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Saturday, January 03, 2009

scrap rug


knit scrap rug--30" x 19"

i finally finished the knit rug that i started back in october. i first posted about it here.

materials used:

scraps leftover from cutting quilt pieces, including some selvages. ALL pieces used in this rug were originally destined for the trash can. pieces varied in width from about 1/3" -1" and were various lengths as well. (the longer the better.)
what i did:

cast on 65 stitches on size 17 needles, knitting in a simple garter stitch throughout the rug. i joined new strings as i was knitting, knotting them end to end as i went.

i am pretty happy with the result. it is very satisfying to use up every last bit of fabric. this rug is currently in one of our bathrooms. i'm going to see how it wears before starting another one. i do love the results-it feels great under bare feet. and it will match ANY color that we choose to paint our bathroom. :)

62 comments:

  1. Nice work! I LOOOOVE using up every bit of scrap. Such a satisfying feeling! Good thinking using the selveges!

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  2. I love it and i am going to do it too, is garter, knit, purl, or just knit? thanks!

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  3. Hurray for you! I crocheted on made of shopping bags.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/annieofbluegables/sets/72157601475416398/
    I love that you used up every scrap.
    ~a

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  4. That is so cute! I don't knit though. Maybe I could crochet one? I need a project to use up my scraps!

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  5. Great idea - may get my big crochet hook out thanks for the inspiration - now where did I put that extra hour in the day !!!

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  6. Great use of your fabric! I have been collecting my strips for the same type of thing, either knitted or locker hooking...we'll see...

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  7. jane,

    garter stitch is just knit thoughtout.

    aj

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  8. Oh my goodness, every time I think I am going to give up on knitting I see a project like this. So cute!

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  9. This is adorable! I love it. I agree with some of the others who can't knit, maybe crocheting it would work too, or even braids that get stitched to the rug shape. I'm gonna have to dig out some scraps.

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  10. very fun!
    I think I need one too...

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  11. I love how it turned out! To think how many scraps and selvages I've thrown away. I'd be interested to hear how this rug wears.

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  12. It is fabulously cute too!

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  13. Thats such a neat idea for left over pieces! Never would have thought of doing that. Looks like similiar to a quilt my grandmother used to have..like a rag rug.

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  14. Anonymous1:55 PM

    crazy cute~ now that is what you call recycling :)

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  15. did you stitch a rug pad underneath, so there's no risk of the slippy-slideys? Or does it hold up pretty well solo?

    NICE JOB!

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  16. Anonymous2:18 PM

    The best scap idea ever! I will absolutely take this under consideration myself! Thank you.

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  17. wow!! what a great idea and I love how it turned out. let us know how it holds up in the future. :)

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  18. Anonymous2:47 PM

    cute!

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  19. shelli,

    i didn't stitch a pad underneath. i'll see how often i have to re-adjust it, and maybe then i will? this is just the trial run. :)

    aj

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  20. Anonymous2:55 PM

    Annika from Sweden here. Just want to let you know that your blog is a big inspiration for me. I can't keep your pace by the machine but once in a while I do something inspired by you.

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  21. I love it! Love the colors, and love that you used up all of your scraps. It's great.

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  22. Anonymous3:48 PM

    That's an amazing use of every single scrap. I love it! :-)

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  23. You are the Cat's Meow

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  24. nicely done. cotton soaks up little wet drips so well too.

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  25. Wonderful idea! It looks great, and you are right, it will look great nomatter what color you choose to paint your bathroom :)

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  26. Just gorgeous! Terrific use of scraps - I bet it feels great underfoot!

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  27. Very cute! You'll have to let us know how it wears. I've got a ball of strips going, but it's not nearly big enough for anything yet.

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  28. Oh so cute!! Oh man now I'm going to be saving every little scrap lol!!

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  29. How clever! I'm looking forward to seeing how it wears. I'd imagine it would just get softer and nicer as you wash it.

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  30. It looks wonderful.

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  31. Anonymous6:17 PM

    HOW BIZARRE that you posted this today. I just removed my Christmas tree and decided to turn the space into our kids' music area, and that I needed to learn to make an area rug. VOILA. I may need a bit more of a tutorial though: You basically made a continuous length of 'yarn' by tying fabric scraps end-to-end? SO fabulous. Happy New Year!

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  32. Your rug is lovely! Have you ever thought of doing a "toothbrush rug"? It's type of rag rug. Here is one linke to explain it but if you "google" toothbrush rug it will bring up sources to buy the toothbrush. It is easy and from the American Colonial days.
    http://www.toothbrushrug.com/howto.html

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  33. Nice.
    This makes me think I like knit better than crochet for rag rugs now...

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  34. So fun! I'll have to try this sometime!

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  35. It turned out really cute!

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  36. Very cute! I love the colors in it. They're inviting. Heck, I wouldn't want to step on it...I'd probably hang it on my wall! lol!

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  37. kangaroo,

    that's exactly what i did...give it a try...it's so easy!! and it's a great TV watching activity.

    aj

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  38. too cute! I am curious to know how it holds up too!? Now what color will the bathroom be? :)

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  39. I've been wanting to crochet a rug out of old knit clothes (t-shirts, underwear, etc.) I think it will be incredible... once I actually get around to it!

    Thanks (again) for the inspiration!

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  40. Love it! Now I need to learn to knit.

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  41. Excellent use of scraps! I love it! I enjoy visiting your blog - admiring all the beautiful quilts you make!

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  42. That is so cool. Need to go find the knitting needles!

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  43. Hello, and happy new year! This January finish goal of mine is finishing your quilt-along from last year! Today I've made the 2 last blocks and the cornerstones, but I must go to the shop and find more fabric for the binding. Have you got a place with photo of all the finishes? Would like to see...
    Thank you for a wonderful quilt-along, and sorry I'm so late in the finish!

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  44. Where do your talents end? I am in awe! Its fabulous!

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  45. Anonymous10:21 AM

    It's wonderful...and so clever and thrifty too! Love it.

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  46. and to think i threw all my scraps out! oh well i guess i know for next time :) love it!

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  47. I love how you left some of the rough edges out so it's raggedy. Very nice!

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  48. Oh cool!!!

    I crocheted an oval one before with a giant crochet hook. (That was waaaaaay before Joe and I got married.)

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  49. Love it! A great idea for our WC downstairs.....

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  50. Love that rug! Great job! A very good way to use up scraps of fabric!
    ~Tam :D

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  51. you know, i might have to start saving those thin strips i never know what to do with. i bet i could have a bucket in no time. i couldn't do this, but i'd bet my mom could knit this up in a jiffy. i'll be waiting to see how it holds up in your house.

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  52. elin,

    there is a flickr pool where you can see the other quilt along quilts (and add your own, too!) here:

    http://www.flickr.com/groups/559664@N20/pool/

    aj

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  53. Very cool - I'm still learning to crochet, haven't tackled knitting. Looks great!!!

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  54. It's really nice! I love the way the colours just merge together!

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  55. i adore this! i bet it is going to wash and wear so nice.

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  56. I like it and it is nice that it would fit any color bathroom.

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  57. this is so cute! Now I need to start saving my scraps so I can start making something like this!

    There is a line of books along the title of quick crochet, huge hooks/quick knits, huge needles or something like that and they do a lot of knitting/crocheting like this with big needles. You should try to find it at your library :)

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  58. Anonymous12:51 AM

    I love this! My scraps are overflowing. I really need to do something like this. I've crocheted baskets before from scraps, but I fussed about making them all the same width. This sounds a lot more forgiving.

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  59. Oh, yeah! This scrap project ROCKS. Waste not, want not and it's so flippin' lovely!

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  60. This is really, really cool. I love that you used pieces that were destined to be garbage, and I think it turned out to be really pretty. Please report back on how it washes up. I could see myself making one of these from old cut-up t-shirts.

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  61. FYI: I am told that crocheting uses 3x the length needed compared to knitting, for the same size rug.
    Soooo... I am knitting mine! Thank you for the tut.

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