Plarn

April 29, 2020  |   Making, Art, Materials


Weave trash into treasures, upcycle and make your own material.

Alivia Broadway show you the process for creating an unusual material from an all too common resource as she makes plastic yarn (or plarn in Amazeum speak).

Materials | Supplies

  • plastic grocery bags or other plastic bags
  • scissors
  • cardboard, clipboard, or flat surface

Concepts Explored

  • upcycling materials
  • patterns
  • fine motor skills
  • creativity
  • critical thinking

Discovery Starters

Could you use other materials to make plarn? Why?

What characteristics would other materials need to have?

Can you think of other ways to tie the bags together?

 

Explore Further

Think about what you could create with plarn. How could you make the material stronger?

If you made enough plarn what could you make with it? 

 

Additional Resources

One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of Gambia by Miranda Paul

Amazeum YOU Plarn Activity Guide

Amazeum YOU Weaving

Amazeum YOU Simple Sewing

Amazeum YOU Paper Lanterns

Amazeum YOU Cardboard Wearables

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