| By :
Mark Etinger
When you come home from any shopping trip, no matter the scale, you are more than likely coming home with as many plastic bags as items you purchased. These plastic bags are incredibly useful for businesses and consumers alike. They allow businesses to brand themselves better, and they allow consumers a convenient way to carry their goods home with them. But we get a lot of them, and instead of throwing them away or stuffing them in a drawer, get out your crochet needle and try this simple craft to recycle, reuse and re-purpose the plastic bags you have in your home. Materials Needed: Bags used for the rug can include newspaper bags, bread bags, wicketed bags, and the traditional grocery plastic bags. You will also need a crochet hook of any size. Instructions for a Circular Rug: You should start by sorting the plastic bags you have collected out by color, depending on whether or not you want a solid color or a random concoction of colors. Now you want to cut the seams on the bottom and on the handles. Next, you're going to cut the bag into ½ inch strips that are the length of the bag. Obviously, the strips in between the handles will be shorter. Now you're going to choose strip to be your starter and make a loop. Crochet a single line of crochet line of six knots. Make a circle with a slip stitch in the beginning stitch. You will then single crochet around the circle until you have a desired size of area rug. Instructions for Square or Rectangular Rug: First, you are going to crochet a chain that is the desired length you want the area rug to be. For example, to make a 12-inch square rug, crochet a chain that has 39 stitches. You will then crochet a third crochet into the third stitch from the hook. You should then chain two at the end of each row. Doing it this way maintains the square shape. Whether you're making a square or circular rug, be sure that when you come to the last half inch of each strip, lay another strip across the last half inch of the strip to continue crocheting. You will do this at the end of every half inch mark. Doing this will hold the ends together when being crocheted into the rug. If you are interested in the durability of rugs crocheted from plastic bags, but desire it to match your décor a little more, you can also make a slip cover fairly easily. You'll just need the fabric of your choice and a needle and thread or a sewing machine. You want to measure the area rug and add a half inch in all directions. As you sew, leave one side open to insert the rug. Fold in the open area so it is even with the other sides and sew shut.
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