Making It: Crochet Rag Rug

So this was initially intended to be a step by step of how to make a rag rug but I completely spaced on photographing the process! We were in need of a shower mat (wet socks = not cool) I hadn't seen any at the local thrift stores, and refuse to pick up a cheap one at a big box store, so was left with the usual option I go with - just make it!! So here's the journey...

It started with some leftover scraps, odd in size, too long to really make anything but too small to discard as future stuffing (yeah it's a little out of control over here - i save my scraps for pillow stuffing) so i cut up these pieces, tied the ends together, and crocheted them using a large hook. A few hours later, voila! I highly recommend this technique for old fabrics, ripped curtains, etc that just cannot be salvaged.

The color palette is sort of a compromise, our bathroom is quite appropriately powder room pink, which is pretty delightful for me but my man hates it. No matter what our opinions on color, we agree that it will soon need remodeling, not just for aesthetic reasons (vinyl floors and panel walls only last so long!) so the colors needed to be able to easily transition to somewhere else. So, a soft peach with white, grey, and brown that could easily look good on a wooden floor won out.

It's honestly quite small and I should probably add a few rows, but for now it is sufficient, though my man compares himself reaching for a towel to Grace Jones reaching for the mic in the cover of her 1985 album "Island Life"

final product with the 'challenging' pink tub. I might also mention that the drain on this tub is about 6" from the bottom, so I finally broke down and got one of those suction cup covers for the drain and let me tell you. Those things will change your life. Don't worry, it just moves the drain to the top of the cover, but gives you like 4" more bath.

closeup. pardon the dirt... we've been using it for a few weeks.

easiest wy to make fabric strips - fold over as many times as you can fit in the scissors!! You'll notice slits at the ends, i use those to pull each new strand through the old to attach without giant knots. This works best on knits, wovens tend to rip. Winding it up into balls not only keeps it organized, but stretches out the knit so the edges curl up nicely.

all wound up... this was like half of the balls used, possibly less.

Grace Jones image representing my mans experience reaching for a towel