You are remarkable! I cannot get over how you are so through with everything. You make it sound so easy!! Love your voice it is so calming and sweet sounding and you are a very beautiful lady! Ty for sharing!!
Hello, Joy! Wow .. that's a hefty price for a used bed sheet! I have been seeing the prices rising at our local thrift stores but not that much!! But then again, you can make a 24 x 36" rug with just 2 sheets - $12 isn't bad!! Thanks for reaching out!
Hi from South Africa. Thank you so much for such a great detailed video. You had me hooked 😅 from the first few seconds. I just make for home from thread bear sheets etc. I've used the first three methods but prefer tearing. Have a great day.
As a total beginner I’m excited that I can get started with a method that is very low cost, if it was good enough for my grandmother it is good enough for me.
I love it, "If it was good enough for my Grandmother, it is good enough for me!" My Grandmother taught me how to knit & crochet when I was 4 & I've been "hooked" ever since! Hope you'll stay in touch and love rug-making as much as I do!
Way to go girl!!! I never knew there was such a critter that cuts like that. I always wondered how u cut sooooo many strips to sell. I tried cutting 3 yards of fabric with pinking shears, & my hands quit working…for awhile, lol. Think im going for the tearing. Great lesson Lora! Been busy working on a LONG oval rug for my fireplace hearth for in the spring & summer. Cant wait to show u! Keep the videoes coming, learn so much, & yur the BEST!
Okay I now have goosebumps & smiling ear-to-ear! Thank you so much for the sweet message! You just made brightened my day BIG time! ... and I CAN'T WAIT to see your rug!! Thank you, Pam for watching & for taking a minute to write me!!
What a great and organized video! That industrial cutter looks scary. I actually have fabric on rolls, but some are very wide, so (in the past) I've put it on a broom handle to roll it out like toilet tissue and cut it with sheers. Now that my daughter has her hands full with children, I no longer have my helper, but maybe I can talk my husband into it if I get the urge to make rugs again.
Thank you! Your comment means a lot to me! The cutter is a bit intimidating at first, but gentle as it gets once you use it! I hope you get that "urge" really soon!
Totally awesome! I LOVE the idea of reducing waste by using bed sheets & usable goods & clothing in our rugs. Just like Grandma would've done! There is no doubt in my mind in that generation & before EVERY thing was usable goods! Thanks for reaching out, Jan! Hope you'll stay in touch!
As a quilter I already gave have all the materials needed to cut strips. Wanted to mention that they do make rotary blades in most sizes that will give your fabric edges a "pinked" edge. May be helpful when washing the rug to prevent excess fraying. Do you have any experience with such a cutting method?
Hello! Thanks for reaching out! Yes! I love the pinking blades! And now that you mention it, I wish I would've added them to the video. My only issue with them is cost .. they seem to wear a lot faster then flat blades?! (Maybe my imagination?) My favorite fabric to use is our fabric rolls, but then again I'm very biased! LOL They are bias cut so ... no threads!! 16 different colors to choose from & the rolls are 100% cotton, 2" wide & 6 yards on every roll and did I mention BIAS CUT! LOL They are SO awesome! Here's a link if you're interested in checking them out! >> www.ragstorugs-bylora.com/ (Click on "Fabric!")
Hi! Found your channel when I was looking for a round rug pattern. I have crocheted since I was a child but found patterns as an adult to be challenging. I usually stick to simple repetitious stitches and make hats, scarves and pot holders. Your method of teaching the round pattern was so helpful. I learned so much in this video too. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!
I love all your beautiful rugs I was thinking more or less make me up want to go for the kitchen sink and some place match to match may God continue to bless you your family and your Channel and I love all your information and your honesty about it and thank you so much for sharing a new friend celebration I used to be on your channel some kind of way I got knocked off but anyway I'm glad I'm back:-). My name is Ella Bransford
I am excited about making a rag rug. Question for you do you prefer cutting fabric to tearing? I know you use the automatic cutter but I am only making rugs to enjoy. I do quilt so have the rotary cutter and mat. The tearing does all the strings eventually go away? yoou are an excellent teacher. Thanks for all the information.
Awhhh ... thank you, Judy! Much appreciated! I don't mind tearing - very easy! But it's my least favorite of the 3 methods. And not as much due to threads but the lint. Yuk!! Rotary cutting the fabrics works great - my 2nd favorite - but those blades wear out so fast & they're expensive! My absolute favorite method is my automatic cutter. So fast!! But I understand your situation. Hard to spend the $$ on a cutter when you don't plan to make that many rugs. Over time, yes!, the threads just seem to disappear. Not noticeable at all!!
I have made 4 rag rugs now. I end up with lots of strings as I weave on my loom. After several washings, I have to "shave" off more strings. Would it help eliminate that if I cut the fabric on the bias? Would it be better to use pinking shears? Or should I use braiding the rugs instead of weaving? What would you suggest?
Hello! A LOT of good questions! Yes! Bias cut fabric will eliminate those pesky threads! Pinking Shears controls them well too! Both would be good avenues for you to consider. Absolutely! One thought that comes to mind you might not know about is our fabric rolls - they are 100% cotton & BIAS CUT! Sooooo wonderful to work with! Here's a quick link you might check out! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PHfezaf93Rw.html
This is an odd question as I do not see anyone else asking so surely I am missing something? How do you fold the sheet to ensure you get one long strip? If it is simple enough to answer, I would surely appreciate it. Thanks. I am looking forward to making some rugs. I love your instructional style
Hello! That's not an odd question at all & I'm asked it often! I'm happy you asked. We have a video slated of folding fabric for BIAS CUT fabric strips!! Watch for it soon!! With STRAIGHT CUT fabrics however, it's pretty easy! I will fold the fabrics in the direction that maximizes strip length. It really makes no difference in our rug making if the strips are cut WITH or AGAINST the grain. Using a bed sheet as an example, fold the fabric length-wise (the longest direction). Fold once more in that same direction, and again and again until you reach a thickness which will be easy to cut dependant on the cutting tool you are using. As an example: If you are using a commercial cutter, you can fold very thick as the cutter can cut through dozens of layers at a time. If you are using a rotary cutter/mat, you may choose to keep the folds to under 10 layers. If you are using shears, you may wish to keep the folds under 6-8 depending on the sharpness of your shears. Hope that helps! Thanks for reaching out!!
Good question, Judy! Yes definitely on recycled/repurposed goods. And usually on newly purchased fabric. The reason for that is to remove starch used in processing the fabric. But it's not necessary; I just prefer it. If I DO wash your fabrics (new or used) - I avoid drying in my clothes dryer. If you're lucky enough to have a clothesline, hang the fabrics & they will come off the line unwrinkled! Mother Nature pressed them for you!! :) You can also drape them on a clothes rack. I just hate how wrinkled the fabrics get when I remove them from the dryer. Hard to lay flat to cut!!
Thank you so much for your informative video and for sharing your folding technique. I have a question about the Consew. I am a hand weaver and am planning some rag rugs. I need to cut strips of different widths and I'm wondering how narrow a strip can you cut using the electric cutter. The strips I plan on using range from 1/2" to 3/4" and as wide as 2". Would that be possible with the Consew?
Hello, Virginia! You are VERY welcome! I use my Consew for widths 1" and wider. It would make me nervous to use it for widths narrower due to safety concerns. It's a powerful machine! However, it would be entirely possible ... just be careful!! Hoping you'll stay in touch & let me know what you think of it if you decide to purchase it!
Hello, Cheryl! Thank you for reaching out! There are actually (2) surfaces used in the demonstration. The first is a "wool pressing mat" - quilters/sewers use these a lot in their projects to press small pieces of fabric. And the one directly below that is a "self healing" rotary cutting mat. Both can be found on Amazon & other stores including Hobby Lobby, JoAnne's or Hancocks! For large cutting projects, I normally just use my warehouse work table. It's a large table covered with a sheet of floor laminate.
Absolutely you can! I love experimenting with all sorts of colors & fabrics in my rugs. You are the artist & "painting" with fabric! Keep in mind with the jersey that tension can be a bit challenging given its stretch. Keep those stitches more open than usual & keep your eye on your tension. But absolutely use that bin of jersey up! You might also consider using it for your Toothbrush/Amish Knot rugs. It would be perfect for your running strip!
I sure do, Charlotte! Once a number of years ago I stumbled on 3 boxes of rolled wool strips in the most GLORIOUS colors! A woman had pain-stakenly cut the stips from worn out clothing of hers & her husbands suits & trousers. I made from it the most beautiful rug! Wool is harder to find these days but if you ARE able to find it, you will love making rugs from it!
Hello, Gail! Yes!! That's what is so cool about these rugs! You can use just about any fabric! Coordinate a patchwork fabric rug with one of your previous patchwork projects!
Hello, Paula! Thank you for reaching out! I have used pretty much EVERY fiber there is in my rug construction .. EXCEPT t-shirt material! We are considering stocking it in our company, however. Working on sourcing it as we speak! Thanks for reaching out! Here's a link to our website if you'd care to visit! >> www.ragstorugs-bylora.com/
@@paulaewaniuk7123 I do!! Just be sensitive to your tension. T-shirt fabric is VERY stretchy so controlling your tension could be an issue! But, Amish Knot rugs would be IDEAL because stretch isn't usually as much of a challenge! I hope you'll share your finished rug!!
Hello, Judy! Crocheting is one method of using the fabric strips. Other methods are twine woven, toothbrush/amish knot, or braided - to name just a few!
Hello, Jan! Finishing your rug! Thanks for watching & thanks for asking! Here's another video you might enjoy, "Weaving in those Tails! Let's finish your Rug!" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2wqPRDYrUtY.html
Won’t buy anything else but Olaf and Fiskars brands ! Last 30 years and more Large mat will now cost $100 or more I got mine 50% off sale but can use smaller mats as long as they are bigger than material Mats also have inch marks as do rulers So no need to mark !
