch will allow for the 1/4 to ½ inch seam allowance.
Leave one end or side open to insert the crocheted plastic bag area rug.
Fold in the open area the same distance as the seam allowance and sew opening shut.
While the plastic bag area rugs take quite a few cut strips and can be messy with all the strips, the finished craft project will be a fun one to do. You can also get your children to help with handing you the plastic strips when needed. They can also cut the plastic strips with blunt ended scissors if they are old enough to do this part.
