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Monday, March 2, 2015

My First Rag Rug & Some Thoughts on the World

You know that rag rug article we published two days ago? Remember how easy I said it was to make them? I'm finished. With the first one that is. This is a great project that can be picked up and put down easily, it gives me something to do while I deal with the late winter doldrums, and turns out a beautiful, useful product in a short amount of time.

I couldn't quite figure out how much to increase the loops or where, so I experimented. After I had gone a little farther than the picture I showed you in the last post, the rug started cupping up on the ends. So I started adding an extra loop here and there in an effort to get it to lay down nice and flat.

Well, then I ended up adding too many. There was a helpful comment on the last post, that said to only add extra loops on the corners and not on the straight sides, but it was too late by then and the rug was getting kind of ruffley all the way around. So, as I got to the size I wanted, I ended up decreasing the number of loops again. This time I kept laying the rug down on the floor and looking at where the decreases needed to happen.

30 x 22"
Is it a perfect rug? Absolutely not. Is it a beautiful, functional rug? Yes, definitely. I am not completely satisfied with the outcome, but I am very happy with my rug. And the funny thing is, that I can point out what each type of material in the rug came from - mostly dresses, but one was from a shirt.


Now that I finished this first oval one, I am starting another one that I am going to try to make rectangular. This time I will add the extra loops in the corners and see if it will help create the shape I want. I started off with four loops.

As I turned the piece around to begin working (see the videos on Rag Rug Cafe again, they are very, very helpful. I watched them a number of times), I put two loops into the first loop to make end 1, then one in each of the remaining two loops going down the side. Again, two loops in end 2, and two more going back up the side to form the foundation of the rug. Now, put two loops in each of the original two loops on the end 1, work down the side and put two loops in each of the original two loops on end 2. Get the idea? I know this would have been easier to see if I had started with a lighter colored material, but I really like this material and I liked the dress that was made out of it as well.

The challenge here is to keep figuring out which loop is in the corner, then continue to put two loops into each of the four corner stitches on every row, or round. That will keep increasing the size and hopefully keep it somewhat symmetrically rectangular.


Some things I learned. The strip of fabric you 'sew' with (in your right hand if you are right handed), will get twisted on a regular basis. It goes much smoother if I stop and untwist it every so often.

If you're using fabric that has a right and wrong side, the rug looks much better if you make sure the right side is facing out. At first I was concentrating simply on figuring out the technique to use and didn't even notice that a lot of my fabric had the wrong side up.

The tail piece of fabric that you make the knot around doesn't really show much. Because of this, I used up some fabric that I thought would make a decent background. This black material won't add much color, so I'm using it for the tail piece. Besides that, I didn't like the dress that I made with it and the material faded very quickly.

A funny side note. As I made the first rug, I came to the point that I needed to tear up some more fabric. So I tore and I tore and I tore. Then Frank pokes his head around the corner and says, "Do you have enough of that finished for now?" This surprised me and I laughed and asked if it was bothering him. It was. He asked that I wait until he is outside before I tear up a bunch more. Unless it is only a piece or two. He didn't think I was ever going to stop all that tearing noise.


My rug tool needed to be squeezed just a little more. It was a little wide to fit in some of the loops comfortably, so Frank made the fine adjustments I requested, and it works like a charm. Funny how a girl can be so pleased with a short piece of clothes hanger and some duct tape. It's always these simple little things that bring me the most pleasure.

The world. There are times when I decide that nothing can surprise me anymore, and then the next unbelievable thing happens. The onslaught of gruesome death continues to grow until the horror affects more and more people around the globe. First it was beheading and crucifixion. Then as if that wasn't enough, came parading people in cages through the streets and burning them alive. The soul of mankind in more and more people has been left desolate. The abomination of desolation. There is evil in the wind. It blows across the world whispering to those that will listen. Many are heeding it's call and gathering. They fill themselves with hate and loathing for those that will not bend to it's demand. There will come a time when we will all have to chose sides and not sit on the fence and pretend all is well.

We plan to watch Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to congress tomorrow morning. I find it very disturbing that many of our elected leaders are refusing to treat the elected leader of another country with respect and dignity. It's unconscionable.  

I'm glad I found a fun, easy project to get me through these last days of winter. Soon it will be time to get in gear for the summer growing season. We plan to grow, harvest and preserve more food this summer than ever before, for us and the animals. These are skills and supplies we feel will be very important in the not-so-distant future. Rest up, for the work is just beginning.

Until next time - Fern
 

21 comments:

  1. It looks great, especially for your first rug! I was the one who told you to increase on the corners only. Just remember to ONLY increase when you are transitioning to go around the curve, not on the straight part. Not enough increases result in your rug "bowling" up, and too many increases result in it getting a swayed look. If you can it would be helpful to have a flat surface to work on like a very thin board. Beautiful rug you have there! Are you addicted yet? They work great for gifts. Who can't use a rug, right!

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    1. No, I'm not addicted and probably won't be. I tend to work on one thing until I tire of it then go on to another, like knitting or quilting. Soon much of my time will be spent gardening, making cheese and working on other projects around the farm, so all the time I'm spending indoors waiting for spring will be used in other areas. But I like your idea about gifts. Maybe I can make a few for Christmas presents..... Thank you again for the great hint on only increasing at the corners.

      Fern

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  2. Rag rugs are on my to do list, Thanks for sharing your experience-tips.

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    1. It's a very relaxing past time, Sandra. Kind of like your knitting and spinning.

      Fern

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  3. Your rug turned out beautifully. And, as they say, practice makes perfect. Can't wait to see the next one.

    Mentioned your post about the rag rug to my sister and she told me when her neighbors had very little money due to job loss, the wife made rag rugs and sold them with suggested uses at kitchen sink, in front of easy chairs and as bathmats. Bathmats were the favorite use, hadn't thought of that use myself.

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    1. It's fun, Bellen, I am really enjoying it. Now if only my stiff, arthritic hands will keep cooperating. They don't like winter much. Frank and I talked about using these for bathmats since ours are wearing pretty thin. It's a great idea. Thank you for sharing.

      Fern

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  4. Hello Frank and Fern,

    Last thing at night, I read your blog and then "Quiet Time Bible Study". Tonight, it spoke of the prophecies of Amos, (7-8), and it seemed to echo what you were writing about. Its as though the Lord Himself is warning us........who is listening?

    Many thanks for what you do. I hope that you have a productive garden this year, and an overflowing pantry.

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    1. We have felt the warnings for quite some time now. And some days it does seem that more people are listening. I sure hope so.

      Thanks for the thoughts on an overflowing pantry. We pray it is so.

      Fern

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  5. What an inspiration you and Frank are to so many readers. Your rag rug has encouraged me to try it - it's lovely.

    We, too, see the evil growing worse and the acts of the evil ones more daring. My husband and I are preparing.

    I am not an advocate of politically correctness. I'm older and call it like I see it. The people in the U.S. had better wake up and, once again, call Israel one of it's greatest allies. This administration befriends terrorists and turns it's back on God's chosen people. A very dangerous game to play.

    We need only turn to the Word of God to read of these times and of what happens to the nation's that reject Israel. The Bible cannot be fully understood without an in-depth study of the Tanakh (Old Testament).

    Many blessings to you and thank you for your honest and in-tune blog.

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    1. You'll love the rug, Glenda, and the simplicity of the technique. Thank you for your inspiring and kind words.

      Fern

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  6. Your rug turned out lovely. I especially like the colors you chose. Let us see the new one when it's done.
    Odiie

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    1. The colors were kind of accidental, Odiie. I'm not very good at color coordinating, this was just some scraps I had laying around and gathered up. So, thank you for the compliment even though I feel it was undeserved. I'll show you the next one, and the next one, and the next one.......... Thank you!

      Fern

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  7. Thank you for this article today. I have a ton of scraps and really wanted to make a rug..but haven't found the assistance to make one. Will be going over and over the info you have provided and give it a whirl soon.

    I believe the Devil has been let loose! Warnings and signs are there like never before. A dividing of people is happening like never before...I am not trying to predict anything..I am just watching for the signs laid out in his Word for us so that we may take heed!

    Thank you Anonymous for the bible study link.....from the look of it...fabulous!

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    1. I thought of you and your arm knitting, M.E. and thought you might want to try this. Keep your eyes, ears and mind open.

      Fern

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  8. Its beautiful and don't they feel nice to stand on!

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    1. Thanks, Fiona. You're right. It does feel nice!

      Fern

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  9. Great beautiful job on the rug, Fern. I remembered another thing taught at our class for rugs - you can adapt the technique to make grocery bags. In this case, you want the sides to turn up. When we made the bags, we used plastic shopping bags as our 'fabric'. Just in case you get bored with making rugs for the floor!! Cheers, SJ in Vancouver BC

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    1. Thank you very much, SJ. Using grocery bags to make a grocery bag is a very good idea! Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

      Fern

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  10. I think your first rug turned out great! There was an old lady (older than me) that lived a few miles down the road that crocheted baling twine in a circle and used them for outdoor door mats. They were tough as nails and worked great and you could just hose them off when they got all muddy and cruddy. Lord knows, there is always baling
    twine around.

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    1. I love this idea! Thanks for mentioning it!

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    2. Thank you, Tewshooz. I've heard of using baling twine before. It comes in handy for all kinds of things. Kinda like duct tape, right? Thank you for sharing this idea.

      Fern

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