30 Day De-Stash #2: RAG RUG

Rag rugs are the ultimate stash busters.  They can use up a LOT of fabric.  They're a great way to use up old sheets for rugs in laundry rooms and playrooms where a durable rug is useful but doesn't need to be super fancy.

Rag rugs take more fabric than I supposed.  I had this much fabric, torn into 1- 1 1/2" strips (It's a great workout for your arms, by the way).

I crocheted for over an hour and realized the rug wouldn't be as large as I wanted.  I added another ball of fabric to see if that would help.  It still wasn't as big as what I hoped it would be.  I even threw in a little yarn.  Nope. My problem when I got to the end of my fabric strips was that I had planned for a bigger rug and ended up with a long, skinny rectangle. 

I was on a deadline for making my day #2 post.  I also didn't feel like re-doing it.  I admit that I got a bit desperate.  I took scissors and cut my long rectangle into three pieces.  I put them together to make a smaller shape that could go by my front door.

At this point, I had just used my last pieces of fabric to crochet around the outside of the rug to keep all the loose pieces together.  Because I cut through rows of knots, I'm going to have to do some extra work to secure all the ends.  Even after I do that, it won't be even and pretty enough at the sides for me to want to use it (where people will see it).  

So my plan is to dig through my fabric and see if I can find enough of one kind of matching fabric to make a large bias tape type edge for the rug.  Think that will work?

One thing I liked about my rug was that I would occasionally put a piece of leftover trim in with the fabric.  It allowed me to use up some of my stash, and at the same time give the rug a little personality. 

A lot of people make 1 1/2" strips and use the big "Speed" hook.  I wanted to keep my knots a little smaller so I used a size N hook and single crochet to make the rug.  

I feel bad that it's only day 2 and I didn't get my project all the way done.  I promise to show you the finished project when it's done.  Soon.