Last month I started knitting a rag rug from my bin of scrappy strips. What a fun project. Using a tutorial from Crazy Mom Quilts, I cast on about 35 stitches (I can’t remember for sure) and used size 19 needles that were 13 inches long.
This worked well though once the rug got going, I wished I had longer needles. I was really scrunching the project when I got to the end of a row. It was a bit awkward, partly due to using such fat knitting needles and maybe even more, the fact that I rarely knit anything. I really enjoyed crafting in a way other than sewing.
This is a tiny rug, finishing at 13″ x 22″. It will be used in the bathroom in our Downieville house. This bathroom is very tiny (maybe six feet by seven feet?) so this will look really cute in front of the sink.
I pulled the knots (where I joined one strip to the next) to the back of the rug. I am not sure if I should trim the strands to be closer to the knot or if it even matters. The rug feels really nice, sort of spongy, when I stand on it. When I first started, I was using strips that were anywhere from WOF (width of fabric) to about 15 inches long. The shorter strands started to annoy me as it made for more knots to deal with. Eventually, I restricted myself to longer strips that were WOF. I actually used every long strip I had in the bin which is nice. It is amazing to look at the reduction of strips in the bin. So many strips went into this project, making it a great scrap buster. Lots of the strips I had saved were 2 1/2 inches wide and I cut them in half so I was knitting with 1 1/4″ wide strips. As I knitted, I would fold the strip in half, wrong sides together, so I would end up with the “good side” of the fabric showing, rather than the inside. I didn’t work too hard at this for the solids (since it didn’t really matter which side showed) but if it was a print I would try to keep the good side showing.
I stopped knitting when I ran out of strips. I thought about cutting some from yardage so I could continue but that seemed silly (creating scraps from yardage??) Honestly, I am kind of sad to be finished with this because it was a nice evening project. I will let the strips build up again, and you know they will, because then I can make another one. 🙂
I am not sure I will write another post this week, so I want to wish all of the readers in the US a wonderful Thanksgiving. And to the readers outside of the US, I wish you a week of peace and joy as well. Happy Thanksgiving.
Finally, remember that this week there is a wonderful event going on over at Mari’s site, The Academic Quilter. I hope you will check it out – Mari is doing a HUGE destash and donating all proceeds to one of three charities. I did some shopping this morning. She is a generous soul and I love the way she structured this to benefit both the buyer and the non-profit.
Finally – Craftsy has gone all out for Black Friday this year. Beginning on Thursday, 11/24/16 classes are $17.99 each. Fabric and notions are all on sale as well. I am quite curious about the Boundless line of solids. I took a look and the prices are amazing. Solids, in a rainbow of thirty different colors, are available in pre-cuts such as layer cakes and jelly rolls, as well as yardage.
This is an affiliate link, meaning if you make a purchase after clicking over from my blog, I will receive a stipend.
Lovely rug! Scrappy sings to me! Happy Thanksgiving to you, too! XO
Thanks Karen. Are you celebrating Thanksgiving with your daughter or are you still up north?? Either way, hope all is well. 🙂
What a great use of scraps! It looks great!
Thank you Emily. It did consume a large pile of strips which made me so happy!
Thanks for hosting the link up and coming by. Have a wonderful holiday Emily!
Ugh!!! I LOVE your rug! Every time I try a project like this I ALWAYS knit toooooo tight! GRRR…most times I end up with a bowl! LOL!!
Val, that is so funny because I tend to knit very tightly too. I was in a yarn shop once asking for help with a project — I actually attempted a sweater some years ago. The owner smiled at me when she looked at my progress and said, “you know, knitting is supposed to be relaxing”. My stitches were soooo tight and I had used so much more yarn at that point. Haha – I never finished that sweater by the way – it looked just awful! But for this project, I really tried to keep the strips very loose. Using the big fat needles helped as well. But if it doesn’t work for you, I do love those braided bowls!! Happy Thanksgiving Val. 🙂
Hi! Found your blog through Flipboard. I am not a quilter but your cute rug warmed my little knitter’s heart. Loved the link to the Academic Quilter and hope a knitting destasher sees it and uses the exact same charities she does. I would love to donate to those particular charities in that exact same way. A win-win for everyone. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Chloe, So glad you came by. I usually sew and quilt but it was really fun to use fabric in a different way. I have only the most basic of knitting skills. The rag rug is completely forgiving and doesn’t require a sophisticated level of knowledge (of knitting). I think the next time I try it, I may join the fabric strips by sewing them end to end. It would take more time but the knots are so chunky and it would be a cleaner finish. Even if I just sewed 1/2 of the joins and knotted the rest. Is knitting your chosen way to craft and make things?
Yes, Mari’s Gratitude Sale is amazing – she is a very generous soul. I happily did some shopping there yesterday and was able to feel great about sending contributions both to St Judes and Fisher House.
So glad you found me through Flipboard. I think that app is a really fun way to explore the web – so many great articles to read.
Happy Thanksgiving Chloe!!
Love this! I need to learn to knit. 🙂
Linda, I have only the most rudimesntary knitting skills. I actually had to look at a UTube video to remember how to cast on and bind off. I thought you knew how? Or do you know how to crochet? Either one can be used to make a rug. Amanda Jean (Crazy Mom Quilts) has several tuts for rag rugs. Check this one out if you can crochet:
http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2014/04/how-to-crochet-rag-rug-with-fabric-yarn.html
In that tutorial, she actually stitches the fabric strips end to end rather than knotting them. I think I will try that next time to avoid the lumpy knots.
Happy Thanksgiving!! Are you cooking and do you get to be with your grandkids for the holiday?
This is just darling . I did one on a loom a few years back with sheets and this & that picked up at the mission store.
Oh, I bet that looks wonderful. Has it held up? I am curious to see how long this one lasts…..
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Bernie! Love the fabric knitting. I’m sure it’s very cushiony on the feet.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Diana! I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
The rug is so cushy. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I really like it. ?
Hi Bernie, I love your rag rug also. It reminded me of the rag rugs my grandmother crocheted. She hand sewed her strips together as she crocheted so she didn’t have to deal with either the lumpy knots or the long strips. Your rug has rich color…I guess the work of making sure the good side of the fabric was showing paid off!
Here’s hoping you and yours also enjoyed Thanksgiving.