Time to make a crocheted rug - Part 4

You saw this picture in the last post. There's my pin, telling me I am back to the beginnings. It's not necessary to keep track of that, but as the rug gets larger and larger, it's a guidepost. Can you see the distinct 'rows'? The autumn type chain beginnings? The blue that followed nearly all the way around the first row? The black into yellowish and made up the 2nd row?
 And here we are with 3 rounds just about completed. In this 3rd round, I began to alternate: 1 sc in a stitch, and then 2 in the next one. That will be the way it goes for quite a few of the rounds as the rug grows. Sometimes that's NOT enough...and you'll end up putting (2)sc in several stitches in a row to 'ease' the curve. Sometimes it will take just ONE(1)sc in several stitches or it seems 'too full'. Sorry to tell you that will have to pay SOME attention to this aspect of making the rug. And I'll give you my BEST clues for what is needed. This is a NO FAIL test *VBS* If your rug is curling slightly as you come around the circle, you need to ADD MORE stitches. That eases out the curl. IF...the rug begins to RIPPLE, you've done TOO MANY stitches and need to pull out your crocheting back to where is doesn't ripple. Pulling out goes fast!!!!! Much faster than putting in!
As the rug grows, I lay it on the floor in front of me every round or two and make sure it is laying flat. I've had very good luck using these HINTS. Curl:to few stitches Ripple: too many stitches, and CHECK on the flatness periodically. And don't get discouraged. I figured this ALL out first hand. The directions in the BH&G book say increase every other stitch period after the first round. I found you MUST do that 2 in 1 as a 2nd round also. It's a learning process, but well worth the effort I think.
 Lastly, for today,fruits of my labor. The little "beginnings" is out to 3 1/2"s as I finish up the 3rd round. The red and white one is one I started yesterday(it will go to someone as a 'mug rug', when that begun round is complete it will be 4.5". The nearly all white one is a finished 'rug'. I use it under my coffee mug. It is made from white selvedges, and measures 5.5".
I've made dozens and dozens that size(5.5") for our local nursing home. They put a carafe of ice water on each of the dining room tables at meal time, and since they also use table cloths for the residents, the ice water carafe was making a mess, and dripping. My friend Jean came up with the idea of putting one of these little 'coasters' under the jugs of water and it solved the problem. The nursing home now also uses one of my little 'mug rugs' on each residents night stand to solve the problem in there. It's been a lot of fun and I enjoy making them this size. It goes really fast. I'm working on a bunch now that are all scrappy reds and scrappy greens. They will be for this coming Christmas.
And the nice part is, if a resident wants to take it with them when they leave, they may do so *VBS* There are so many ways to be of service to your community *S*
** Please feel free to email me with questions about your rug.

Time to make a rug - Part 3

The chain 6 gets joined by doing a slip st(sl st)into the first stitch.When you get to here stick the hook through the beginning stitch, yarn over(excuse the use of the word yarn)and pull through the opening AND the stitch on the hook, all in one motion.THEN...put ANOTHER single crochet(sc)in that same first stitch. You've now increased the count by ONE. Continue doing this ALL THE WAY AROUND. Should have roughly 12 sc's when you get back to the beginning again.
 This is first row completed. Ready to slip stitch to the former first stitch.
 I like to know when I've completed a ROUND, so I use a small safety pin, moving it up every few rows. That way I have an idea of where the beginning was when I am ready to be done.
 The second 'go round' will be almost exactly like the previous one. I try to get 2 single crochets in every stitch in this round also. It might be that your little beginning seems to be trying to be a caterpiller and curl up. Don't worry about that. Almost always it takes til the 3rd round before things flatten out. There can be exceptions to the 'getting 2 stitches' in every stitch of that 2nd round. One exception seems to happen if the fabric is too thick or wide. If its an awkward fit, just put in one sc and then put 2 in the next one. Way to go...got you've got it!

Making a Crocheted Rug - Prep - Part 2

The items on this stool(Ebby's window perch)are what you need to make a crocheted rug. That, and the ability to crochet. Pretty hard unless you know how. See the 'strings or threads' on the scrap of fabric? Pull all of the loose threads like that off your fabric strips. They really complicate the process.
 This is my tried and true method of joining up my fabric strips. I layer two of them, both are right side up. I overlap an appropiate amount, stitch, doing a anchor stitch(forward and back), then across the 1/2 to 5/8" pieces, another anchor stitch and on to the next pair. It's chain piecing ala 'strips'. Snip apart, and then trim off the access fabric on both sides. It's putzy, but good tv work, or when yakking on the phone. A no-brainer. Roll into balls and anchor end with a pin.
 Now you can crochet, for practice or for real. The book calls for a K hook, and I find that to be a good size for the fabric strips I've described. You can go as big or as small with a hook as you choose. A big hook and narrow strips will give you a fairly AIRY piece. For narrower strips, a smaller hook works well. For wider strips, I recommend at least L or M hook. They come in plastic and metal. Make a loop, with or without a knot to anchor it. Lately I've had trouble with my loop pulling open and I've started doing a knot. That can be removed later, or stitched down as part of the center.
 Chain 6, and when I say "loosely", I mean LOOSELY....you are going to be putting two(2) single crochets in each of those chain openings. It gets crowded fast!

Making a Rug - Prep - Part 1

I have this older Better Homes and Gardens book, part of series they published back in the 80's or 90's. If you have it, refer to it. There is a section on Rugs. I used these basic directions in addition to reading what Darcie had blogged about crocheting a rug. I believe that was June or July of '06. I'll double check and correct this if I need to. 
 The book tells you to join your fabric strips up in this method. It's one we kow from making binding strips. Even with the triangles trimmed off, I found it clumsy and bulky when you crochet past that part. Circular file 13 for this idea.
 This is the 'slit, loop and knot' method. I think this is the one Darcie uses. (I'm using 2" strips here to demonstrate on)..make a slit, fold over a 'loop' of the fabric you are joining, slip the whole loop through the slit, and then tuck the long end of the (looped) strip through the loop opening. Pull tight.
 A finished loop and slit looks like this. You'd have to trim off the excess from having made the loop. There is NO easier way to explain this process, you will have to take a couple of strips and just try it. It's how lap sponges are attached to the stainless steel surgical rings in OR...all you hospital gals would know this one..just like this old war horse. I don't care for this method either...again, I don't like the bulk of the knot. More in the next part of the Rug Prep...namely, my method *VBS*

One more thing......about rug making-beginnings

I really, really DON'T recomment tearing or cutting up your odd and unwanted FQ's an/or yardages,unless you feel really committed to the idea of making a rug. It's alot of prep work to make one, and you might be better off to prepare a small amount of strips and try it before you jump off the deep end *VBS* Since you only get 10 single crochet stitches from a 36" strip of fabric, you are only going to get just over HALF that from a FQ strip. It IS a great way to use up stuff you don't want or that the quality isn't as good, but i'ts a long long way out to a 30+" round rug. Just so you KNOW that when you start. Regarding the UTILITY quilting and PERLE cotton, I will get back to you gals with some sort of a tutorial on that subject.
Perle cotton tread has been around for ages. It comes in shanks, but also on rolls. I think you could find it most places that sell craft supplies. Maybe you JoAnn's gals know if they handle it?? I get mine here and there as I come across it, and since I've been using it for more than 10 years now, I have many, many colors. I use the size 8 for most everything. Size 5 is available but is thicker than size 8. The bigger the number, the finer the tread. A size 12 is almost like quilting thread. And yes, you DO need a needle with a bigger eye. Often a crewel embroidery needle will work, or some of the larger eyed embroidery needles. The whole idea is to get a bigger stitch that shows up more on the fabric, goes faster and has a more primative look about it. It looks great on flannel quilts.
It's spelled PERLE, because it was originally(maybe still is) a product of France. I know DMC makes it, and most of mine is DMC. I will write more and show more examples soon.

Quick post...stoking the rug making fire...

Quite a few of you commented about, or have asked about the crocheted rugs I make. I haven't time to do a tutorial today, but I WILL do one. Today I will just give you a couple of things to get you going if you are interested. The rugs are crocheted with regular cotton fabric...not always NEW fabric either. Cotton sheets work great and give you a nice long strip.Fabric from skirts or shirts works well also. I tear mine, and usually down vs. across the grain. One tear will show you which direction it will tear the easiest...poly tears VERY hard.
You will need approximately 6 yards of assorted fabric, cut or torn into 1/2" to 5/8" strips. You will need to join them to each other. Under "Rugs" on my sidebar, you'll find a link to Darcie's rug beginnings. That's how I started. She does a slit and slip method of joining the fabric strips. I prefer to sew mine together on the sewing machine. I then snip the 'chain piecing thread', trim off the excess overlap and roll them into balls, like in the picture above.
I'm mostly made multicolor balls as I prefer the scrappy look. For a rug of all one color, see the October 4, 2006 of Angie, over at The Threadcatcer. She was one of the first to have me help her make a rug. Hers finished at 29 1/2" and is all from one fabric...6 yards of one fabric!
I use a K crochet hook, and I just measured off 36" of 'strip' and that amount will equal a WHOPPIN' 10 stitches!!! These rugs really suck up fabric! I don't use anything much heavier than a quilting cotton would be, but a poly blend works(but makes more strings off the cut sides) and believe it or not seersucker works just fine. I WOULD NOT use denim...my hands just aren't that strong.
Sooooo....if you are thinking R.U.G., get going. You need strips of fabric, cut or torn, sewn and rolled into balls. The size you make the balls matters little. I anchor the last end with a pin til I use it. I hand join when adding a new ball. More tomorow *VBS* Hugs, Finn

Saturday Scraps....

I awoke this morning to snow on the grass. I know it's suppose to be "snow on the mountain", but I have no mountain. We are among the lucky ones, only enough to cover the grass, and it's already melted. The Dakotas are getting clobbered. As always I have scraps of my life to share today *VBS* The latest rug is finished. Granny Lyn asked about it last week. I finished up on Wednesday, and it went home that evening with DD#1. It will grace her newly painted porch, adding more color and charm to a lovely screen porch. She liked it very much *VBS*
 On the quilting front, this older top is getting another row added to one side and across the top this weekend. It's "do or die" time for this one! I'm putting in a DVD and doing a little sewing marathon...join me if you want *VBS* I've been working on the Orange Crush mystery in between finishing up older projects. Bonnie should be adding step #3 next week.
 Going to our "super spy" mode, lets see what else is in Finn's cottage Hmmm...looks like the back of the stove. Do you have an irrestible urge to put things on the back of the stove? I do. Yes, the tea kettle is green, as are the salt and pepper shakers. Did you notice last week....the toaster is also green?? *VBS* Wanna guess what color my cookware is???
 And let's be nosey...I love seeing what other people have in the 'frig *VBS* Here's Finn's...a kettle of chili was made last evening, and one container will be for lunch today. The others have already migrated to the freezer for future use. Yougurt, coffee, totillas, cottage cheese, milk, carrots....not too bad.

Friday again...how did that happen??

That old devil "Time" is at it again. Always the enemy, always eluding us. As I think about that, the passing of time, years in particular, I think of lyrics from the "Old Devil Time" song.." ..and when you have me in your icy grasp, my friends all gather round, and help me rise, rise and defeat you, one more time."...I am thinking about a gathering of friends this year. My graduation class will hit the BIG 50 on May 29th, 2008. Our gathering is scheduled for August 8th in the town of my birth.Looking back at the beginnings... my first grade class. I'm the one on the far right, front row. It was my birthday. Wearing my special blue dress and blue ribbons in my hair. The camera clicks, the first grade class of South Side School is captured forever...An October day in 1946. I remember nearly all of their names *S*
Fast forward...last day of 6th grade. Different time, different place, still my home town, but the south side kids were transported to a larger school for 5th and 6th grade. I have learned to 'mingle' with the 'uptown and hill' kids. They will become part of my 155 member graduating class. The country kids haven't arrived yet.Next year, we will hit another building, the Junior High,for 7th,8th and 9th grade. Most of country schools stopped at 6th and then transporting the kids to town. I got to know many of these particular kids very well. Our class was divided into 'sections' alphabetically. I was an S-4, in the R-Z section. Meaning home room every year with the same kids. I'm not in this picture, I was the one taking it...*VBS*
And then you're at the 'end', graduation. I graduated on a Friday night at the local Fair Grounds. The only seating facility big enough to hold us and our families. The class of 1958, were the last class to graduate from the old high school. September would find the doors opening on a new, single level sprawing high school in a different part of town. Our school is gone now, torn down, leaving only the foundation and oddly enough the steps. They leading up to a door that is no longer there. I've always thought "how strange", those step that lead you to no where but memories.
The $64 dollar question, these dsya, is "will I attend the reunion?" I don't know. Time will tell.

And the facts reveal......

the elderly flimsy of yesterday, Railroad Crossing was a WIP back in August,2005. Paula's comment made me curious to see when I had pieced it...yikes! Longer than I realized *VBS* About time I finish it up. Here's the skinny on the poor old thing..."Isn't it amazing how fast the scrap bin fills up, and the stash looks the same? I have more 1.5" strips than I thought. And despite an ongoing project with 6.5" log cabin, I still have more than fits in the bin. Mostly colors I don't want in my log cabin top. So, onward to a Railroad crossing block. I'm not fussy exactly that 6 strips(1.5" X 4.5") make a set of rails.I toss in at least one 2" strip, to make sure I end up at 6.5". My rails look more like string quilt piecing. I have alot of yellows, many mid-sized amounts and they fall into the pale yellow catagory. They will became the 6.5" setting blocks and triangles. I have 3 FQ's of star fabric from a sale bin, the challenge is can I get enough 4.5" squares and the HST's I need and keep those all the same? Everything else is scrappy. I love a challenge! I'm following(sort of) the layout in Trudy Hughes book, "On Point". She makes her rails 3.5" X 6.5"...I kind of like the 4.5". Slightly bigger quilt and not any more sewing. Without borders this one is nearly 60" already. A good couch size or whatever it grows up to be.Hope you all have some sunshine today...We've hit the halfway point in February...how are you coming on your Feb. goals???

And this from August, 2005....
The amount of scraps that accumulates staggers me ! A bit of seaching and poking around revealed that I have 4 tall popcorn tins of 1.5" strips.
I have begun a Railroad Crossing quilt that uses 1.5" X 4.5" strips. Sets of 6 make one unit of the "tracks" part. It's using some of the shorter strips and will make a dent in my odd yardages for setting blocks and triangles. I'm shooting for about a twin, so I need 80 sets of "tracks". I hit 40, sewn and trimmed this morning. And I'm almost emptied one popcorn tin..hurray for that!

Tuesday Tidbits.....

a bit of this and a bit of that *VBS* I'm perking rather slowly this past week and weekend. My left eye has once again reared back and declared 'war'! And the battle rages on. I gave in and went to the opthomologist on Friday, quite sure it wasn't an infection, but concerned enough to merit the trip. A small amount of damage to the cornea, more eye drops and an ointment for my face, which looks 'parched'. It was an up and down weekend, meaning I napped frequently, as "closed" is a good place for that eye to be. I could see improvement by Sunday afternoon, and altho it's not back to normal, I'm coping better. I worked on binding in small 'stints'. This is the older flimsey that I'm "looking" at this week. It was made sometime last year(??)and is 58" square. An odd size I think, but Railroad Crossing is like that. Laid out on point usually results in a square quilt. I've decided to add an upper and lower border, probably piano keys to give it some length. Then I'll pin it, machine quilt it and call it DONE! Amen.
 Tuesday morning sun spotting was lovely *VBS* I love the rosy glow just before it breaks the horizon. I've had an eastern view frequently over the years, and much prefer it to looking west in the afternoon. We've had rain over the weekend, and the grass is taking on a slightly green look, no leafing out as yet tho.
 I've changed Ebby's food amount(just call her "Pickle Belly", and also when I give the food to her. Amazing how much MORE she is awake and underfoot when she's not food saturated!! And lately I've been thinking about how curious we all are about 'things'. Each other, the quilts, how you might decorate, and what it would be like to be a mouse in the corner, or a bird on your shoulder. *VBS* So here's a "Tuesday Tidbit" for you....
 A tiny peek into a corner of my kitchen *VBS* Very important corner, couldn't live without the coffee maker....how about you???

A rainy Saturday in the Valley.....

And I figured it was time to change the header to something less 'drippy'. Betsy and I basted this old flimsey on Thursday. It's a block of the month from the guild I used to belong to in Frederic, WI. The Mixed Sampler Quilt Guild. Our outgoing President did it as a challenge following her years in office. She was a newly retired RN, need I say more? *VBS*
 A closer look at the upper section. I've debated whether or not it merits hand quilting, and decided it's a good size for my recliner, so I'll utility quilt it with perle cotton. In lots of bright colors *VBS*One more UFO bites the dust!
 As the maverick I am, I didn't do the BOM house. Too convention for my taste and focus fabric, I made a "jungle Pad" instead. The animals seem to like it *S*
 An orphan block from Betsy. She's been playing around with the bargello of Bonnie at Quilville. Using 2" strips, she made up one block at a time, so each is different. She laid them out in a barn raising pattern, and it made me think about something similar from my JulieQ Easter jellyroll. This block became an orphan when she eliminated yellowish cheddars from the top, focusing on red, magenta and teals.

Orphan Blocks...Part 6

Finished! I got the remaining blocks sewn together yesterday, and the last rows joined up. Here is the finished flimsey. It measures 48" X 60", a bit bigger than I was planning. I was surprised how quickly the width filled in once I established the length. Betsy saw it this morning and pronounced it "good"...a keeper for sure!
 Little paper pieced houses(5"), a 'way back' exercise joined the ranks of orphans so they could be used in this top. Not much chance I'll ever paper piece enough to do anything else with them *VBS* Love it when a 'semi' project gets erased from the list.
 And last, but certainly NOT least, this is an amazing Easter package from my special friend, Julie K. in TX. It is a gift of friendship and I was soooo very surprised and touched when I opened it just before Easter. It made my week!! Not to mention my Easter *VBS* Thank you Julie, you have such a beautiful spirit and loving heart. Betsy and I discussed plans for the jellyroll from Moda over lunch today. It's the All you Need is Love fabric line.

Orphan blocks...Part 5

moving right along. Are you with me? *VBS* It's time to join up the rows. Since quite a few of these blocks are already sewn into vertical rows, I'll finish this one first. I've decided the Amish Friendship stars are too bright for this top. Out they go! A new destiny awaits them!
 But now I need more blocks to fill in their space. Width doesn't matter, all I have to do is get enough rows to equal WTIL's 40" requirement(width). I already have the 60" length accomplished. Easy Peasy!
 I keep one Rubbermaid just for orphan blocks and other odd bits. I make alot of variable stars(sawtooth stars is what I call them). Sometimes the points just don't come out right, or are the wrong color. Into the orphans they go. Fast and easier to make a new one. Today I'm digging for things with a tannish background, avoiding very light ones.I think I have enough dug out in that pile up above. Next I'll start matching to see what will fit where. Onward!
 Quite a few of you commented about this particular star. I suppose it's different to use many backgrounds. I had a bundle of Amish jewel tones(FQs) from an almost LQS, Windmill Quilting in Baldwin, WI. The shop has since gone out of business. I used those FQs in this project. It's a slightly DIFFERENT friendship star because of the size of the squares in proportion to each other. The BACKGROUND sq. is a 3"s. Normally you'd be making a HST for the star point. Not in this one...the STAR POINT is a 2" sq.(use the sew and flip method). It's out of proportion to the block, but does give the star a different look. If you are ever wondering about something like that, just ask *VBS*.
The only donations in this top are the all fabric strip(a trim-off from a Betsy backing, and the rectangles, sewn into rows, are from Gypsy Quilter, San. Thanks San!

Orphan blocks...Part 4

Time for some examples of orphan tops. This one was put together last fall by Carol E. Both her guild and her church donate orphan blocks to her. She makes up quilts for WTIL, and other causes. In this donation, what she was given the center blocks, the rest is improvised by her *VBS*
 Here's another top of Carols. It appears she might have been working with blocks that were already of ONE size, either that or she brought them up to a uniform size.
 Remember these guys? I was working on them earlier this winter. I asked for advice about the HST row, and the majority voted for a double row, which forms flying geese. These are all "parts" made from my scrap bins of cut scraps.
 And this one I showed last week? I used my oldest UFO and then worked up other bits and parts of similar colors. I focused on the 60" lenght first, and have been filling in the width. It's now ready to be sewn together into a top. Instead of brights in this one, it falls into the 'squirrel bait' area...LOL