Rag Rug and Quilt, a little progress

Update on the rag rug

its getting bigger and a little easier to keep flat as I stitch the coil together

I took this picture Feb 29 and only started working on it again recently
it has progressed a little bit more . . . .

Of course the rug only grows as a result of the blocks being cut out from the little items
 of Charlotte's baby clothes . . . .

I kept the front of these whole and added fabric from other parts to square them off
I also did this little pink dress below this way, just to keep the frills :)

The block on the right is made from a tiny all in one vest topped with a favourite bib
 which I re-fashioned into a fish shape and appliqued on.

This is block number 10.
 A very quick windmill pieced block made from a set of two little tops one with little stars on, the other plain with a flower on the front which I cut out and appliqued onto the middle.

It's time I got more blocks done I think . . . . !

A Little Rag Rug Update

After my ramblings on my previous post here the rag rug taking a turn for the worst,
I decided to unpick the stitching and start again.
 Referring back to my Ann Davis book, she advises to keep the rug flat on a table while stitching it into a coil, easing on the curves so that it will lie flat.

As it is still quite a manageable size I was able to sit it on a large book on  my lap last night and stitched the coil together again with good results.

This is how it looks on the front now

I'm glad I did, it's looking much flatter now.

I expect this will be a sit at the table job from now on.

Rag rug ramblings & Quilt

It seems the more stitch this rug together the more its not going to plan.

This is a view of it sitting face down on the table but it's really not very flat!

It's buckling no matter how I sew it, the middle gets more distorted the more I coil round it.

I even tried going a bit looser with the fabric pieces and the stitching.... its turning into a bowl!

Kevin says maybe its meant to be a hat !

So I have unravelled it and wondering if perhaps I should try going for an oval rather than round rug.

Wanted to show you this.....the next little item of clothing to be made into another patch

sweet isn't it

On her 1st Birthday

Memory Quilt & Rag Rug

Have made a little progress with Charlotte's Quilt

I changed my mind slightly on the 3rd block, I machine stitched the heart shape that I cut from the little bib on with brown to match the stitching on the flowers and cat, but I decided to hold off on adding the deeper pink flower patch. Instead added this to the 4th block which I made using the another top.

I decided the colours are a better match. I used the sleeves which had a pretty embroidered pattern around the cuff, still have enough fabric from this top to make another block as well as using it to trim the edge of block number two

I loved this little bib which I cut and slightly re-shaped into a sort of fish shape ready to be added to another block......Charlotte insisted that the 'Tombliboos' oversee this recent work

Have made a little progress with the rag rug too!
two more all in one sleep suits added :)

It measures ten inches across now.
Still to add the latest little pile of leftover pieces from the tops used for the latest block.

Memory Quilt from baby clothes

Charlottes Quilt

as mentioned in my previous post I have begun making my way through Charlotte's baby clothes to make her a keepsake quilt.

The first two blocks I worked on were pretty T-shirts age 12mths

The pink one had curves at the two top corners where the armholes start so I cut off the puff sleeves and overlapped the corners to make it more square.

To the cream coloured one I added the extra hem frill from the back panel to sit above the front one.

The next one was a bit more tricky

A pretty tunic dress 3-6mths so not very big and a little stained in places. I was able to save the embroidered parts and I had to cut it into four and use some fabric from the back to get big enough pieces for a block about the same size as the other two. I added a pretty embroidered motive saved from the back of the pink t-shirt and the back hem frill which I might sew along the middle.

Next I cut up a little bib

separated it from the towel backing

Cut into a heart shape it looks quite pretty

....and this will complete another square.

All those little bits left over wont go to waste, they have all now been added into the rag rug!

I'm so enjoying these two projects working on :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Yvonne x

Two String Rag Rug Loom

I decided not long after Charlotte was born, I was going to make a quilt from her baby clothes, or some of them, she had so many pretty things. A couple of weeks ago I sorted through them all choosing what I thought I could use in a quilt and I gave the rest away.

I have started on the blocks but first I wanted to show you this

These are the leftover bits, I decided to have a got at making a little rag rug.

This is the beginning

Pretty isn't it!

I pulled out an old book that I bought for pennies in a library sale about 10 yrs ago.

Rag Rugs by Ann Davies. 

The book covers so many methods and after a couple of evenings reading the different styles I decided on the Loom Technique, this was rediscovered by Ann in a long out of print American book and works on the principle of the oriental Ghiordes knot.

After a lot of searching on the net it became clear that I wasn't going to pick up one of the looms from a stockist any time soon. However after finding a few pictures of different versions, some made of wire some of wood I run the idea by Kevin and he offered to make me one.
 How lucky am I!

 Made of  2 pieces of wood (I knew those old kitchen shelves would come in handy one day!)

  two large screws to hold two balls of cotton string and two eyelet screws to guide the string and hold in place

 (I just loop it round once and tighten it) 

One large hook at the bottom to hold it taught

and its ready to go!

with little pieces of cotton measuring half an inch wide x 2.5 inches long

I used a little cutting gauge made from a strip of cardboard.

I got my trusty assistant to to the next bit, she is very keen to have a go!

fabric looped over the top and up through the centre of the strings

These are fairly quick to do and once you have gone all the way up the string

its time to unhook and pull this length in front of the front hook again.

The length is worked on continuously until you have a few feet, then its time to coil it round and sew it flat on the back...... this is what it looks like

then pulled down tight to the hook....and so on.

So far I have used the leftovers of 3 little tops and one pair of all in one PJ's

and I'm just about ready to stitch some more in place.

What I like about this method is its easy to carry around and you can do it while you sit in the evening.

They are all fabric, no additional backing required and can be popped in the washing machine.
If you have any memories or stories of seing rugs made in this way I would love to hear them and any pictures of any of those rugs would be lovely to see.
Thanks for stopping by
Yvonne