I just received my blanket yarn and I have not done this before. What is the minimum width as a guide, for blanket yarn? Just worried some maybe too wide and will need halving ( they would be about 1.5 cm after halving and the ‘thick fabric’ width guide on the wooden strip cutter is 2cm. I don’t want to mess up before I start. Thanks
Also, what are other foundation fabrics may be used for rag rugs? What characteristics should be prioritized when considering alternative (other than hessian/burlap) fabrics. THX!
Is there a general way to determine how many yards of fabric strips will be required for a particular project? Like a formula similar to what we do in knitting/crocheting a swatch, because so many factors affect the amount of yarn required for a project. In this case, "yarn" would be fabric strips. I'm looking for something like... "x" inches of fabric strip gives you "y" number of loops about 1/4" high and about 1/3" apart (burlap is 10 holes/in., spacing every 3rd hole... 1/3" apart)
Hi Rod, hessian can be washed in the washing machine but doesn’t stand up well to not drying out fully (as the hessian is a natural fibre, it will rot). I don’t wash mine very frequently and dry them outside on a sunny blustery day. Hope that helps!
About five years ago I made a Boucherouite rug very similar to the one on the video cover. I even used almost the same colors. Really beautiful. Yours is also very nice.
I tried this with torn-up cotton sheeting but ended up with a frayed mess. What fabric do you use? Would teeshirt material be better than sheeting? Thanks!
Hi Rhonda, was it a pure cotton or poly cotton do you know? Cutting cotton diagonal to the weave (on the bias) stops it fraying as much. It also frays less if you cut it versus tearing. Jersey is by far the easiest fabric to work with so I would definitely try that. Hope that helps, Elspeth
I love your channel and your videos! I love the flowers in your hair. Do you have or will you make a tutorial of how to make those rag flowers for your hair? Thank you!
ty for the video. simple and easy technique. the only thing i don't like is using felts for the pieces of the rug. as a pet owner that fabric catches every last piece of pet hair and it is nearly impossible to vacuum it out lol
Elspeth, thank you so much for such an informative video I hadn't done rag rugging for ages and had forgotten how to. Your video is so easy to follow and you're such an inspiration thank you so much. Look forward to more videos. Your work looks so beautiful.
Hi Matt, apologies for the slow reply. What country are you in? Generally you can buy it from anywhere that sells fabric for upholstery. Equally, you can buy pre-hemmed hessian on our Ragged Life website - we ship to most countries globally. Hope that helps, Elspeth
The way a tutorial should be done. Just the facts. No idle chatter. Sound level perfect. Good closeups of actual technique. Very well done, young lady. I learned more in your video than those in which the hostess feels the need to share their history. We had a detective show years ago where the protagonist said “just the facts, ma’am!” You have demonstrated this admirably.
Hi Lori, you will see both sides of the fabric in the shaggy technique and it becomes part of the pattern. In the short shaggy technique you can control it better by gripping the fabric with the wrong side up (more of the right side shows in the loop that way). In the loopy technique, you can control it so only the right side shows entirely, but it takes practice 🙂 hope that helps, elspeth
So glad to have come across this, I can remember my mother making these rugs 70 years ago and i wanted to show my granddaughter how to make one but couldn't remember how she did it. I can't wait to get the hessian. i have already started her on latch hook work so this will be easy for her. Thank you for bringing back some wonderful memories
I love your channel and have really been inspired by you and your practical and artful videos. I am making a loopy rag rug and after many hours have realized I need to use a frame. I am in my 60s and I really want to finish this project and keep looping. My thinking is that if I am planful I should be able to leave the areas that will touch the grippers on the frame free of loops then finish those areas without the frame. Any tips?
Hello, you can use a rotary cutter, but it doesn't really cut through multiple layers of fabric at once well. I find it good for regular shaped fabric pieces (e.g. pillows cases), but not great for odd shapes e.g. deconstructed garments. I do hope that helps explain my logic :) Elspeth
Your instructions are clear and seem easy, beautiful sunflower 🌻, can’t wait to get started. If I change the colour I could make a daisy. Make great gifts. Thanks for sharing
