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!!!