Darwin statue with squidSometimes, despite your best intentions, you end up with plastic bags. This is why nature invented the giant squid, humans invented knitting needles, and Deadly Knitshade invented Plarchie. He’s knitted out of 162 plastic bags, and is shown here cuddling with Charles Darwin, who celebrated his 202nd birthday on Saturday.

If you want to celebrate the mysteries of the deep, support natural selection, get rid of waste plastic, or just do something with your hands while watching Parks and Rec, Deadly Knitshade has some making-of photos on her Flickr, along with more snaps of Plarchie chilling with The Other Chuck D. And here’s a tutorial on making “plarn” (that is how the kids say plastic yarn) from another sea-creature-obsessed knitter.