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I am an Air Force wife and mother of three precious gifts from God. I enjoy learning at home with my children, and the many adventures this life sends our way. So stop by often to visit, and check out what the Five Nomads are up to.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Labor of Love

Back in June when we first arrived in Oklahoma, I decided to spend my free time on a little project for Princess's new bedroom. I was inspired by Jody Blue's rag rugs. Step 1: We scoured the local thrift shops for old sheets, curtains and other miscellaneous fabrics. We found 2 yards of floral fabric at WalMart, a set of twin pink flannel sheets, a bunch of old yellow curtains, and a set of twin sheets that were t-shirt material. Total cost for all of the fabric was right around $20.Step 2: Take out all of life's frustrations by ripping the cloth into strips. I ripped the flannel into strips that were about 1/2-3/4 of an inch, while the t-shirt material was more like 1-1 1/2 inches. Most of the fabrics it is much easier to make a tiny cut, and then rip. However, with the t-shirt material it was cutting all the way. As my sister says, "You just have to play with it a bit to figure out the different fabrics, and feel that you are after." As for how you get all of those strips into one nice long "thread", you have two options. Jody sews her ends together. Since I didn't have my machine, I just knotted mine together. I can see that the sewing would give you a cleaner finish, but knotting worked fine. I just have to keep the knots tucked on the under side of the rug. Step 3: Lots and lots, and lots and lots of crocheting! I started with a row of 20 single crochet stitches, and then just started going around and around using a simple double crochet stitch. As I would get to the top of the ovals, I would do the increases. Sometimes I would add as many as 16 stitches, spaced out across the top. Sometimes I wouldn't add any stitches at all. (It was the same advice for the pattern as I received for the ripping. . .play with it. If you would like a longer rug, use more stitches at the beginning. If you want it square, go back and forth with your rows as opposed to round and round in circles.)
Step 4: Enjoy the rug Princess!
This was a great project for Princess and I to do together. It wasn't precise, so either of us could pick it up and work on it without "messing" up the pattern. I love that she has a beautiful rug for her room. Even better, it cost us only $20 and a lot of good memories. I've eyed rugs like this for years, but could never bring myself to spending $100-$200 on them in Pottery Barn.
Thank you Jody Blue for the great idea!






8 comments:

  1. I'm so envious! I don't even know how to crochet. This is awesome, and I'm sure Princess will cherish it for years to come.

    You know, I'm forgetting your children's names cause of your blogging. I'm afraid they may always be General, Princess and Bubby to me now!

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  2. How awesome!! Wow! And for only $20, too! I'm sure you and Princess will always look upon this with fondness. What a great project for you to do together. I'm sure she'll always treasure it! Great job, Mama!

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  3. I will make one of these some day... someday... along w/ all my other "someday's".. I love it! It's beautiful! I have a special hook thing, but is sounds easier to crochet.. I spent MANY hours doing that growing up, my grandma taught me:) Love the rug, thanks for sharing!

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  4. Incredible!! I never finish my rugs-- you gals did an amazing job! It is beautiful!!

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  5. Oooh...it's beautiful, Tami! I bet it'll look great in Princess's new green bedroom.

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  6. What an ambitious undertaking! I'm impressed. And what fun you could work on it together. Pottery Barn could never hold those kind of memories.

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  7. ok sister of mine, you surely put my rugs to shame!! Yours is bigger than my 2 put together! You did an amazing job! I love the colors. I'm inspired to pick up my hook once again (its been on a sabbatical).

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