In the last couple of nights I have returned to my toothbrush rag rug, and have now added four and a half revolutions since I last shared a picture. Two of the rings (pale turquoise, near the edge) were made out of an old pair of pyjama pants that I have.
The pants were actually a darker print, (you can see the scrap laying on the rug) but they curled up to the wrong side, and became a much softer, lighter colour. The pyjama pants were constructed out of a Viscose/Elastane knit. All I can say is beware Viscose, it grows! These pants gradually ‘grew’ 4 inches longer and quite a bit wider than they started, until I could no longer wear them. The drape of Viscose is really nice though, and we are seeing a lot more of it in the stores, since cotton prices went up. Just be aware of this stretching tendency if you buy anything made of it.
Lotta is pretty fond of the rag rug. As soon as I moved it into the sunlight to take a picture, she grabbed a toy and came and sat on it, (yes that manky looking rag between her paws is “bunny” which she has had since she came home with us).
If you want to know more about toothbrush rag rugs, you can read my post here.
* many of you will recognize this song as “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” by Dead or Alive from 1985. Speaking of the 80’s, Luke and I have just finished watching the first series of “Spirited” via itunes. “Spirited” is about Suzy, an uptight dentist who has left her husband (played by Claudia Karvan) and Henry, the ghost of an 80’s rock star, (played by Matt King). We have really been enjoying it. Below is the original promo (which has “You Spin Me Round” playing in the background) …
http://youtu.be/CiJkUuKqfBw
Have you been watching anything good lately?
I just adore your rag rug – off to follow the link to your original post.
Thanks so much Melody – have a try, they are fun to make, and you feel really virtuous for recycling at the same time.
I discovered your blog about a week ago and am back to thank you for posting about the toothbrush rug. (Yours is beautiful, by the way.) I had heard about this technique a couple of years ago, but something about it did not click with me. After reading your post and viewing the tutorials, I started one right away. (I had been saving fabric to crochet one.) I am enjoying making it, and it’s a great activity while watching TV. Although it can get addictive to see those rows add up!
Thanks for your lovely comment Becky.
This is how I started too.
I had been saving the old clothes for a while, and then one day I saw the ‘right’ tutorial, that made sense, and I jumped right in.
Just a little tip – do it on a board or table, or it might grow in a warped shape.
Good Luck, and happy rug-making
Thanks for the extra tip. I need to work on a table anyhow, as my wrist tires without support. I also read a lot of the comments at the tutorial, about increasing each row, which I think I have figured out pretty well. Mine is nowhere near the size of yours yet!
A Etsy seller of toothbrush rug instructions is using your rug image as the header on her site, as well as the photo for her instructions. She had been using a photo of my crocheted rag rug, until one of my blog readers notified me, and I asked her to take it down. She replaced it with your rug photo.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ToothbrushRagRugs
P.S. I love your rug!