Tutorial - How to Make a Continuous Strand of Yarn using a flat textile like sheets or curtains

Since creating the tutorial on how to make blue jean yarn (http://plastiqrecreation.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-to-make-handspun-blue-jean-yarn.html), I've learned with experience that once a seam is cut into, it becomes compromised making it vulnerable to falling apart.   So while I'm in the process of making something, it falls apart.   I have been lucky enough that some seams that are cut through are sewn stronger and stay in tact even after the fray process.  But the majority of time I end up with multiple strands of various lengths.  As a result, I spend more time than I want sewing the ends together.  And, yes this can be time consuming.

If there is a way to make yarn in a single strand with a tube, then there is a way to make a continuious strand of yarn without a tube.  I could use the 'make a slit and connect the strips' but that for me is just too time consuming.  If you haven't learned by now, I am impatient.

After much practice, I finally figured it out.    The awesome thing is this cutting method can be used on any type of material like sheets, curtains, etc..

For this tutorial, pants are used.   Feel free to skip down to the 'Cutting Method':



Cut legs off below crotch.

Cutt off bottom hem or pull out the stitches of bottom hem. 

                    

  Rip out side seams.   

1 pair of pants gives you 4 strips  

                     

                                           

Cutting Method 



                  

  Take one layer and match up the sides lengthwise.






 

Lay flat on cutting board. Starting at right edge, measure in desired width of strip, cut through bottom fold up to approx. 1/4" to 1/2" below top edge. Recommended width for each strip is not less than 1/2". 

           



This is what it will look like when cutting is done.

Lay piece flat.

   




Starting at bottom edge, cut through to make 1st strip. 



                

Each cut after 1st will be every 2nd strip to end.

This is what it will look like when all done.



Now working on the opposite side.



Starting at bottom edge, each cut will be opposite of other side.

                                                    


 If it helps, the strip looks like an upside 'V'. Cut through the middle of the 'V'.   

  


After the continuous strip is completed, go back and look at the strips and cut closer to the edge.

Not too close because you want it to hold up through the wash and driy process.

 

Here is what it looks like right after cutting but before wash/dry processing.

The wash & dry process gives yarn the frayed look.

                            

       

Here are a few other pant yarns that I have made.  I would love to know what types of yarn you make with this tutorial.  Let me know if additional clarification is needed.   By all means don't hesitate to email me at plastiquerecreations@yahoo.com if you have any questions. 

BAGS BY MELISSA .....Environment Hero

Back in January I did a blog post 'Until Plastic Bags are Banned' drawing attention to the harm plastic bags are to the environment and even more so, what they do to our animal friends. Until a permanent fix is in place, we have a responsibility to do whatever we can to keep as many plastic bags out of the landfill.

There are multiple shops on Etsy that take this responsibility very seriously. I refer to them as 'Environment Heroes'.


Let me introduce to you .....
Environment Hero - Bags By Melissa

Q: What is the creative process you use to decide what to create for your Etsy store? I never really start out with a vision for a finished bag or wallet. It just sort of happens. I start out with a finished piece of fabric and then collage over it. I can find inspiration anywhere from bread bags to fortune cookie bags or sushi grass. I love to watch the bags take form.

Q: Are you selling your products on any other online venue other than Etsy? Not at the moment, but perhaps sometime soon. Etsy is the only online venue that I am currently using to sell my bags, but I do post many of them on my facebook page and have gotten lots of good response and ideas that way.

Q: Do you have any interest in selling your product in an actual store/market place? Absolutely. For a potential customer to be able to handle and try on a product would definitely have its advantages. I did have my bags in a shop here here in downtown Greensboro. I did a few holiday Bazaar's here also. I have a few places that have shown interest in carrying my bags locally and plan to get on that right after the Holidays.

Q: What are your favorite things to make with plastic bags? My favorite things to make with bags are purses/handbags. I get a lot of satisfaction out of turning trash into something that I see as beautiful. Often my handbag will catch someone's eye and they are wowed when they find out what it is made of. I also like to make wallets, business card holders and checkbook covers.

Q: Take a wild guess on how many plastic bags you have used to-date for your creations? It would be a very difficult guess as to how many plastic bags I have kept out of the landfill. Each bag that I make takes at least 8 bags just for the foundation and then I add on several layers. Best guess is that it is up over a thousand, maybe two. I bring my own bags to the grocery, and when I need more, I hit the recycle bin. I wish that more people would think to recycle their bread bags, news paper bags, food bags...etc.

Q: What will you do when plastic bags are officially banned in the U.S.? I am not really worried about what I will do when plastic bags are banned in the U.S. It would be better for the planet. We are currently drowning our oceans, our forests, and our back yards in them and I do not think that I will find a shortage of plastic bags anytime soon. If there is a shortage of them in our near future, I am a pretty resourceful person and will find a way or another passion.

Q: For someone to get to know you, how would you describe yourself? I am a Mother, a Massage Therapist and an Aesthetician. I have always had a passion for crafting and for re-cycling. y My home is decorated in found, refurbished objects. I was home from work about two years ago with acute tendonitis when a friend told me that you could make fabric from plastic bags. I was living in a town in Louisiana that did not recycle and had a mountain of bags that I did not know what to do with. My first couple of attempts at fusing were hysterical. Determination, trial and error is about the only advice that I can give. I gave up on the idea for a little while and started to crochet things made from plarn (plastic bag yarn). When I moved to North Carolina, my sewing machine came back out of storage and I went back to the ironing board. Once I got the hang of it, it did not take long for my creative juices to start flowing. I have always been the sort of crafter that only gifted. When I started making bags, the really fabulous friends that I have here encouraged me to market them. I was reluctant at first, but it has really been loads of fun. It makes me happy when I sell a bag to see the smile on the purchaser's face and how happy that they are with their new "green" bag. They also feel that they are doing something for the planet by carrying one of my creations.

Here are a few additional creative designs for you to enjoy:

Don't forget ........ Green is the new Black!

I hope you enjoyed meeting Bags By Melissa as much as I have.....

Please come back and visit soon so you can meet the next Environment Hero!!!!

Recycle by Recreating to Reuse

How cool is it that one minute you're drinking an icy cold diet coke out of a plastic cup and some minutes later that same plastic cup is a fashionable tote? Check out the picture, it says it all!!!

One of my 2010 resolutions is to raise the bar expanding awareness of keeping plastic out of the landfill beyond just plastic bags. So when I had this little beauty in my hand, I just couldn't throw it into the recycle box.

This cup was going to become the true definition of - 'Recycle by Recreating to Reuse'. Which also happens to be my 2010 motto.

You ask just how eco-friendly is this tote? You already know what the front and back panels are (see Coca Cola cup in pic above), in addition to that I crocheted around the panels with clear plastic yarn; gave it a pop tab closure and to ensure a strong base, the bottom of the bag is supported by 3 floppy disks (I did remove the silver clasp and magnetic disk.)

I used bigger pop tabs as the anchor for each strap. This will give it the added support when it's being filled it up with whatever you want - e.g. groceries, books, a picnic lunch or packing it for a trip to the beach.

Let me know what you think ... please leave a comment!!!

Come back and visit soon because there's more creations like this that I'll be introducing this year!!!

Plastic and Pop Tab - Who Knew???

Sometimes it just makes sense to let our creativity take control which is exactly what I did.

I kept thinking to myself what was the best way to reuse the ring that gets separated from the cap when you open a water bottle. I ask you - is it possible for anyone to ever really have enough jewelry? Duhhhh - no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I made a bracelet.

I made this with red and white plarn (plastic yarn), dressed up with pop tab and fun fur to give it an added unique look. The best part about this bracelet is it can be worn casual with jeans or with that fancy black dress (not that I have one). Also, it can be worn on the wrist or the upper arm. The plarn gives it some stretch so it can slide right off or removed by silver clasp closure.

Because we all like options, I made it reversible. One side with pop tab and the other side without.

(Please excuse the pictures - as you can see the one thing I'm not is a professional photographer.)

Stay tuned - I enjoyed making this so much my creativity isn't stopping yet. I'm in the process of making a matching necklace and earrings as well. Oh, and let us not forget the ankles!!!

When is a lid to a deodrant can no longer a lid?

To kick off my 'ONE LESS' campaign to encourage individuals to do anything and everything possible to keep 'One Less' from ending up in the landfill, I will be sharing ideas on how I try to accomplish this.

Question: When is a lid to a deodrant or any other can not a lid?

ANSWER:
When it is transformed into a cute little holder or container - whether it is for trinkets, jewelry, coin, etc. or even a small planter. Even use it with a drawstring.

All of these were crochetted with plarn. To prove that plarn and yarn 'can play together nicely', I crochetted the drawstring top (pic #3) with Caron Simply Soft yarn.

I will be providing the patterns for each very soon.

Let me know what YOU would use the lid for?