PLARN. |
PLARN: Plastic Yarn Project
To Help New Haven’s Most Vulnerable
What is PLARN?
PLARN is an upcycled material made from plastic bags, torn into long strips and tied, which can be knitted or crocheted to make various items that are helpful to the most vulnerable people in our community (sleeping mats, bags, etc.).
Plastic + yarn = PLARN.
Why it Matters
Our goal is to empower partners in our community to make PLARN and knit or crochet it into items that we can distribute to the people that we serve through Chapel on the Green. Right now we are focusing on making sleeping mats, which should be roughly 2 by 6 feet. The mats can be knit or crocheted: knitting produces a thicker, more durable mat, while crocheting uses significantly less plastic.
How to Get Involved
Collect plastic bags – Chapel on the Green is always looking to accept donations of used plastic bags. We use these bags to help distribute food during our program on Sundays at 2pm. These same bags can be used to make PLARN. Drop off donations of bags with a CotG volunteer or staff person any Sunday during our program, or contact the CotG Program Coordinator to find an alternative time.
Start a PLARN Knitting Circle in your community – Any sleeping mats you produce can be distributed to people who need them through Chapel on the Green. If you start a PLARN Knitting Circle in your community, we would love to hear about it!
What is PLARN?
PLARN is an upcycled material made from plastic bags, torn into long strips and tied, which can be knitted or crocheted to make various items that are helpful to the most vulnerable people in our community (sleeping mats, bags, etc.).
Plastic + yarn = PLARN.
Why it Matters
Our goal is to empower partners in our community to make PLARN and knit or crochet it into items that we can distribute to the people that we serve through Chapel on the Green. Right now we are focusing on making sleeping mats, which should be roughly 2 by 6 feet. The mats can be knit or crocheted: knitting produces a thicker, more durable mat, while crocheting uses significantly less plastic.
How to Get Involved
Collect plastic bags – Chapel on the Green is always looking to accept donations of used plastic bags. We use these bags to help distribute food during our program on Sundays at 2pm. These same bags can be used to make PLARN. Drop off donations of bags with a CotG volunteer or staff person any Sunday during our program, or contact the CotG Program Coordinator to find an alternative time.
Start a PLARN Knitting Circle in your community – Any sleeping mats you produce can be distributed to people who need them through Chapel on the Green. If you start a PLARN Knitting Circle in your community, we would love to hear about it!
Need Help Getting Started?
PLARN Workshop – Volunteers from Chapel on the Green may be able to come to your community to give a brief introduction to PLARN, and how to make it. This informal workshop would involve 15 minutes of instruction, followed by 45 minutes of hands-on practice. A workshop works best if some members of your community already know how to knit or crochet. We can provide crochet hooks and knitting needles for the workshop, though we recommend you purchase your own if you plan to start a PLARN Knitting Circle.
We commend making PLARN mats as a useful craft during the COVID-19 crisis - especially for those who may have the skills to knit or crochet, but not the skills to sew a mask. Want to learn how to make a PLARN sleeping mat? We recommend this online video.
Questions? Contact the Coordinator for Chapel on the Green at [email protected]
We commend making PLARN mats as a useful craft during the COVID-19 crisis - especially for those who may have the skills to knit or crochet, but not the skills to sew a mask. Want to learn how to make a PLARN sleeping mat? We recommend this online video.
Questions? Contact the Coordinator for Chapel on the Green at [email protected]