Another Rag-Shag Rug

I have just finished another rag-shag rug, this one for Joanna.  It is made entirely of doubleknit, including the backing.  Finished size is 25" x 36".

 

I will save it for her for Christmas.

I spent at least 15 hours on each of the rugs, and my hands were complaining by the time I was done.

 

I was especially pleased with the green and pink one.  I should put it away so it doesn't get dusty, but I can't stop looking at it! 

     

Rag-Shag Rug Complete

It's all done!  Aaron's rug is done.  I'll give it to him for his birthday April 24.

 

Close-ups of the sewing of the little pleats in each rectangle:

A couple rows of red/black/beige plaid put on: 

Brown/beige plaid added -- this was the last piece of the suit-quality doubleknit I bought when I was 17 to make a three-piece western suit for Larry. 

 

The pants and the yokes on the jacket were plain brown. 

 

{Whether you believe it or not, that suit was quite stylish. 

But that was then.}

 

After Larry outgrew the suit (that's one of the hazards of making your future husband a suit when he's only 17--he outgrows it), I took it apart, recut it, and made it into a little suit for Teddy when he was 7 or 8. 

 

One of his little boys wore it to church not too long ago.

And, with the last rows of not-exactly-paisley mahogany/beige knit ...

the rug is DONE!  It measures 28" x 33".

I attached a burlap backing to the rug, serging the edges of denim

and burlap together when there were still about three rows of doubleknit to put on.

 

Hmmm...  did I just foil the easy wash-and-dry qualities of this rug?

Now it will probably have to be hung to dry,

or the burlap will shrink beyond recognition.

 

Why did I do that?

 

Answer:  Because it was there.

Okay, here's a link I might need:  How to Clean Burlap

Rag Shag Rug

Is it looking any more like a rug than it did three days ago?  The cut pieces (lots 'n lots of 'em) are 2" x 3" rectangles of doubleknit.

How about now?

I'm sewing the doubleknit pieces onto soft green denim.

Second and third rows added to the rectangle:

    Adding the red (hardest color in the universe to photograph):

I’m quitting for the night.  The rug will have to wait until Monday or Tuesday to be completed.

Rug Starts

Does this look like a couple of rag-shag throw rugs to you??  Those pieces of fabric are doubleknits.  I don't like doubleknit, but I can't seem to throw it out, sooo...

These will be throw rugs for Aaron and Joanna.  The dark colors will be for Aaron; the pastels for Joanna.

     

I have just begun cutting 2" x 3" rectangles.  So far, it feels just like quilting -- except doubleknits are a whole lot harder to cut through.  {I’m a-gonna get rid of this stuff, do or die.  One way or a-tuther, I'm a-gonna get rid of it!}

Here are my instructions: 

Cut a piece of heavy-duty fabric for the backing, and finish the edges.

Start at the outside edge and draw lines one inch apart in decreasing rectangles (or straight lines).

Cut lots and lots of 2” x 3” rectangles of denim or doubleknit.

Starting in the center of the backing, and working outwards, begin sewing the fabric rectangles to the backing fabric.  Sew straight through the middle of the rectangle width, so both sides stick up evenly.  As you lay each rectangle down, push it into 3 or 4 pleats so that the 2 inches of width are gathered into about 1 inch, overlapping each rectangle just a bit, an eighth an inch, a little more at the corners.   

When you have gone all the way around one rectangle, sew it down again to secure it.

For the last rounds, cut the rectangles in half along the length, to make rectangles that are 1½ inches by 2 inches, and sew along the edge of the backing fabric, so that the last row lies flat.