How to Crochet With Scraps of Fabric or Plastic
Anyone who can make a single crochet can make a variety of pretty, practical, washable projects from scraps of fabric. Rag rugs, crocheted from strips of new or recycled fabric, were a mainstay in homes during the 19th and 20th centuries. Smaller projects such as placemats, coasters, trivets and handbags are equally attractive and nearly free because they are made from discards and leftovers. Plastic strips cut from free grocery bags may be similarly crocheted to create shopping bags, outdoor rugs and more.
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Things You'll Need
- Used cotton clothing such as shirts, dresses, skirts etc.
- Used sheets, medium weight draperies, bedspreads etc.
- Left-over cotton yardage from sewing projects
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Large crochet hook (size 11 or larger)
Instructions
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Crochet a rug from fabric strips
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1
Collect the fabric to be used for crochet. A variety of colors will create a homey, rustic look or a monochromatic rug may be achieved by using only a few similar colors. All the fabric must be of similar content; cottons and cotton polyester blends are appropriate. Cotton knits, such as t-shirts, may also be used.
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Tear the fabric into 1-1/2 inch strips, leaving it connected at the edges if possible. This can be done by tearing yardage cross-ways to within an inch from the selvage on alternate sides. This will result in a continuous strip. Try tearing a man's shirt from shirttail to collar, from cuff to shoulder, etc in the longest possible strips. Do not attempt to tear knit fabrics. These must be cut with scissors.
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3
Connect the torn strips by tying firm knots between them, taking some care to mix or match colors as desired. Trim any long raveling threads and ends as necessary, but the roughness of texture is a part of the charm of such crocheted items.
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Roll the strips into balls, just as if it were yarn. Place in a container or basket convenient to the crochet location.
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Begin crocheting with a chain of six slip stitches and join to form a circle which will be the center of a round rug. Single crochet around the chain, adding two stitches to each stitch in the chain and working the knots to the underside.
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Continue for as long as needed to form a round rug. It may be necessary to adjust the number of stitches added to each row as the rug may not be as flat as desired. Experiment with working the stitches loosely; the crochet may become too tight to continue easily.
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Finish off by tying the last strip into the previous strip and trim off the ends. Walk over the rug a few times to flatten and mold its shape.
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Tips & Warnings
For more experienced crocheters, begin with an oval shape. For a rectangular project such as a placemat, begin with a chain as long as the width desired.
For crochet with plastic bags, cut the strips as wide as desired. The wider the strip, the thicker the crochet product will be.
References
Resources
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