My 2022 word is CURIOUS
This years word is , Curious. Be curious and learn new things. So, I vowed to learn something new every month of 2022. I learned embroidery in January. February is "re-learned" rag rug making.
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Rag rugs is what started it all. I started making rag rugs from old sheets, scrap fabric and remnants that I would buy from a custom curtain store in Plymouth. On a budget, 25 years ago, remnants were affordable yardage as you need 10 plus yards to make one small rag rug.
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The curtain store had big binds of odds and ends fabric as well as end of bolts for a couple dollars a yard. I never knew what I would get, but worked with what they had available.
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I would strip 1-1.5" the fabric. make a small cut and rip. Ripped it all and then rolled into a big ball, like yarn, and single crocheted back and forth until the fabric was gone, or desired length. If there was any "yarn" left over, I would add fringe to the ends. Every rug was different. Different size, different color and thickness depending on the weight of fabric.
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I made and sold rugs for years. It was something I would do when the kids were napping or at night in front of the t.v. I sold them locally. I think the biggest one I made was 3'x5' ! I really enjoyed doing them until I didn't. I was putting pressure on myself to make multiple rugs every week to keep up with the demand. Fabric was getting harder and harder to find and I just lost interest. I have made a few here and there the past couple years, during Covid to fill the time.
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I picked it up again in February, and have made now three, and plan to make more to sell this summer. It's silly but it brings back memories of when we didn't have a ton of money and I would make rugs to contribute while being home with the kids. As the kids got a little older, they would help strip the fabric, holding one end and rolling balls of fabric for me.
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Things have a way of circling back, 25 years later and I'm enjoying making them again, with no pressure. Once I get 10-12 made, I will be selling them and look forward to making more.
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March has arrived and I'm "cooking" up my next "CURIOUS" project.