Turning unused bags to sleep mats

A dynamic group of ladies have launched into the new year with a unique plan to provide the homeless with lovingly crafted handmade sleep mats.

The members of Dovestone WI - who hold their Monday meet-ups at Uppermill’s Reclamation Rooms - have begun crocheting sleep mats out of discarded plastic carrier bags. 

Initially, they cut the bags into strips and then joined them together with slip knots to create ‘plarn’ - a plastic yarn. 

The yarn is then crocheted to make 6ft x 2ft sleep mats (pictured below), which will provide a waterproof insulated barrier between the ground and body. 

Jessica Moreland, Dovestones WI president, enthused: "We had a brilliant productive night at our first Monday Meet Up of 2020!

“Dozens and dozens of carrier bags, which would have otherwise ended up in land fill, began their journey to becoming something far more useful as sleep mats for people who are homeless. 

"More than 20 massive balls of ‘plarn’ were made by our awesome ladies and with the help of lovely Emma Givvons, who lets us use the Reclamation Rooms for our projects, let crocheting commence! 

"This will be an ongoing project throughout the year, so anyone that wants to join in, feel free.

"Our members have built a huge stockpile of plastic bags and once we have completed a stock pile of the completed mats, we will be giving them to Skullfades Foundation in Manchester." 

Dovestone WI member Melanie Anderson holding streams of plastic

To find out more information about the project, contact Dovestone WI by emailing hello@dovestonewi.com. 

Information on the Skullfades Foundation can be found by visiting https://skullfadesfoundation.co.uk/.