You’re awesome. I’m saving bags to make mats for a homeless shelter and this seems so much easier. I knit, crochet and sew and now I can add “basket-weaving” to that list!
I love your commentary "It's tedious but so is crocheting" LOL I heard that there is a local woman recycling these bags for mats for the humane society. It's just nice to see a way to use these for something useful instead of just tossing them away
I looked at some other videos and saw how the bags were straightened and cut. See, I'm also homeless but I spend my time trying to help those worse off than I. Collecting bags might prove to be an obstacle but I will do my best to surmount it! I think this is something that would benefit those that choose to sleep in tents and other places where our rainfall can be a problem. Thanks for all the advice and keep up your wonderful charity! ❤
If you are in an area with a grocery store that has a recycle bin for bags, you could ask them. I would make sure that you go to the service desk to ask permission first, and get a name of whoever says "yes". Good luck!
I'm also trying to make one because... Quarantine... I can't even get started... I've been watching the same couple of seconds for like an hour and I can't see or understand. Did you figure it out?
PHEW!! Gladddd someone else said this. If we use NEW BAGS we're defeating the purpose of REDUCE, REUSE - AND just producing MORE ..... We Americans have GOT to get it right, NOW's a good time to START!!
what a GREAT method to make these mats! no loom, less cutting, thick, comfortable....anyone can do this sitting in front of the TV and get something accomplished for a good cause. thank you for sharing your method and producing such a clear, instructive video
I've been using your technique to make a homeless sleeping mat. It's my first one and I gotta tell ya, it's NOT straight although I did my best. I'm almost done with it. I have incorporated different color bags for the (primary) line, brown to black to pink...Next I'm going to make tie-straps and a shoulder strap for it. It's not as pretty as yours but it will do in a pinch. Thanks for teaching this technique. I viewed other people's videos before I decided to make a mat and liked yours the best because I want the person I give my mats to, to be as comfortable as possible. I've been homeless. I slept in a girl's bathroom at a beach for a month. The concrete was so cold and I couldn't sleep very well. That's why I wanted to make these. I'm not donating to churches. I'm cutting out the middle man and giving it to the person that needs it. :)
Bravo! That is so much work. I hope the person who gets the mat likes it. Looks are not everything, especially when it comes to sleeping better! These are so much softer than crocheted mats, I am sure it will help. Thanks for making such an important thing in someone's life! I am also happy you made it off the streets, good luck in your endeavors!
This is good way to make one of these mats if you don't know how to crochet. But these are also bulkier and seem like they would be uncomfortable for the homeless to sit or sleep on. The crocheted mats are softer and not so bulky. But this is a great way to make something useful for the homeless or for campers or picnics.
Good for you. You are a great example how we can make America stronger the things that you do are the most important things in life. Giving two people who have nothing that is what we take with us in our soul the love we give to others. Every minute you spent making those God was smiling down on you and I know you did it because you wanted to help people not to get credit thank you for doing that thank you for being a good example to me and to others please keep posting the things that you do it's important that people know there are good people out there that gives them hope. And hope is something we seem to be losing lately God bless you and thank you again
I started this project a long time ago and I kinda forgot about it, but today I got back at it. I am using these for the homeless and I am so happy that I am able to reduce plastic waste and help the people in need. I couldn't thank you enough for helping me be able to help others!!
Thank you for this video! I work with middle school special needs children. I am wanting to do this with my kiddos and peer helpers. This is by far the easiest pattern I've found.
I've never heard of sleeping mats like this before watching your video ... thank you for sharing ... we have many homeless in our area ... I'm sure they would love to have a mat.
I just love this idea. Your demo was great and thorough. Very understandable. I need to start saving all the bags with holes in them and recycling them this way too. Thank you so much for your video.
Thank you so much for this great tutorial! I have always wanted to know how to weave a rug but I was discouraged because I thought it would be too difficult for me too learn, however, your way of teaching was very understandable, and for that. I thank you. ❤
If I did my math right, That is about 600 bags for a 30 by 72" mat The same amount that is used by crocheting, so the weight should be the same and very carryable. Great idea. because the time spent to crochet these is at least ten times longer. More production means more help for the homeless. Also good for those pet shelters that are always asking for mats for the animals. Thank you!
This make this a WHOLE lot easier! I'm a crocheter but crochet this as far as I have has been real tedious a time consuming. I feel I could get one done quicker now and one that looks a lot better and neater, looks like it'd be thicker too, thank u so much for this tutorial!
This is a very creative way to reuse a product that isn't 'green' and turn it into something that is very useable by most anyone. Making mats for individuals who are homeless is wonderful, to stay drier and more comfortable until they can find better shelter! Fantastic idea!!!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful project. May I make a suggestion on teaching style. After watching this video, I found it a bit confusing as to which strand you were using, and your only explanations were: weaver, over, and under. Your hands were a little in the way making it difficult to tell just which strand you were using and working on. Might I suggest that when you teach this project, that you label the strands: A, B, C, D or 1, 2, 3, 4. This way, you can tell your viewer which strand you are using to do what. After having taught many classes myself, you know what you are doing and how it all goes together but to someone who has never seen it before, and everyone has different levels of skill, breaking things down step by step and having clear instructions can be a big help on the final out come for the novice. Thanks again for sharing with us such a great project.
Yes, I couldn't follow this; it wasn't clear enough. But it seems way better than crocheting. Maybe I can find another video that I can learn this method from.
Very interesting. I do a 5 strand braid with hair so I followed your instructions pretty well. Very impressed with how you turned the corner. I have this on my "to do" list now! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing your idea. It's a great way to use our trash for a useful item that anyone could use. We are a wasteful country and we need to open our eyes. Thanks and God Bless!
This is awesome! I thought I would love to help make mats but the crocheting intimidated me and my hands do not work the best. The weaving is more gross motor than fine motor needed for crocheting. Think I will start small with a mat for the cat, see how that goes!
Ms. Eberhard, thank you so much for this video! So far, you are the only person online demonstrating a rectangular rag rug without crocheting! I can't wait to try this technique with T-shirts and bed linens! :-)
I don't know where your are located, but plastic grocery bags are not banned in Pennsylvania, and are plentiful. Do not assume because your location has banned them that is the case everywhere.
This is really very helpfull. No other things needed, just old, used plastic bags. Also, you won't be pressured into doing this. You can start & stop anytime, but the end result is really productive. Thank you!!!
Very good idea! Good video! I love to recycle things and make what my family needs. I would use these to make tote bags to carry food items, towels and other things when we travel for our business. I made lots of plarn and started to crochet years ago but it took way too much time and was very difficult for me even though I crochet well. I like this idea much better.
Thank you for the great instructional video. I had tried other methods to make mats for the homeless, but yours is incredibly faster and results in a nicer mat with a more cushiony feel.
I have been wanting to figure out how to make stuff without having to cut into small strips. Now I don't have to wonder anymore. Thanks. I have tons of bags and a huge ball of PLARN that I am tired of adding to. I can't wait to try your way!
Thank you so much for taking the time to post this. It's a fantastic idea! I've been wondering what to do when the kids want to go outside and picnic. I may even try using this to make walls for a type of playhouse in trees instead of using my sheets and blankets. I live in an area where there are any homeless, small country town, but would be willing to make some to donate somewhere. Guess I better try and see if I can do it or not! Lol I enjoyed the way you talk as you're teaching too. God bless😄
Thanks, you're a gem. Nice voice too. Will watch this a couple more time to see how it's done. Guess I'm a slow learner. (chuckle) Sure is a better way of using these ubiquitous plastic bags which are always somewhere in my car waiting to get to a store which recycles them.
This is a brilliant idea! I have a bunch of bags and being able to make sleeping mats for homeless people would be amazing! I really needed something to do during quarantine and this seems like the perfect thing!
Thank you so much for making this video! I think our Brownie troop will be able to do this so we can use them for camping and helping the homeless. This technique is great I made one after watching this in a few hours. I love it!! Thank you and please keep sharing
Very clever, thank you... I think it is the first video representing a rectangular shape using this method (braiding with 4 strands), other videos show oval shapes...Good work...
Wow, think of the millions of plastic bags that would not end up in landfills, duh, that is exactly why you made the video, so more people would like me would put them to good use! Excellent idea! Thank you, I will try this.
Amazing Video well done, well explained. These definitely would keep the Homeless warmer as Sleeping Mats. Thank you for this video. People whether you save up the Plastic Bags, Beg for them from your local Market or Buy them, this is a GREAT Recycle Gifting Project. Shared this to Facebook too.
I'm really impressed by the weave and just wanted to say THANK U...U gave me an idea that I'm hoping will work brilliantly! Can't wait to try it now but it's almost 3am so I'm gonna wait lol 😴
I love the idea of reducing plastic waste. But I hope we use reused plastic and not new ones. I’m planning to use the plastic that comes with our weekly bread. Thanks for the idea! 🌏
I thought I was the only one who got concerned when I saw that the bags used in the video were mostly unused and brand spanking new. Weaving brand new bags into mats defeats the purpose of this movement. That's at least 40 virgin bags in this video that could have been used first. If cleanliness is an issue, then the dirty/sticky bags can be used as liners for small trash cans. But to use virgin bags for mats is just wrong. It doesn't do anything to help with plastic pollution.
This is great! Thank you! Will start to put excess bags to good use! I probably won't go out and get them for this sole purpose, but slowly and surely will use the ones I have at home and will ask my neighbors for theirs!
Like the other lady said..these are nice..but I hv been crocheting these bags with the largest size plastic crochet hook since 1992..and crocheting is so easier for me.. thx for sharing..
Love this technique and I'm absolutely going to start using it. I have been crocheting grocery bags by clipping the tops and bottoms off cutting them in circular strips then locking them together by looping them. I make stuffed animal nets and have noticed they aren't that strong and stretch out easy Especially when you have your 5yr old son take all the stuffed animals out and climb into it. LOL That was a disaster. It stretched out so badly I had to toss it out. This technique is by far stronger and thicker then they way I have been doing it. Thank you for the tutorial it will save me so much time cutting and I can see so many more uses out of it than mine.
I do round braid and really enjoy it. Tried crocheting these as I like to crochet, but can't do it in this medium. Will definitely have to give this a try. Like that it is thicker. Will be using used bags as others have stated. Plastic bags are not allowed now in many communities because of pollution. Will be hard to get bags soon. So must make these while we can still get the materials.
hello my name is Deb. I was wondering if you get stores that will actually donate bags? This would be a wonderful project to start here in Wichita Kansas. We have a very high concentrated amount of homeless people in several different areas around Wichita. With the city of 350,000 people you can guess that we have a lot of people who are sleeping on the street. I used to make reusable FLEA MARKET BAGS and some that I made for FARMERS MARKETS. Thank you for the Memories it's been many years since I had made these and I'm 54 years old. Probably 20 years or more. Back in the day people would just give you their bags now it's almost like they're a precious commodity for recycling in your home, if it's just for small trash cans, I use them in my scrapbook it if I don't have holes in them. Which is something you just don't find very often is one of the grocery bags without a hole by the time you get home. So it's amazing how I can take a bunch of these bags that leak and create something that can carry my groceries and last for quite some time. when you go to the farmers market you're picking up small items from different areas paying different farmers and instead of having 20 bags to carry around you can condense them into one or two if my shopping bags. I can't imagine somebody not being able to do this if they are physically able. Great for women's groups, kind of like a sewing Club. only these we going to good use by people in the community that just don't have a bad or a form of shelter to sleep in. Good luck with your endeavors in making these sleeping mats. do you have any idea how many you have created for the homeless? On average how much time goes into making one of these mats? hope to hear back from you as it's something I'm seriously thinking about doing. Take care and God bless Deb
You can ask the managers of grocery stores to raid their recycling bins. Some will allow it, some will not. Always ask. I usually weave my homeless mats now that my husband made me a peg loom. It is the fastest way to make the mats. I cannot give you how long a time any one method takes. I just spent 3 days just preparing bags that were given to me, so how do you calculate time? The amount of time should not be a deciding factor, but that is my opinion. Recycling, and helping someone's life be a bit better, that is the deciding factor in my world. Some people don't like crocheting or braiding, or weaving and just prefer getting bags ready for other people to use. That is where group projects really can help out. Everyone can be a part of the solution. I just finished 3 sleeping mats where someone gave me bags of already processed, looped bags, and it was so nice to eliminate that step of the process! But that one person had made the difference for 3 people!
@@painting55 exactly! I find it hard to believe that shelters would use something like this. Nervous cats do chew on plastic and dogs will chew on anything.
WHAT A BRILLIANT IDEA!!! I'm going to try making a kitchen rug, (as we end up with more water on the floor than the sink), and sew some non slip material on one side. Thank you so much. Stella
if you want to use the scraps just put them inside decorative pillows, thats what i do with mine great video by the way! very helpful and im gonna try to make these and some hammocks out of plastic bags for the homeless. we have a lot of trees around where i live so the hammocks can help
I'm going to have to watch a few times, but since I don't know how to crochet, I'll try this. Thanks! Lets keep all the horrible plastic out of the landfill and oceans!
But God bless you 4 using something that would have gone into our landfill. This is a great way to make America stronger things like this people like you should be getting Awards thank you so much now I know what to do with all those bags it'd be a great gift to and something to do with kids
Wow! Thanks so much for a super clear instructive video. I was on the verge of starting another crochet sleeping bag and came across this fabulous video. I love the idea and concept and will have a go at it. :D
I'm going to Detroit's Masonic Temple on April 23rd to do this for our homeless (you can imagine how many Detroit has. I went to a show tonight, and there were a few that I saw :/ ). I like to know things ahead of time so I'm prepared. Thanks for the instructions! I'm guessing this is the method they're going to teach! :)
I'm making a costume with all plastic bags. This is fooking brilliant! Thanks so much. I make moisture barriers for the homeless. Way easier and faster.
Love this video and the fact its not crocheting which is hard on my wrists. Unfortunately in California we now have to pay .10c per bag making a rather expensive project if you dont have 600 plus bags saved up
Could weeve 2 togeteher into a sleeping bag,,weeve the edge of 2 mats together and sew a liner for it from a cloth material that can be washed an dryed. Even water proof it with tent seal spray,im guessing on tent spray,
Thanks for this video, more clear and I know now how to recycle my plastic bags from Wal-Mart etc instead of throwing. It's a great and useful an environmental friendly idea.
I am working on a rug right now, and when I get to the end (hopefully this week sometime) I will record a video on how I ended it. Basically, I take each loop left, cut open the loop and tie a square knot where it meets the carpet. This allows for a bunch of little knots instead of a big knot. Then I weave the ends left into their like colors on the rug. I like to have a tail of about 3 inches to weave back in. I hope that sort of explains it until I can make the video.
I am sorry for the delay...I was working on some other projects. I have a video made now: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HNcPQlJIN5Q.html Thanks for reminding me!
Ava’s Studio I get bags from the bag recycling bins that grocery and department stores put at the entrances to their stores! I’ve found that nicer stores tend to have cleaner bags. I may look strange digging through the bins, but, hey, the whole point of this is to REUSE/RECYCLE the plastic bags, right?😉😁
I live in CA.....if anyone HAS an abundance of plastic shopping bags like what this woman in the video is using, please sent them to me! I just need basket liners for the house now! It's all a Plot by the plastics industry: don't give out free bags any more at stores and make the customer either pay for those extra thick ones now that take Ten Times as long to break down in the dump (?) or make us all BUY 4 gal. and 13 gal. bags now!
love this....but I am totally lost on the turns. That's gonna take lots and lots of trial and error. I'll be watching the turn part more times to get it. Thanks for this great idea!
I like the concept. MY ONLY concern is people PURPOSELY getting unused bags rather than actually recycling the used bags that are piling up or that neighbors may have piling up.
I'm confused. How do you know which one is the "weaver" since they look the same (except for the brown one). And then to make another row?? Couldn't see too well, UGH.
dont bad mouth crochet because it is an awesome hobby. especially if you are good at it you can it go pretty quickly so constantly adding bags when i can just cut a bunch make a big ball and crochet until my heart is content is a better option for me than this one. both methods use the same amount of bags so they each are both sturdy ..but this is a good method for those who do not know how to crochet
I am not bad mouthing crocheting at all. If you look at my etsy shop, I crochet many things, but it s a skill that many people do not have, and yet wanted to make plastic bag mats. I am simply offering an alternative, and pointing out the cutting and looping is eliminated in this process. I am so sorry you felt it was a slam against crocheting. I encourage any craft as I feel it is an expression of one's individualism and is wonderful.
@@momeberhard5265 I have not learnt to crochet yet but I do have a stash of used but clean plastic bags that can b used to block off dust that comes thru the cracks in my back door n back windows.This would b a most suitable project for me.Thanks my dear😘😘
This was great! While watching this, I kept thinking of the homeless population where I live & how sleeping mats would be helpful for them. And wouldn't you know it, a plastic bag ban goes into effect here on 7-1-17! I'm not thinking I will be able to get enough bags together before then to make even 1 mat! Dangit.
I am on the fence about plastic vs tote bags. I use the plastic bags for so many things, lining small trash cans, cat litter, kitchen scraps, sending friends off with a couple items, and of course my items I make like rugs and purses. Where as tote bags have a limited use. Some they make so small that you can't really fit much in them. I guess you will have to come up with other ways to help your fellow citizens. But the important thing is you keep trying!
Another option is string bags. They are essentially a sturdy mesh with handles ... easy to make (I loom knit), and hold all kinds of things that tote bags can't manage because of size or odd shape.
I really enjoyed yr video. I found you easy to listen to and follow and now I can't wait to go buy some bag's and make me a bath mat and also one for the kitchen!! Thank you xx
Laura Phoenix PLEASE DON’T BUY NEW BAGS to do this! The whole Point is to have a way to recycle these bags so they don’t end up in the landfill, oceans, floating around the roadside. Save yours, get them from the recycling bins posted at the entrances to Walmart, Target, at Cetera. There are plenty of places to get the used ones. Thank you!
@@littledabwilldoya9717 I cannot BELIEVE all of the people taking about BUYING plastic bags! I guess they truly sing understand that the whole purpose is to try and save the planet buy finding something useful for all of the plastic polluting every crevice, corner, and crack of the earth! If you just want to craft something, go buy some cheap yarn, or fabric, or use ANY type of biodegradable media. Buying plastic is the absolute 100% opposite of the point of this and the whole movement that got it started.
