Rag Time Blues

Like many I have wanted to have a homely rag rug, maybe next to my bed, or a large one in the sitting room
To that end I have a box of fabric that I would "get-around-to-one-day"

These past holidays I got a bee in my bonnet and decided to make one. One of our members has been making them and I was going to get a lesson but she was too busy.
Trawl through online videos gave me a lot to think about, including that there were 3 types- rag rug weaving; braided rag rug; woven rag rug.

After getting various tips from 3 different videos on rag rug weaving, I gave it a go

The start was fiddly but working. Increasing was fine. Tension needs work. Effect on my arthritic  hands.... mmm. Not good. As I find out later, bed sheets are rather stiff to work with when trying to manipulate it like yarn

I decided to make the rug into a bag. Stopped increasing and kept going around. Towards the top I went through each stitch instead of between stitches. Looks neat

As my tension is dodgy I will line this, and maybe add handles to make it a project bag, or leave as is for a yarn/fleece bucket

So. What to do with the still quite large ball of fabric, and fabric strips??

I wound off 3 strands each 8 metres long. I tied the ends in an overhand knot and braided/ plaited it all.
The video showing the braid rugs showed people sewing them into a spiral using a sewing machine. Those were factory machines though and I wasn't going to try it on mine.
I used the leftover fabric strips to sew the braid sides together, using the same joining technique used for the rag rugs. Worked well









This was closer to what I wanted.While I was joining it I thought about having a mat. and decided it wasn't a good idea for me. It would be a trip hazard.
What to do? By the time I finished the section of braid the shape reminded me of the base of a Moses basket.
I wasn't going to braid, nor rug weave anymore, and crocheted the remaining blue sheet yarn around the new base.

It needed to be taller. Digging around in the afore mentioned fabric box, I found a couple of old summer dresses I wore when pregnant with John. Had to cut them, in the round, with scissors, rather than rip as dress made on the bias.

My hands welcomed the change to a softer fabric

Height of basket achieved.
Now for handles. Knit and crochet handles always stretch. Braiding would make it all too thick to sew. Inkle loom would be the thing
Colours?? Cotton?? Acrylic??

💥Brainstorm!!
💡 Light bulb moment!!
😲Eureka!!

USE FABRIC!!!


Warping up on the inkle floor loom. It can make straps about 3 metres long

Went better than I hoped. I was worried about the fabric ripping and having to try and sew ends together, Which didn't happen til the last 1/2 metre.
I used a lilac acrylic yarn for weft

2 1/2 metres of inkle strap

The last 1/2 mt I plaited. Looking at the side width I am glad I chose inkle instead of braid for a handle.

I considered hand sewing, partly as it was so hot and the aircon is upstairs and the machine is downstairs. Thinking about the damage to my fingertips I did 2 stints slowly  machine sewing the handle on

Fairly sure I could fit a baby in the basket. May have a few years before grandkids come along, so project bag in  the meantime

And what to do with the 1/2 mt of braid?
Following a style found in a few different cultures and eras, I sewed the end together, about 15 cm long to make a rectangle on the end of the "chain". I can then pin any brooch to it. Right now it is a piece I made last year after receiving a book for xmas (story for another day)

Will be just right for wearing to meetings, camp, exhibits

or anywhere :)