Friday, April 23, 2010

hooked

I love to crochet, but a love like that comes at a price. The price of yarn adds up quickly when you have hands that want to constantly crochet. So I often find myself crocheting all sorts of non traditional materials. The latest material I am crocheting with is factory fabric offcuts. My mum bought big balls of the offcuts (in all sorts of colours) many, many years ago for a few cents each.
Over the years we have used them for all sorts of things, plant ties, hooked rag rugs, wigs! and of course crochet. I love the look of big chunky crochet and I thought some would look nice next to my bed, it's not that easy on the feet but I enjoy coming up the stairs and seeing my little rug.
You can make a rug like this too, if you don't have a supply of offcuts you can cut up discarded clothing or fabric to use. Cut the fabric into strips approximately 1.5cm wide, or wider if you want something more chunky. Experiment with strip size and hook size till you get the look you want. Warning, it's much harder on your hands crocheting with fabric so make sure you give your hands lots of rest and do those finger exercises.
Written in American terms
ch: chain
dc: double crochet
ss: slip stitch
Ch 14, join to form a ring with a slip stitch.
R1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 DC here and throughout pattern) 13 dc into ring. Join with a ss in top of beginning 3 ch.
R2: Ch3, dc in same space as 3 ch, 2 dc in each stitch around. Join with a ss in top of beginning 3 ch.
R3: Ch3, dc in same space as 3ch. (Dc in the next stitch, 2 dc in following stitch) around. Join with a ss in top of beginning 3ch.
R4: Ch3, dc in the same space as 3ch. (Dc in the next 2 stitches, 2 dc in the following stitch)around. Join with a ss into of beginning 3 ch.
Continue the increasing pattern for each subsequent round. If you are making a much larger circle you might have to do a round that has increasing, ie dc in each stitch to keep the circle flat and not wavy. Sometimes it can be a little trial and error when working with fabric strips.
Edging: ch 10 (or less if you want a smaller edging), skip 3 stitches and ss in the following stitch, repeat around. Weave in ends!
Happy weekend, happy crocheting.

4 comments :

  1. Wow that looks fantastic! I really need to put some effort into learning crochet.

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  2. louana, you're amazing. i love this rug. wish, wish wish i could crochet!

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  3. This is awesome! I just went and bought the biggest crochet hook I could find and plan to use a load of old sheets to make a rug also. Unfortunately my crochet skills are restricted to single and double crochet but hey, that'll do!

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