If I Can Do It ANYONE Can (Rag Rug #1)

I made a rag rug!

I love making things.  I love having a project to work on.  A year ago while I was spending time with my dear friend Suzanne in Oklahoma, I decided to attempt to learn how to crochet.  When my kids were little (that would be about 35 years ago) I tried to teach myself the craft of crocheting. I started with a couple of blankets and neither one turned out... they started out one size and by the time I got to the other end the blankets were way wider.  Since V shaped blankets weren't gonna cut it I gave up.  Last year, needing a project to ground me during a difficult transitional time in my life I decided to try crochet again.  And luckily youtube.com was available this time.  I watched several videos about beginner crochet and made the trek ("all the way across town" as Suzie would say) to WalMart, bought some yarn and a few crochet hooks.  I was successful in making a scarf (It started to have the V shaped blanket problems but I was able to correct them) and a couple of beanies.  I very much wanted to try crocheting a rag rug and bought a couple of large hooks but then my usual doubt took over and I talked myself out of trying.  Now, almost exactly one year later I gathered up my courage and decided I'd rather try and fail then to not try at all.  Once again I turned to youtube.com and after watching several videos, all of which stated "you can't mess it up", I got started.

I had decided that for my perfectionist tendencies as an artist/crafter I would need a pair of pinking shears because I knew that all the unraveling that was bound to happen if I ripped the sheet or straight cut it, would drive me crazy.  I zipped up to Hobby Lobby, looked up a coupon code on my phone and bought myself a nice pair of pinking shears.

 I selected an old full size fitted sheet that I've been hanging on to for almost a year specifically for this project and started cutting strips.

The different instructions called for strips anywhere from 1/4" to 2".  Quite a large range.  I decided on trying to keep my strips to approximately 1"; some are thinner, some wider.  I cut about 1/2 of the sheet into strips and then was faced with figuring out how to attach the ends of each strip so I would have one long continuous strip to work with.

A square knot made a hard lump that I thought would be uncomfortable to stand on.  Basting the strips together was going to take quite a bit of time but I figured it would probably be the best solution.  After a bit more research I found a way to attach the strips by cutting a slit at the joining ends of each strip and passing the end of the strip being attached through both slits to make a simple slip type knot.  Worked like a charm.  After connecting the strips I rolled the now one long strip into a ball.

 I still had the other half of the sheet to cut up and after still more research I came across an easy way to tear the sheet into one long strip thus saving me from having to attach the strips to each other.  I tore most of the second half of the sheet but didn't like having to deal with the threads that unraveled so the last 1/3 of the sheet was cut with my super duper pinking shears.  I added the new strips to my little ball of strips and ended up with an almost bowling ball sized ball of strips.

I followed the simple instructions and kept repeating to myself their claim of "you can't mess it up, you can't mess it up, you can't mess it up" with as much vigor as Dorothy used when stating "there's no place like home".  It took about 2 hours to crochet the old sheet into a small/medium sized rag rug.  It measures approximately 28" in diameter.

 It turned out softer than I though it would and the "knots" where I attached the ends to each other can't really be felt when you stand on the rug.

Up close you can see its uneven, imperfect, "rustic" look but I think that's part of its charm.  This was an old flannel sheet.  I'm interested to see the difference between it and one using a cotton sheet.  I can't begin to describe how excited I am.  As soon as I finish my coffee I'm headed to Goodwill to pick through their selection of sheets.  I'm going to try an oval shaped rug next.  So much fun!!!!  :)