A group of Kitimat women — who call themselves 'bag ladies' — have been crocheting unwanted plastic bags into sleeping mats for the homeless.

Since September, the 'bag ladies' have handed out 20 to 25 mats to homeless seniors in both Terrace and Vancouver.

The women started the project as part of their church group's initiative to help homeless seniors.

"We all try to keep bags out of landfills, and thought we can use them in a way that will benefit the homeless," said Pauline Glover, who came across the idea while searching the Internet for ideas.

It takes about 460 bags to make one sleeping mat, said Glover, and making one takes the women anywhere from one day to a week.

Glover said the reaction from those using the mats has been so positive, the group can't make enough of them, so they are teaching others to crochet.

"I'm going into schools to teach them how to do it," said Glover, who taught a class at St. Anthony's in Kitimat on Wednesday and is teaching another class in the next few weeks.

With files from the CBC's Daybreak North and George Baker.

To hear the full story listen to the audio labelled: A group of Kitimat women crochet plastic bags into sleeping mats for homeless.