Plarn: eco-friendly knitting
Of the three R’s of the ‘recycle, reuse, reduce’ triangle, reusing single-use items can be more effective than recycling alone. Cutting down on use of plastics will have the most positive effect on the environment, but for those of us not yet living a waste free life, it may surprise you to know even recycling is not a perfect science and can produce waste. As of 2020, 8 US states have legislation on the distribution of single-use plastic bags. Even if all 50 states implemented the ban, the effort isn’t enough to eliminate them completely as the average plastic bag is used for 12 minutes before eventually ending up in a landfill. Plastic bags photo-degrade and become micro-plastics.
That’s where plarn comes in. Plarn, a portmanteau of “plastic” and “yarn”, is a material some eco-savvy knitters use as a base for their creations. Recently, Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church and other charities used the material to craft sleeping mats for those separated from their homes. There are several organizations that have begun their own versions of ‘Operation Bed Roll’ to provide similar mats for the de-homed.
The material is lightweight and durable, perfect for some of the more popular plarn crafts like tote bags, outdoor cushion coverings and coasters. Once in yarn form, the plastic bags act just like any knitting material.
The process of making plarn is simple at its base: cut your ‘yarn’ into strips, tie the strips together, then roll it into a skein. Then, it can be used like a typical knitting yarn.
Is plarn the future of fashion? As of right now, plarn is hitting its stride in missionary and charity work. The charity mask-making phase of the pandemic had sewing-savvy people donating their time to the mask shortage. And with Covid-19’s positive effect on donor trends, it’s possible with the right exposure the use of plarn could see an uptick.
In terms of fashion, knitters have crafted some excellent pieces, from art, to sandals, to crop tops.
Several blogs have delved into the use of plarn, but it’s yet to his mainstream eyes. If you’re a knitter and looking to get into durable, eco-friendly fashion, perhaps plarn is the way to go. Already chucked your plastic bags? Sellers have plarn for sale.
If you’re more of a shopper than a maker, Etsy has plenty of crafters with beautiful pieces here, here, and here.
Upcyling has been on the rise, near parallel to its sustainable friend, thrifting. The synthesis of a new garment from old or recycled materials is not a new idea, however, as there will be plastic for the foreseeable future, hopefully too will there be plarn to counteract its environmental impact.
