Anchorage Daily News

With the price of gas so high, many of us are staying home more these days. I know I am getting a lot more knitting done as I try to stretch my budgeted gas money. But even as I knit up the last of my good stash, I am finding the high price of gas is a reality I can't avoid.

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Who would have imagined that something like yarn would become another indicator of high petroleum prices. But it's true. Acrylic, micro fibers and many synthetic blends are made from petroleum. But even the newer fibers such as soy and milk protein use some type of petrochemical product to become your favorite new yarn. Not even the organic imports are immune to higher gas prices, and of course those of us who live in Alaska already know that fuel prices affect the prices at our local stores -- even our local yarn shops.

I sincerely hope that all fiber businesses will be able to adjust, just as any other would, but it has made me wonder what are some of the ways that we can keep on knitting and crocheting through the recession. When the price of new fiber means the cost of enough yarn for one sweater will take our breath away, believe me when I tell you that fiber addicts will most definitely find another way to keep their needles and hooks busy.

I remember hearing about knitters who would patiently unravel old sweaters. They had to tie the yarn into hanks, wash and dry them, wind the yarn up into balls and then knit it up into something different. In those days it was normal to make do. Nowadays, we might run down to the local yarn store and bring home whatever yarn we need, but it has made us somewhat spoiled. We are out of touch with the process of sustainability and the concept of recycling.

Lots of folks are rushing to trade in their plastic shopping bags for those cute little reusable totes. This is a good thing for the Earth, and there are way too many bags blowing around or floating in our oceans. However, many of those cute totes are actually made with petroleum products and require lots of energy to produce. One group is doing something about it, though.

Jerelyn Miyashiro is teaching people to crochet their own reusable shopping totes from recycled plastic grocery bags. Miyashiro is part of the Unique Ways Studio's Eco-Art Community in Anchorage. It is hosting a "Junk to Funk" series of workshops this summer to teach creative folks how to make note cards from old magazines and catalogs, how to bind books from old waste paper and how to crochet an eco-friendly tote bag from plastic yarn called "plarn."

Plastic bags are made from petrochemical products, that's true, but you can recycle the plastic into a different item without using more. The process of making plarn is simple and lots of fun for the entire family. The old plastic bags are cut into long strips, knotted together and eventually you have enough to roll into balls of plarn for crocheting or knitting. The plastic residue does get on your hands, so I recommend that you wear gloves while you make the plarn to keep the toxins and chemicals in plastic from getting into your system.

When you knit or crochet with plarn, the plastic residue will stay on your needles and hooks, making them gummy, but you can remove it with a little rubbing alcohol.

Other ideas for plarn include place mats, doormats, bath mats for the tub, boot mats for the winter and even kitty litter mats. Plarn crocheted over plastic clothes hangers makes the perfect way to keep those strappy garments from falling onto the floor of the closet.

Try some of the colorful shopping bags found around town and let your creative juice inspire you to dream up ways to make unique shopping totes and beach bags. The raw materials for plarn are free, and it will take a while to knit or crochet all those plastic grocery bags. Best of all, you'll feel so good about recycling. You can create something wonderful from something old, and you'll be avoid running out of yarn for projects.

Catherine Hollingsworth, interior designer, artist and professional knitwear designer, has lived in Alaska for 18 years. She is interim president of the Alaska State Yarn Council and past president of Knitters of the North. To reach her, e-mail twosticks@adnmail.com.

"JUNK TO FUNK" ECO ART GROUP: Crocheted plarn bag workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. July 9, 16 and 23 at Unique Ways Studio, 207 E. Northern Lights Blvd., Suite 112. Cost: $30 per workshop; class space limited. To register, call Jerelyn Miyashiro at 441-4601.

KNITTERS OF THE NORTH: Open guild meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Pioneer School House, lower level, Third Avenue and Eagle Street.

WORLD WIDE KNIT IN PUBLIC DAY: 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday outdoors near the fountain at Loussac Library, 3600 Denali St. Bring a folding chair or blanket. Sponsored by Knitters of the North Guild. For more information, call Janice Chulick at 561-3933 or visit groups.yahoo.com/group/Knitters_North.

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