Bags to Mats Ministry
Overview
The Bags to Mats Ministry is a group of people who are interested in two things. First, providing sleeping mats to people who are homeless. Second, recycling with a purpose to decrease the number of plastic bags in landfills and the ocean.
You do not have to attend the Bags to Mats meetings to be a part of the Ministry.
People can be involved in any or all areas. Areas of involvement are:
Collect bags
Fold bags
Cut bags into strips
Loop strips together to make plarn (plastic yarn)
Crochet plarn into mats
The goal is a soft dense mat that is waterproof but can be rinsed off, and that insulates and resist fleas, lice or bed bugs (they don’t like plastic)
We give these mats to LINC Austin who work with the homeless in Austin, for distribution.
We have distributed 110 mats to LINC since 2020 when the Bags to Mats Ministry began.
Mats
Mats are made of recycled clean HEB/Walmart/Randall’s/Home Depot/Dollar General/etc. bags (or bags of similar weight). The more colors the better.
It takes approximately 700 bags to make one mat! We are proud to be a serious recycling project. As of Jan 2026, we have recycled just over 77,000 bags
Mats are approximately 39 x 72 inches in size
Cutting bags is simple but technique matters to make straight edges and crocheting easier
Most bags are bunched up when you get them.
Smooth them out and try to put them back into their original shape, folding sides in
Fold bag into fourths (and smooth with handles together and little loose parts away from cut
Cut off handles about 1 ½ inch below handle and about ½ inch from bottom edge
Fold this piece in half and cut
Cut these two pieces in half
For most bags there are 4 pieces that are about 3 inches wide. This is the ideal width of loops to provide cushioning. For smaller bags cut into 3 pieces. Wider is always better than narrower strips.
Stringing plarn is also simple. Just open folded pieces and loop together to make a string of pieces. Roll into a ball and you have plarn. Only technique needed is tight knots and both sides of piece are equal length.
Crocheting
Done with a size Q needle
Tension and technique vary among crocheters as does number of stitches. It is a simple single crochet. Double plarn for the beginning chain row then single plarn for the rest of the mat.
When mat is completed, crochet around the edge to strengthen.
A strap that also holds it together is sewn onto the finished mat.
Approximately 39” wide and 72” long is the recommended size.
The goal is a dense tight mat that will insulate and be water proof.
Here are several videos about making and distributing these mats.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hU3uBCgMaNA
Just Google “Sleeping Mats for the Homeless From Grocery Bags” for many more videos.
How can you help?
We are always looking for crocheters.
However, it takes 3-4 folders, cutters and plarn makers for each crocheter!
All roles are vital to make this ministry work
Bags to fold, cut bags and plarn can be picked up and dropped off to the rolling cart near the office or to the first cabinet in C-101.
The Bags to Mats Ministry meets at Faith in C- 101 on the 1st and 3rd Friday at 10:00. We meet only on the 3rd Friday in the summer.
All are welcome and being a member of Faith is not a requirement.
Email Mary Fuller for information or questions
REMEMBER, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO ATTEND MEETINGS TO BE PART OF THE BAGS TO MATS MINISTRY. ALL STEPS CAN BE DONE FROM HOME!