Plarn Rug

 It's fun to get bags from my friends. They shop at different stores than I do, so there are lots of different bag colors! Also, I don't shop enough and get enough bags to keep myself supplied with plarn. There still aren't always enough bags of one color to make something - anything!!

 I suppose I could make stripes on my bags, the way Mom does, but that seems like a lot of effort for a grocery bag.

 I could make a rug. Mom made this oval rug with different bags. I don't like to keep laying my project on the floor to make sure I'm increasing the correct number to make the rug lie flat.

So, I'm going to make a "woven" rug. Remember making woven placemats of construction paper strips? That's the idea here. Plarn strips, woven into a rug. I have 6 of these bags. Let's see how far I get. I want 2 inch wide strips. Using a size H hook, that took 7 dc stitches.
Ch 9, dc in 4th ch from hook and in remaining ch stitches. Counting the 3 skipped ch stitches as 1 dc, I have 7 stitches. Ch 3, turn. Sk 1st dc (ch 3 counts as 1st dc) work dc in each st across. Repeat.

Just over 18 inches.

 Now, using bags with a different color lettering, work 7 dc across one edge. (Working in the sides of the rows.)

 I want these edges to be well fastened, so for this turning chain, I'm going to ch 1, sl st in the stitch of strip below, ch 1, turn, 6 dc.

 I'll do that again.

 And again. These strips will be solid! Then, work in rows as you did for the first strip.

Using bags with a different color of printing, starting in the next row after the strip just made, work 7 dc. Fold it over the other side of the first strip and fasten as you did the 2nd strip made.

 4th strip: started on side of 2nd strip in the same way the 3rd strip was started on the 1st strip.

 Working parallel to the first strip, bring 4th strip over 3rd strip and fasten to at least one stitch. As I got into the middle of my rug, I didn't fasten the strips as often to the strips they were crossing over or under.

View of one side.

View of the other side.

I didn't finish off the strips, as I'm still not sure exactly how big I want it. I worked the plarn until the lengths left on other strips wouldn't twist with the plarn of the strip I was currently working.

The corner which is already double thickness is soft. I'm going to enjoy standing on it to wash dishes! When it gets dirty, I'll throw it in the washer and then let it air dry.
Now, I just need to cut lots of bags and crochet! This will take some time.....
2 days later, I'm finally starting the 10th long strip. This is 19 inches across. I don't want to carpet my kitchen, just have a rug in front of my sink!

I made the "base" short strip just big enough for this last long strip.

 Fold it over, opposite side from previous long strip.

 Make sure the fold is right on the attachment line. Slip stitch the edges together, using the plarn from the short strip.

 One sl st for each st of last row of short strip.

Finish off and work in the end.

With the rest of the short strips, work until they are even with the edge of the last strip. Make sure they are correctly woven. Then slip stitch the edges together, using the plarn from the short strip. Finish off and work in the end.
This will take some time....
When I get it long enough, I will finish off the long strips on the last short strip. Then finish it off on the last long strip.
I doubt I'll take it to my daughter's to work on it again. Her cat seemed to think it was some multi-legged monster!