Craft: A Bag out of Bags

I've always admired how cool the bags made out of plastic bags are when I've seen them around, but never gotten around to actually making one. My best friend in high school taught me how to crochet, but I never advanced beyond the simple things, like scarves and blankets. But using my powers of logic and creativity, I managed to figure out how to construct a bag without the help of the internet or anyone else (which it really wasn't that hard). The hard part, however, was figuring out how to cut up the plastic bags to use them as "yarn". 

Allow me to teach you!

Step 1: Lay the bag out as flat as you can. I was doing this on the floor, but a kitchen counter or table works just as well. 

Step 2: Trim off the bottom. 

Step 3: Spread the remaining bag flat. The edges of my bag always curl kind of goofy because of how they're made. I just trim that part off too so it's square. 

Step 4: Fold one side of the bag up towards the other, BUT NOT EVEN WITH THE OTHER SIDE! Leave about 1 inch of space on the unfolded side. 

Step 5: Fold the bag again repeatedly, always leaving that one inch of space, until the two sections are about the same size.

Step 6: Cut 1 inch slices along the folded part, being careful to not cut through all the way to the other side. At the other end, cut off the handles to the bag. 

Step 7: Shake out the bag. 

Step 8: Now you're going to have to make this one long strip to use as "yarn". I like to use my arm as my divider. I have also been told that cardboard can work. I just like my arm because it's faster and requires less materials. 

 

Start in the middle of where the 2 cuts are and cut diagonally to one of the two nearest slices. I go right to left because I'm right handed. So in the picture above, you would cut from the seam up and left to where the cut in the plastic is. 

So it looks like this. 

Now you can use your brain. Cut diagonally right up to left for each slice, making sure to keep it all connected as one long piece of "yarn". 

Once you're to the top, end the same way you started. Wind up the plastic yarn and use as needed. I did a whole bunch of bags at once so I can have them at the ready. 

Here's my progress so far! I've used 7 white bags and I just started on my second yellow one. I anticipate using a minimum of 50 bags and plan on adding Kohl's/Walmart bags to my collection for alternating white, yellow, and gray stripes.