Rag rugging

Today I went to a Children's Centre for a session on making rag rugs. There are many different ways to make a rag rug and many tools to do this with but I kept things simple by demonstrating the "proddy technique". You need hessian or burlap and lots (hundreds) of rectangles of fabric cut from recycled clothing. I love this technique because I can use up stretchy t-shirts and pajamas. 

This lime green and turquoise was looking stunning by the end of the session

This was pastel t-shirts

A pretty pink one

Sometimes the "work" camera goes a bit fuzzy!

This rug was being formed from an old cotton baby blanket rather than hessian.

It was a very good, busy session. Next week I am teaching the ladies how to dye with procion dyes.

Daffodil Dyeing & Jumble Sales

 If you are a member of The Quilters Guild then yesterday or today a copy of The Quilter should have arrived through your letter box. Inside is the article on daffodil dyeing  that I have written. If you are not a member then I will be doing a little tutorial here in the Spring (advance warning to collect some daffodil heads). I just love the range of tones that you can get from this simple flower. I now have a basket overflowing with yellows, begging me to stitch them into them.

Last weekend I went to help at the Scout jumble sale with DS and this pile of clothing found their way home with me. So many lovely textures and colours just waiting to start a new repurposed life, these are mainly  cottons.

I got several pairs of jeans with fantastic pockets, just right for box making.

I also got some laces, embroidered hankies, and some linen place mats . I am well known for taking in stained and torn things like the table cloth below.

Finally a peek at my City & Guilds diploma work. This isn't a great photo but shows the midday and night time sky before I stitched applique cow parsley and sprouts over the top. I think you might get a better idea of all the stitching if you click onto the picture. Its nearly complete though - yipee!!