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Stitching & Crafting Room:  Making Rag Rugs  |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 29 2007 : 06:22:49 AM
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I hope I am not repeating a previous topic here!
I recently learned to make rag rugs at Karin's house in Georgia when MaryJane visited. I am really loving this new craft. I have purchased four sheets from Goodwill so far. I am obsessed with checking for new ones as they arrive! Haunting the sheet aisle..
Anyway, my first attempt at a rug swiftly began to take the shape of a sombrero. Hm..... I ripped it out totally and began again. This one is a nice oval shape, but still likes to curl on the outermost edge.
I am asking for tips from others who know tricks that perhaps I did not hear the first time around. I take extra stitches in many places as I go around, and I try to stay really loose with the strips, and still it curls. My daughter's is nice and flexible and flat, although she had one corner that appeared mysteriously!
I learned that Meg's way of attaching the strips is way better than knotting.
How often should you take an extra stitch as the rug gets bigger?
How do you tie off when you are finished?
Are the rugs better if you use pretty skinny strips, even smaller than 1 1/2 inches?
Do you work on a table or your lap?
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Oct 29 2007 : 06:44:23 AM
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This sounds like a question for Sunshine!!! She makes lovely rag rugs...
XOXO, Libbie
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
Posted - Oct 29 2007 : 07:31:33 AM
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you don't have enough increases in your rug that will make the cupping or sombrero shape. if you have too many increases the edges will start to wave action going. If you end up with a mysterious corner that means you kept increasing in the same spot try to stagger them so this doesn't happen unless of course you want a square, rectangle, hexagon, or octagon rug. If you want a circle or oval stagger those increases.
i work on the floor my stripes are usually between 3 and 1 1/2 inches wide for crochet rugs true for braided rugs too.
I work on the floor because my rugs are usually to big to sit on a table. Plus I think it helps in seeing if your rug is waving or cupping.
when finishing a rug I weave my tails in. Then I usually do 1 to 3 rows that are start and stop compleat per row this way in time if the edges get worn out I can take out the outer row and either replace it or just remove it and the next row is intact and a strong edge and boarder for the rug ( I prefer three rows this way)
On round rugs you increase as often as needed on ovals only on the curves and on anything with a corner only in the corners
have a lovely day and may God bless you and keep you safe
my bloghttp://sunshinescreations.vintagethreads.com/
my web store http://vintagethreads.com/ |
Edited by - sunshine on Oct 29 2007 3:10:06 PM |
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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
1646 Posts
Diane
Victoria
BC
Canada
1646 Posts |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Oct 29 2007 : 12:15:44 PM
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Sunshine, thank you! That is alot of help. I have been making my increases in the wrong places, as it is wavy now. If I correct it as I continue, will it get better and behave itself as it grows? Do I have to rip it out again? I was thinking if I increased every three or four stitches, that would make it loose and flat all around. So I only increase on the ends of the oval, if I am making an oval shape. Okay.
Diane - I read on the site you recommended, and further learned that it indeed my increases that are the problem. Thank you, too!
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
Edited by - jpbluesky on Oct 29 2007 12:19:02 PM |
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
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debinmtns
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Debi
Hope
Idaho
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Oct 30 2007 : 09:57:39 AM
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I love to make rugs, too. I have done toothbrush rugs, locker rugs, braided wool rugs, crocket rugs and now knitting a rug. Squares rugs you increase on corners and oval rugs on the curves, but round rugs are alittle tricky. Practice makes perfect. If its not laying flat you have too many or not enough stitches. I hope you enjoy making rugs. I certainly have.
debinmtns
Have a Gratitude Attitude |
Edited by - debinmtns on Oct 30 2007 09:58:36 AM |
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Nancy Gartenman
True Blue Farmgirl
9092 Posts
Nancy
West Seneca
New York
USA
9092 Posts |
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pinkroses
True Blue Farmgirl
2350 Posts
Sheila
Virginia
USA
2350 Posts |
Posted - Oct 30 2007 : 4:13:17 PM
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My Grandmother crocheted hers
I did a couple; but I found I really didn't
like making them.
We still have Gran's throw rugs she made
She also made chair mats too.
those were really cute, Pinkroses |
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debinmtns
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Debi
Hope
Idaho
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Oct 30 2007 : 4:42:32 PM
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the rug i am kniting is called Handicrafter Cotton twists rug on the Beret site.
debinmtns
Have a Gratitude Attitude |
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OregonGal
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Chris
No. IL
USA
511 Posts |
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shawna
True Blue Farmgirl
241 Posts
missouri (north)
241 Posts |
Posted - Nov 03 2007 : 9:35:54 PM
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chris- love the rug. I'm hoping to sometime learn this art. I will more an likely start with something very small.
Debi-- what is a toothbrush rug???
xoxo s.r. |
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
Posted - Nov 03 2007 : 10:18:21 PM
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yes that is a [plaited rug when braiding one strand of braid is woven through the previous row of braid these I have seen up to 10 plaits wide that means 10 strands in your braid.
have a lovely day and may God bless you and keep you safe
my bloghttp://sunshinescreations.vintagethreads.com/
my web store http://vintagethreads.com/ |
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
Posted - Nov 03 2007 : 10:24:53 PM
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color changes should happen in the curve right before it goes straight on the side the one above is lovely but color changes are in the wrong spots if you want them desecrate if you want a more coat of many colors look(scrappy)(rustic look) change where ever. Also increase per row should be kept in groups of three if you increase three on one end then three on the other end as well and stagger your increases the ones shown above are not staggered evenly thus the rug doesn't have a uniform edge not elliptical but more wobbly edge or flat on the curves this is corrected with even increases in sets of 3 such as ( 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and so on) and yes you can have 0 increases on a row if you did too many the row before they counter act each other on a row to row basses but not if you increase two much for many rows then you have a wave action.
have a lovely day and may God bless you and keep you safe
my bloghttp://sunshinescreations.vintagethreads.com/
my web store http://vintagethreads.com/ |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9324 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9324 Posts |
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Stitching & Crafting Room: Making Rag Rugs |
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Making Rag Rugs
