Introduction: Plastic Bag Cordage
About: I'm a bike pirate and a bit of a nomad. I love working with my hands and especially enjoy projects that require minimal tools and easily found materials.
This is basically a method of natural cordage making using plastic bags, which don't require the splitting, pounding, drying, soaking, or other prep work that most natural materials do. There are a few other plastic bag ropes and yarns on here. I'm not saying that mine is the best way to do this, just my way.
I started this project a few days ago because I was bored and wanted something to do with my hands while I listened to podcasts. After three days I've gone through every bag in the house and have about 150' of cordage.
I told a friend about this project and he asked me to post an instructable so he could try it out with his scout troop. So here goes.
This is my first post. Please be nice to me.
I started this project a few days ago because I was bored and wanted something to do with my hands while I listened to podcasts. After three days I've gone through every bag in the house and have about 150' of cordage.
I told a friend about this project and he asked me to post an instructable so he could try it out with his scout troop. So here goes.
This is my first post. Please be nice to me.
Step 1: What You Need
-Plastic bags
-Scissors
-Two hands (preferably both yours)
-Messy desk (optional)
-Scissors
-Two hands (preferably both yours)
-Messy desk (optional)
Step 2: Prep Your Bag
Take your first plastic bag and lay it out flat and sideways on your work space.
Cut the fused bottom and the handles off the bag and then cut the rest of the bag into strips approximatly 1" to 1-1/2" wide. You can measure and mark your cuts if you want a more uniform cord, but I just eyeballed it. Smaller strips will make for thinner cord.
When this is done you will have a handful of plastic circles.
You can prep several bags at once or do it as you go along. I've found myself doing both.
Cut the fused bottom and the handles off the bag and then cut the rest of the bag into strips approximatly 1" to 1-1/2" wide. You can measure and mark your cuts if you want a more uniform cord, but I just eyeballed it. Smaller strips will make for thinner cord.
When this is done you will have a handful of plastic circles.
You can prep several bags at once or do it as you go along. I've found myself doing both.
Step 3: Twisting the Cord
This part requires both hands so I couldn't take pictures while doing it. Sorry. I'll try to be as clear as I can in the description.
Take one of your plastic circles and grip it slightly off center with both hands. Twist it in opposite directions, clockwise with your right hand and counter clockwise with your left. Eventually the strand will be twisted tight enough that it kinks in the middle and twists up on itself. Congratulations, you just made some cord.
Keep going, twisting both ends and letting them naturally twist together. If you notice one side kinking on its own then it's wrapped too tight. Focus on the other side for a bit.
Occasionally I will pinch the top of my new cord and twist the section I just made a little tighter to make the strands lay together a little nicer.
Take one of your plastic circles and grip it slightly off center with both hands. Twist it in opposite directions, clockwise with your right hand and counter clockwise with your left. Eventually the strand will be twisted tight enough that it kinks in the middle and twists up on itself. Congratulations, you just made some cord.
Keep going, twisting both ends and letting them naturally twist together. If you notice one side kinking on its own then it's wrapped too tight. Focus on the other side for a bit.
Occasionally I will pinch the top of my new cord and twist the section I just made a little tighter to make the strands lay together a little nicer.
Step 4: Adding More Material
Eventually you are going to get to the end of one of your strands. Adding material in this method is so easy, way easier than any natural materials I've worked with.
All you're doing here is tying a larks head knot.
Take the end of your strand that is almost finished and poke a finger through it so you once again have a loop.
Take a new plastic circle and feed one end through that loop. Feed the other end of the circle through the first. Gently pull the knot you've made tight, careful not to rip your circle, and then continue twisting your strands into cord. The knot will make a bulge in the cord but that's not really a big deal.
All you're doing here is tying a larks head knot.
Take the end of your strand that is almost finished and poke a finger through it so you once again have a loop.
Take a new plastic circle and feed one end through that loop. Feed the other end of the circle through the first. Gently pull the knot you've made tight, careful not to rip your circle, and then continue twisting your strands into cord. The knot will make a bulge in the cord but that's not really a big deal.
Step 5: Different Colors
By using different color bags, or bags with different printing on them you can get some cool effects. I haven't played with this too much.
Step 6: Keep Going or Finish
I started coiling my cord together when it got long enough to reach the floor. Its much easier to do when the whole thing can spin freely.
Keep twisting your cord together until you've either:
Got enough,
Run out of bags,
Get bored,
Or your hands hurt.
Finish up by tying a knot in the end of your cord and cutting the excess off. I was thinking about trying to fuse the ends of mine with a lighter or hot knife, but HDPE plastic is a petroleum product and is very flammable. I've used plastic bags as tinder in a pinch. Be very careful if you try this.
There you go. You've just turned trash into something useful again.
So what would I use this for? Anything I would use cord or twine for. I could lash things together, I could wrap several strands to make a rope, I could use it to tie up garden vines, make a macrame strap for my ukulele or pouch for my water bottle, wrap an axe or hammer handle, I could probably weave it into a rug or a bag... anything really.
Keep twisting your cord together until you've either:
Got enough,
Run out of bags,
Get bored,
Or your hands hurt.
Finish up by tying a knot in the end of your cord and cutting the excess off. I was thinking about trying to fuse the ends of mine with a lighter or hot knife, but HDPE plastic is a petroleum product and is very flammable. I've used plastic bags as tinder in a pinch. Be very careful if you try this.
There you go. You've just turned trash into something useful again.
So what would I use this for? Anything I would use cord or twine for. I could lash things together, I could wrap several strands to make a rope, I could use it to tie up garden vines, make a macrame strap for my ukulele or pouch for my water bottle, wrap an axe or hammer handle, I could probably weave it into a rug or a bag... anything really.
