Rag Rug, and Other WIPs

The past few days have been productive, and I'm especially pleased to share my finished braided rag rug. I started this in a November 27 virtual workshop with Ilka White (in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia) and concluded the workshop on December 4. I finished the rug yesterday. 

Using several techniques Ilka taught, my rug includes spirals, different widths - weaving up to 12 braids at a time - and color changes. We learned in the second workshop how to reduce the number of braids to end the rug. Mine finished at about 33" in diameter.

I would have made the rug larger except: 1) I used all of the damask tablecloth, and part of a bed sheet; and 2) I didn't have any piece of old clothing or tablecloth or sheet to use for braiding darker aqua that I wanted around the outside. I resorted to using several solid and print quilting cottons. Because the quilting cotton is thinner (than the damask), a definable "lip" appeared between the light center and that edge. 

Also, I wasn't happy about using stashed-for-quiltmaking fabrics in a rag rug. Next time, I will shop at a thrift store more knowledgeably - looking for a broader range of clothing and home decor items to tear up for braiding.

It was just as much fun meeting my classmates as it was learning to braid! These are my mates, two of whom had to leave early. Ilka is in the top row, second from the left. One other person is American (in California); one is Canadian. The others are Australians.

We each had opportunities to talk about our rugs. Some made a round rug and some made an oval rug. It was nice getting acquainted with everyone, and a couple of us are now following one another on Instagram.

Central Florida MQG has set a 2021 chapter challenge, due in March. Using fabric scraps, we're to design a modern quilt with negative space. The quilt can be any size (I always go big), and should include one of three suggested characteristics. This is my 14½" trial block pieced with scraps, and cut using a Classic Curves ruler. 

Being enamored with the new-to-me Siddi method of making a quilt (learned in a virtual workshop with Sujata Shah), I decided to try something completely different. It's India meets Ohio! I'm using my (Ohio) grandmother's vintage fabric scraps to make a 16" X 23" Kawandi. Hmm. Scrap fabrics are hand-stitched to a backing and batting, working from the outside in.

I'm in the process of soaking, rinsing, and drying more of Grandma's scraps to give me more variety in the prints. I have no idea how good or bad this will look when it's finished!

Here's an updated picture of Italica, my patterned improv quilt top. It's 72" high by 71" wide, so I've decided to add another top and bottom row of pieced improv, similar to the "track" piece at the top, to make it more rectangular than square. 

Book Recommendation

I have a real recommendation to make: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I've never read any of his books (apparently there are quite a few), but enjoyed this one about Nora Seed. In her late 20's, Nora believes her life is too pathetic and unremarkable to continue living. So, on the last day of her life, she finds herself in an enormous library with shelves of books about her life that "could have been." Reading through all her life's regrets - not continuing to swim; not going through with a wedding; not performing with a rock group - the librarian explains that Nora can visit those regrets to experience her "could have been" lives. This thought-provoking story will give the reader pause to consider how lives might have been lived differently, while helping us appreciate where we are now.

Linda's score: 4.3/5.0

Sunday afternoon, FedEx delivered my prize from an Instagram win sponsored by Brewer Sewing. I am certain the eight items total well over $100 worth of merchandise! 

1 - 27" x 36" piece of cork shot with gold metallic

2 - "Cut It Out" zipper case for holding rotary cutters

3 - 14" X 14" wool pressing mat (the second wool pressing mat I've won through Instagram giveaways!)

4 - 6½" X 6½" ruler

5 - the book Create with Cork Fabric, by Jessica Salle Kapitanksi @sallietomatopatterns

6, 7, 8 - enamel charm, and two needle minders (magnetic).

I've also lately received purchases: the new, updated version (paperback) of The Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns; and a turquoise Oliso mini project iron.

I bet you know what you can find me doing! Yep. Having a good play! Linda