How to Crochet Sleeping Mats for the Homeless from Plastic Shopping Bags

[@peacefullsleeps]

thats a cool way to reuse plastic bags!

[@lindamason839]

Yes! Between my family, a couple church groups, and a few friends I’m kept in supply. It takes about 600 bags for each mat.

[@peacefullsleeps]

@@lindamason839 I will try it out!

[@lindamason839]

@@peacefullsleeps I am so happy to learn that today! If your scissors are sharp you can probably stack a few bags on top of each other to cut the loops!

[@peacefullsleeps]

@@lindamason839 Okay thanks for the tip!

[@lindamason839]

NOTE: I recommend that you flatten & shape (stretch) the mat after each new row.

[@lindamason839]

PLARN (PLAstic yaRN) Sleeping Mats for the Homeless Crochet Pattern FIRST STEP: CUT THE LOOPS 1. Smooth the standard sized single use plastic bag on a flat hard surface with handles on your left. 2. Reach over the bag with your left hand to pinch and hold the top just to the right of where you see the handles start. 3. With your right hand, grasp the top right corner of the bag and fold the bag lengthwise towards you, not releasing your hold, with both hands. 4. Cut to the right of where you held the bag with your left hand, thus removing the handles and then snip off the bottom bag seam that you held with your right hand. Discard the handles and bottom seam to recycle. 5. Cut the remaining bag into 4ths (about 3” loops). SECOND STEP: LINK (JOIN) THE LOOPS TO MAKE PLARN BALLS 1. Open 2 loops, one in each hand. 2. Pick up two loops and pull one loop half way through the other so it looks like the letter “T”. Move the right end of the top of the letter “T” loop over the top of itself & through the left side of itself, then pull gently until snug to join the loops. Repeat steps adding to length of plarn (bottom of the letter “T” as you roll it into a large ball. THIRD STEP: CROCHET THE MAT 1. Using a size N metal crochet hook, make a loose chain 6 feet or 3 feet, depending if you want to add your crochet rows lengthwise or widthwise. (I usually add a couple inches as I have a tight stitch that decreases the final length.) 2. Single crochet back the length of your chain, with a turning stitch at the end of each row. 3. Turn and single crochet the second row. Continue adding rows until the mat measures 6 feet long and 3 feet wide. CARRYING STRAP Chain 12-15 and slipstitch to join first link to make a circle. This is how I make the carrying strap for the 6’ X 3’ folded lengthwise and rolled plarn mat: Single stitch every stitch around the circle then chain 7 feet and make another 12-15 chain circle and slip stitch to join. Single stitch around the new circle and when you get back around to the slip stitch, just continue to single crochet along the 7’ length til you’re back to the first circle. To make the carrying strap as wide as desired, just continue to use the single stitch around the first circle, then the 7’ length, then around the 2nd circle for as many rows as needed. I usually make 3 or 4 rows. Volunteer DE 50+ Delaware Department of Health & Social Services 546 South Bedford Street Georgetown, DE 19947 Office: [phone] [e-mail]

[@lindamason839]

NOTE: I recommend that you flatten & shape (stretch) the mat after each row.