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May 3, 2007
Help!
Okay, everybody, today I need your help. In our first season of Knitty Gritty we ran the instructions for Erika Knight's Recycled-Plastic Carryall, and ever since then, I've been saving plastic bags (you know, from that store with the bull's-eye logo) to make one. I want to knit the bag and then crochet around the top with this red and white tulle that my co-workers used to decorate my office a couple of birthdays back. I think it would be the coolest thing ever for grocery shopping!
Well, by now my house and garage overfloweth with those bags, and I need to find a quick way to cut them into strips -- lots and lots and lots of strips! Tried scissors and quickly decided that wasn't the way to go. I have a hunch I should get a self-healing mat and a rotary cutter (how I've lived all these years without them, I'll never know) to make the job quicker, but first I thought I'd see if anyone out there has any other helpful hints -- and believe me, help is what I need!
Let me know if you can come up with any suggestions. I can't offer a prize for the best one (can't even name my firstborn after you), but I will give the winner credit and my hearty thanks!
Posted by nharless at May 3, 2007 5:07 PM
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Comments
I used a rotary cutter and board and it worked like a gem..
Of course if you have an over active neice or nephew you could set them to work on it!
I don't know if one of those paper cutters would do it. I would make sure it is nice and sharp first..
Or there is always the pasta noodle cutter on the extra wide setting!
Posted by: Denise at May 3, 2007 10:16 PM
How about one of those quilotine-type paper cutters like they had in school?
Posted by: JJ at May 5, 2007 1:09 AM
somehow i think it might be the rotary cutter. though I wonder if somehow a pasta machine could be used. I have no idea how as I don't own one and have never used one.
good luck! I look forward to seeing suggestions as I have many bags I'd like to cut up ...
Posted by: penny at May 8, 2007 9:23 AM
I saw a Carol Duvall show where she was showing how to prepare the bags. First she laid them flat with side pleats in. Then she cut the top and bottom off. Next she folded the bags lenghtwise into 2" folds. When that was done she cut the bags across into 2" wide strips. I hope this helps.
Marie
Posted by: Marie at May 8, 2007 8:35 PM
I saw a nifty trick for cutting the bags on another show. You don't need a rotary cutter. Lay the bag flat. Then roll it up lengthwise -- you know with the straps at one end and the bottom at the other. Cut off the bottom seam and the top straps. Then use your scissors to cut the bag into whatever size chunks you want to knit with. You get rings of bag instead of Erika Knights long strips, but the rings are easy to link together. I think this is way faster and much less painful on the hands from all that cutting. I hope it works for you!
Posted by: Carol at May 11, 2007 4:15 PM
Hi!
I am a third and fourth grade teacher and want to make squares for your project to help someone. I didn't qutie get all the details and want to teach my students how to knit. Thought this would be a worthwhile project for them to work on this coming school year. Please respond at your earliest convenience.
Thanks,
Roxanne
Posted by: Roxanne at June 20, 2007 3:46 PM