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Mini Braided Rugs
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Having a gnome or dollhouse is a great way to make use of those little pieces of fabric that common sense tells us we should pitch. For example... when making my September Rip and Tear Napkins (yes, I've decided to have a stack of 24 rip and tears for each month of the year) I was left with a 2 yard long, 8" wide piece of fabric. I knew I had to be able to re-purpose this left over piece of fabric for something. Well, as soon as I set the gnome house on the dining room table, I thought... they need new rugs. I knew just what I was going to do! Three rips later, a little braiding, a little tacking, and tah dah, a new rug for the gnome house!
Move ahead 3 hours... Michelle shows up at 7:00 p.m. last night. We were going to discuss the children's science program that starts next week. (The grandbabies, along with 3 other families, will be coming over here for a science club once a week. So, with the wee ones safely in daddy's charge, Michelle came over, sans children, because have you ever noticed you can get more accomplished in half an hour without children around than you can in an entire day with?) Anyway... Michelle picks up the little rug I just made. She's looking at it sideways (observing thickness), she's balancing it in one palm (checking for weight I suppose), then she's giving it multi-directional tugs (testing tensile strength???)
"Hey", she says, "You know what would be cool?"
"NO!!!", I'm thinking, I know what's coming next!
"This would make a great rug under my kitchen table. What do you think?"
"I think you're right...a braided rag rug under your table would look great BUT I CAN'T MAKE IT!!!"
It's not often that I refuse to become Michelle's partner in crime. But I really, really, truly cannot take on a project of that magnitude right now. I barely sleep as it is!!! And I don't often say "No" to my children. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth. But I do believe this would be the proverbial straw!
"I'm not asking you to. I'm just saying..."
Ah, safe for the moment! Anyway... THIS wee little braided rug won't break anyone's back, and can be thrown together in a couple of hours. Directions for this circular Mini Braided Rug can be found HERE or in our FREE Open Patterns. In a couple of days I'll add instructions for turning it into an oval rug, In the meantime, if you think your gnomes will need a little warmth this fall, not to mention a lovely decorating addition, get braiding! Enjoy!
Hmmm... I'm thinking... make them 3 1/2" - 4" wide and they would make perfect coasters!!!
Thanks this is great, and lovely.
Vicki
Great idea for those fabric scraps!! I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-mini-fabric-braided-rug/2009/09/11/
--Anne
This is darling! And just what I need to dress up our gnome home.
Carol
LOL - I think I should pip in something in my defense... I didn't actually ask her to make me a braided rug... I was just musing that I am in need of some area rugs and I would love to have a braided rug. Besides... any project Kimara takes on does in fact mean more work for me somehow too! ;)
Michelle
Wee Folk Art Publisher
This is quite true... Michelle seldom ASKS for anything! HOWEVER, she gets these puppy dog eyes, and the lower lip juts out just the tiniest bit, and it seldom has to go beyond... "You know what would be cool?"
Kimara
Wee Folk Art Publisher
What a novel IDEA!! I must learn to do this more often myself!! :D I love the colors of your little rug!! Very FALL-ish! I can just imagine how much braiding and tacking would be going on to do an area rug....sheesh!! But I BET you will figure out a way to do a little at a time...I mean after all, she is your sweet girl, and rather FABULOUS!! I can see why it is so hard to say NO! :)
several more to go because I can totally see the gnomes house decked out for Christmas. ;) I followed your link to the napkin pattern and read that one of your fav fabric designers is Alexander Henry. As I was folding up the fabric that I used to make the rug tonight I noticed that it was by Alexander Henry...funny how that worked out! I'll post pictures sometime tomorrow. Thanks for the tutorial!
JoAnn mom to 5 girls
Aly,SiSi,Emi,Ace and Z.
Can't wait to see your pics. They are totally fun, aren't they? I've really enjoyed the gnome house because of the ability to be creative with the changing seasons. On my other blog, One Generation to Another, I had a post The Living House, which shared my feelings about houses and decorating. The gnome house can quinch my desire to decorate... for much cheaper!
Kimara
Wee Folk Art Publisher
It's funny - all the way through your post I was thinking - wouldn't they make great coasters! And then I came to your last sentence and had to laugh, you got there before me :o) - what a brilliant idea and they look fab x
I'm with your daughter. I would love a room size rug like this but I'll try to satisfy my desire by making a few for my daughter's gnome home. I adore WFA. I'm been coming here for many months and shame on me for not saying "thank you" sooner. I really love everything you do. This is our family's favorite craft site and we go to many. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
That's such a clever idea! I must make some myself :)
I made some napkins and I have that strip left LOL. This is so cute. I'll be making some. Thanks.