Plarn Lab: A Citizen Design Event

Join Portland Textile Club for a day of creative tinkering & trash R&D. Sponsored by SCRAP PDX and Make+Think+Code@PNCA. Plarn is a D.I.Y. fiber made from plastic bags.

What will you make with plarn?

Bring your household plastic film and we’ll show you how easy it is to make plarn. We’ll also share simple textile techniques anyone can learn. No prior textile skills needed, just a desire to get plastic out of our trash and put plarn to work. If you’re a fiber artist, knitter, crocheter, sewist, maker or designer, we want you too! 


Why Upcycle Plastic Film?

1. It’s Hard to Recycle.
Did you know that Portland’s curbside recycling doesn’t take plastic bags? Every bag that goes into the blue bin clogs up the machines used to sort the city’s recycling.

2. Recycling Doesn’t Happen Without Buyers.

Our modern industrial recycling is driven by market demand; without buyers, recyclers stop taking
 material (plastic bags don't make the cut).


3. It’s Everywhere, Even in a No-Bag City.

Portland is known as a city that bans plastic bags, however, the ban only targets the largest supermarket chains. Despite our best efforts, our households still have plastic film from many other sources.

This is a free event, but space is limited to 12 participants. If you sign up but cannot make it, please cancel your ticket so those on the waitlist can register.

All ages are welcomed (children must be over 6 years old); all children must be accompanied by an adult (registration is not needed for the accompanying adult).

Thanks to our sponsors SCRAP PDX and Make+Think+Code@PNCA.