Plarn Sleeping Mat (Knitting)
Plarn Sleeping Mat For the Homeless
"Plarn" is short for plastic yarn, since the "yarn" that I used to knit the sleeping mat is made entirely out of plastic bags which are cut into strips and tied together to make a long plastic rope.
I learned this technique from a Youtube video called "How To Make a PLARN Bed Roll".
For the Plarn, we used supermarket bags that were not being used anymore, and the sleeping mat was knitted using "Plarn" and size 10 knitting needles.
My mother learned how to knit from her mother, and so she taught Cindy and me the skill as well. Knitting using plastic is more difficult since Plarn is more rigid than wool, but the technique is the same.
It took around a month to gather enough plastic bags to make Plarn (around 400 plastic bags for 1 sleeping bag) and another month and a half to knit the sleeping mat. My mother helped us during the process and helped us fix any mistakes we made and taught us how to fix them by ourselves for next time.
This skill requires a lot of patience, hand-eye coordination, and focus. This is because 1 sleeping mat could take approximately 3 months to knit, and you could face many mistakes that are difficult to fix during the process. I usually am a very patient person, so this skill helped me relax whenever I needed a break from technology or when I was studying for a test.
The end result was a cushioned mat made of woven plastic bags with dimensions of approximately 175 cm by 65 cm, which can be rolled and carried on the shoulder using the built-in shoulder strap. The knitted strap, also made of Plarn, was attached to the rolled sleeping mat to make it easier to be transported from one place to another.
The purpose of the sleeping mat is to be donated to a homeless person and to recycle used plastic bags into a usable and eco-friendly product.
"Plarn" is short for plastic yarn, since the "yarn" that I used to knit the sleeping mat is made entirely out of plastic bags which are cut into strips and tied together to make a long plastic rope.
I learned this technique from a Youtube video called "How To Make a PLARN Bed Roll".
For the Plarn, we used supermarket bags that were not being used anymore, and the sleeping mat was knitted using "Plarn" and size 10 knitting needles.
My mother learned how to knit from her mother, and so she taught Cindy and me the skill as well. Knitting using plastic is more difficult since Plarn is more rigid than wool, but the technique is the same.
It took around a month to gather enough plastic bags to make Plarn (around 400 plastic bags for 1 sleeping bag) and another month and a half to knit the sleeping mat. My mother helped us during the process and helped us fix any mistakes we made and taught us how to fix them by ourselves for next time.
This skill requires a lot of patience, hand-eye coordination, and focus. This is because 1 sleeping mat could take approximately 3 months to knit, and you could face many mistakes that are difficult to fix during the process. I usually am a very patient person, so this skill helped me relax whenever I needed a break from technology or when I was studying for a test.
The end result was a cushioned mat made of woven plastic bags with dimensions of approximately 175 cm by 65 cm, which can be rolled and carried on the shoulder using the built-in shoulder strap. The knitted strap, also made of Plarn, was attached to the rolled sleeping mat to make it easier to be transported from one place to another.
The purpose of the sleeping mat is to be donated to a homeless person and to recycle used plastic bags into a usable and eco-friendly product.
After learning this new skill, I also helped my mother make a knitted blanket out of wool. This process took around a month. Since then, I have been helping my mother knit other blankets out of wool.
Learning Outcomes Achieved:
LO4: The project took a long time to complete and required dedication and patience to reach the final product.
LO5: Without the help of my mother and my sister, I would not have been able to complete the project since it took a long time as I was balancing school work as well. Also, my mother was the person who taught me how to knit, so the final product would not have been possible without her.
LO6: This project was done in hopes of helping someone who does not have a place to sleep while targetting the subject of plastic pollution at the same time. Both causes are very common in the world.
LO7: Choosing to reuse plastic bags to make plarn rather than throw them was a decision that would help the environment in an attempt to reduce pollution. This project would hopefully also help someone in need of a place to sleep.
Learning Outcomes Achieved:
LO4: The project took a long time to complete and required dedication and patience to reach the final product.
LO5: Without the help of my mother and my sister, I would not have been able to complete the project since it took a long time as I was balancing school work as well. Also, my mother was the person who taught me how to knit, so the final product would not have been possible without her.
LO6: This project was done in hopes of helping someone who does not have a place to sleep while targetting the subject of plastic pollution at the same time. Both causes are very common in the world.
LO7: Choosing to reuse plastic bags to make plarn rather than throw them was a decision that would help the environment in an attempt to reduce pollution. This project would hopefully also help someone in need of a place to sleep.
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