We still need a LOT of rugs here, as the floors are cold. While winter was upon us, I thought it would be a ‘great’ idea to make some rugs…or at least one. After all Pinterest is loaded with beautiful rugs people have made from ‘stuff’ just lying around their house. Wha-la, I thought, I can do this! It will save money. It will be crafty. It will have my mark on it and keep us warm. No problem. Hahahahaha….
The ‘great’ T-shirt rug was begun.
Step 1 – tackle My Loving Spouse and talk him out of a heap of his old T-shirts, that had all seen better days and were not fit to be worn, even on a farm. (Note to future rug makers – this is a very delicate process and should not be undertaken when the original T-shirt owner is in a possessive or ornery mood.) I procured 20 T-shirts for the ‘great’ T-shirt rug.
Step 2 – Cut the T-shirts into strips 2 inches wide. My Loving Spouse was the T-shirt strip cutter only moaning a small bit as he came upon a previously beloved shirt (not fit for anything but the ‘great’ rug or the rag-bag).
Step 3 – With a large (really, really large) crochet hook, crochet the strips into a single strip giving them the look of being braided.
Step 4 – Lay out the ‘great’ rug and start sewing the pieces together. This step is a ….’Bad British Word’. I found this is very difficult to do while keeping the rug tight but not too tight… the Damn Cat did not help.
After hours of sewing, at this point, I picked it up only to have many pieces fall apart…grrrrr. I’d almost abandoned the ‘great’ rug project, but did not relish the idea of hearing about how ‘one’ of us gave their all for the project and kept at it, saved when I remembered a trusted crafters friend…the hot glue gun.
Step 5 – Hot glue the rug together, slowly being careful to keep it flat as you do so, not let the glue seep through and of course do not burn yourself. (Actually, I’ve never used my hot glue gun and not burned myself, so that last bit of advice was just to look like I know what I am doing…..hahahahaha).
Step 6 – I mention to My Loving Spouse that the ‘great’ rug is going to be a tad too small and could I please have some more t-shirts…’Bad British word’… apparently we all ‘agree’, that a small ‘great’ rug will be just fine.
Step 7 – put the ‘great’ rug down and admire it’s beauty, small but pretty
Step 8 – stand on the ‘great’ rug and although it is warm, it is highly uncomfortable, as all the hot glue dried in small clumps making it sort of lumpy
Step 9 – Do NOT even think of not using it, as My Loving Spouse gave up his ‘beloved’ collection of rags t-shirts for the ‘great’ rug. Place the rug where a small spot of color is appreciated, but no one really needs to walk on it.
Step 10 – Be glad it is Spring, go out and garden.
I like it! Should I pack up my old t-shirts and put them in the mail?
Not yet. Off rugs and on to garden and outdoor work, oh and a bit of sewing, but thanks for the offer!
You have a start…nothing prevents you from an addition to the great rug??
Thanks, Don. I’ll tell Pat I need more t-shirts.
Your rug is beautiful! You took on a HUGE project. I recall my Mom making all the rugs in our home from wool strips. She used some metal contraptions that you “thread” the strips thru and it automatically folds them for you. The hardest part was sewing the braided pieces together so they don’t buckle. I can still hear her saying “bad english word” as she struggled with that part.
Haha, it is SO hard! I am impressed she made more than one!
You always make me laugh. Pats contribution has made a beautiful piece of art (love). Thank you for a great start to my day. Happy Easter and happy gardening.