A book that shows you that knitting while recycling is not only useful but funky and fun!
There's something for every age group, and the only limit is your imagination.
This innovative and fun book showcases what you can do with all those spare carrier bags you have! Simple instructions show you how to create 'plarn' (plastic yarn), and how to knit everything from funky liquorice allsort earrings to beautiful hangbags.
Twenty projects plus variations
Easy-to-follow knitting patterns
Good for the planet!
July 10
If you've never considered knitting with plastic bags before, Emily Blade's nifty little book will surely inspire you to give it a go. Emily gives instructions on how to create your own ball of 'plarn' (plastic yarn!) and she's come up with some simple ways to use it to great effect. The Mobile Phone Socks and MP3 Player Sleeves are perfect projects for plarn as the plastic offers more protection than regular yarns. Other quick ideas include purses, travel wallets and coasters, but we really like the larger bag, as shown on the cover, which is ideal to attempt once you've got the knitting with plarn habit. And of course, with every project created from recycled plastic bags, these designs are about as eco-friendly as you can get.
* Simply Knitting *Jun 10
Knitters looking for something a little different as well as people interested in green crafting will find plenty of interesting ideas in this knitting with plarn title within the excellent 20 To Make series. Plarn is a term that has been coined to describe strips of plastic bags that can be used as 'yarn' to knit or crochet with. Eco Friendly Knits gives plenty of information about working with plastic bags as well as some useful tips for finishing items. The projects are innovative and varied, and small enough that they can be completed using just a few plastic bags. This great little book is ideal for people new to working with this unusual and free 'yarn'.
* Suite101.com *Feb 10
Eco-Friendly Knits: Using Recycled Plastic Bags, by Emily Blades, is part of the excellent 20 To Make series by Search Press. As with other books in the series, a lot of content is packed into a small 48 page book. Emily Blades presents an innovative range of knitting projects that are created using yarn made from recycled plastic bags. The projects are perfect for knitting with plastic bag yarn or 'plarn' as they relatively small and therefore require just a few bags. While the projects are small in size, they are interesting and use a variety of techniques which means that this book will appeal to knitters who are looking for new challenges.
* Suite101.com *Mar 10
Help save the planet and have fun knitting a whole range of useful items. This sounds like a great idea and it is; all you need are some basic knitting materials (ie needles) and lots of plastic bags! Everything in this book is knitted not with conventional yarn but with plarn, plastic yarn made from cutting up plastic bags in a special way. My only grumble about this otherwise excellent little book is the brief section on preparing plarn. This is the most important part of the book after all, but it is relegated to a tiny space on the introduction page sans diagrams of any kind. Just a couple at the trickier stages would have been so much help; once mastered however making yards of lovely plarn is fortunately simple enough. The projects are wide ranging and include wearables such as a belt, jewellery, hair clip, purse and handbag and household or office essentials such as a waste paper basket, desk tidy, flower vase and even building blocks for a young child. As this is a Twenty To Make book there are twenty projects, but there are also some pictures showing alternative colorways. You can have a lot of fun with this book and recycle not only plastic bags but also other plastic household waste when making some of the vessels. Truly innovative and one for the keeper shelf.
* Myshelf.com *May 2012
Been chomping at the bit to experiment with plarn (yarn made from strips of plastic bags)? Eco-Freindly Knits will give you plenty of ideas.
* Simply Knitting *Apr 10
Here's a book to show us that knitting while recycling is useful, funky and fun. There's something for every age group and the only limit is your imagination. There are 20 projects plus 20 variations, easy to follow knitting patterns, and it's all good for the planet.
* Machine Knitting Monthly *Emily Blades' parents' main interests were arts, crafts and literature, and like many creative people, they educated their daughter at home. Art galleries, Craft Council exhibitions and the freedom to pursue whatever interested her at the time allowed Emily to develop her own creative side. She has taught gymnastics to the under-5s, worked as a nanny, enjoys drawing, reading, walking, visiting galleries and museums and, of course, knitting!
Introduction 4
Mobile phone sock 6
Purse 8
Belt 10
Bead earrings 12
Drink mats 14
Hair bands with bobbles 16
Travel card wallet 18
Heart necklace 20
Disc earrings 22
Vase 24
MP3 player sleeve 26
Brooch 28
Desk tidy 30
Waste paper basket 32
Building blocks 34
Bottle holder 36
Hair clip 38
Handbag 40
Bangle 42
Liquorice jewellery 44