i heart knitting plastic bags

[glass__onion]

i came across the idea of knitting plastic bags from a post on the forums awhile ago. i've been working on this on and off for a few weeks. its finally finished!!

there are two parts: the main piece, which is the flap, back, bottom, and front of the bag. another long thin piece is the strap and the sides. i weaved the two pieces together using a crochet hook and yet another strip of plastic bag.
http://i7.tinypic.com/816slea.jpg

the flap is knitted out of target bag, which gives it a nice red and white pattern.
http://i7.tinypic.com/6okgoky.jpg

when i finished putting it together, i thought it still needed something. so i designed and made this button.
http://i13.tinypic.com/6ut9abk.jpg

the inside:
http://i10.tinypic.com/72s6o0x.jpg


and that's it. while i was still knitting the strap, i took it to school and got quite a lot of confused looks. it was hilarious. :p

[saintlike_ontheoutside]

How did you make that button!?!?!?!?!
You shop at Target ALOT! LOL. But who can resist Target!

[glass__onion]

thnx for your quick reply, i feel loved!

lafemmedramatique made a tutorial for how to make buttons: http://forum.threadbanger.com/showthread.php?t=1440

but my hot glue gun hates me, so i just taped down a safety pin on the back of a bottle cap, then modge podged it to make it more secure. then i designed the front on the computer, printed it out, glued it on, and put 2 layers of modge podge over it.

mmm... yes, i love modge podge.

by the way, i only used 4 target bags. i said the flap was knitted out of those target bags, not the entire thing.

[Auska Nova]

That's really spiffy, love the button <3. My sister once knitted PEZ wrapper, and taped over them all to hold them together, into a pencil case.

This looks awesome though.

Good job.

[glass__onion]

pez wrapper? lol i'd love to see that.

[ladyjanewriter]

Beautiful job! I can't knit, so I extra appreciate 'em.

[Auska Nova]

It probably got shoved somewhere or broke, since she didn't reinforce teh handle on it, but if i find it I'll take pictures.

[GMOgirl]

this is awesome. i am still trying to learn how to crochet/knit with online tutorials, but i find it hard...

your job is awesome. how sturdy is it?

[glass__onion]

how sturdy is it?

it has a kinda weird texture. not very sturdy, but pretty strong. if you put heavy items in it, it will stretch a bit but definately not rip.

[saintlike_ontheoutside]

But the button looks really big? How'd you make it out of a bottle cap?

[glass__onion]

i just found a really big bottle cap. which was nice, cuz most of them are small and you can fit much on them.

[Oggiecat]

I am curious as to how you sewed the thing together...seems like it would be hard on the fingers to get in there w/ a needle...

[glass__onion]

i didn't use a needle... i used a crochet hook to pull the strip of fabric in and out of the knitting plastic. it took awhile...

[TheCretin]

This is amazing! I would have given up on a project like this! Congrats on rockin' the plastic bags!

[garterstitch_greenbelt]

This is probably a silly question, but did you cut the bags into stripes before knitting? I actually saw something similar to this in the book "Craftivity" and was totally intrigued- now I'm extra motivated to try it.

[QuinnSparrow]

I have the urge to knit a plastic belt bag belt :)

[minesweeper]

thats flippin sweet

[glass__onion]

This is probably a silly question, but did you cut the bags into stripes before knitting? I actually saw something similar to this in the book "Craftivity" and was totally intrigued- now I'm extra motivated to try it.

i found a special way of cutting bags so they come out in one strip. here's the link: http://www.pieandcoffee.org/2005/11/17/how-to-knit-a-plastic-bag/

then i just tied all the strips together, and later tucked in all the ends.

try it! i would love to see what you create.

and thanks for all the comments, guys!

[blond_anja]

The bag looks great! It puts the one I made to shame.

[glass__onion]

oh, it was you who made it. your's was a huge inspiration to me! i tried to give you credit but couldn't find your thread.

thank your so much for the great idea.

[lunarjade]

Wow... that is so cool. Thanks for showing the link I loved reading through how to make a plastic bag into something useable. I don't know if I'd want an entire purse made out of them, though I think a shoulder strap would definitely add some interesting texture.

How durable is the bag you made? Can it hold heavy things without seeming like it's going to tear?

[glass__onion]

it's actually quite strong. it doesn't look like it is, but it seems very durable. i can't imagine anything you would put in a bag would make it rip. but it also depends on how thick you make the strips, how wide you make the strap, etc.

[pygmypuff]

Ooooh I wanna learn how to do this! Tute? Or is there one out there already, perhaps? Do you fuse some plastic bags and cut them in strips? Please help a clueless pygmypuff out here, glass__onion?

[Paige_loves_you]

omg i love the button!!! you finnished it!!! its apsolutly amazzzzing!!!!! carlys, im going to steal it from you, and im going to steal it soon. hahahahahaha jk but its very coolio!!! loveeee it!

[stary_bkvp]

mmmm, i don't know how to knit yet...my mom was suppose to teach me this break, but i ended up being away from home...bah! but it looks like a totally rad bag...must give it a go one day

[craftpotato]

This is wicked awesome! I'm working on something like this right now. Its taking me forever though because I'm kind of a n00b at knitting so the process is VERY slow...but one day I will finish. I was worried about the strength of the bag after it was finished, but i see that you posted something about it being able to carry heavy things pretty well, so that gives me hope that my bag will actually be useful when I'm done. :]

[heleneea]

u knitted/ crocheted with plastic bags!?!? why didnt i think of that! lol
but how do you do it? do you cut the bag into strips and then tie them together... or...?

[noritaylor]

how many bags did it take you?

[swizzles78]

Those are so great!!! You are very talented. I can not crochet for the life of me great job:D