More Twined Mats

 This one is rather festive...an old pink kimono that by itself was quite dated and not too attractive, mixed nicely with some purples and greens from some other pieces. It is all silk. There is a gold thread that runs through some of the embroidery and adds some glitter to this mat - an indoor item, not really for muddy boots!

Toothbrush Rugs

 Using my modified toothbrush as a tool, I made some more carpets.

 This is from a lightweight cotton bedspread. I used scraps of cotton and silk for the "cord" (the non-weaving strand).

 I needed a long runner for the interior door...so I chained a long rope before beginning my loops. It is about 56" long. Printed silk and cotton strips from outdated kimono.

Rags - blouses, t-shirts, sweaters.

 A dear friend dropped off a few bags of old t-shirts that soon became balls of "yarn". The remaining blouses, button down shirts and pants became strips for simple rugs. 

I used heavy cotton string from the garden store for the warp on a peg loom. All of the mats are about 20" wide by 26" long.

This one is mostly knits.

T-shirt mat

T-shirts are so stretchy but so soft and nice to work with. This is a great bath mat. Sturdy, soft, thick.

What looked great on my makeshift loom stretched and pulled in every which way but straight when I took it off. I might try spraying it and ironing it to straighten it out but this is mixed straight weaving (under-over-under-over) and a few rows of twined cotton strips to secure the rows.

Materials: t-shirts, cotton cord, cotton bed sheets.

Finished size 70 x 100 cm

Twined Ottoman

Using PET bottles for a base, I used strips from a summer yukata and kimono to twine a cover for the ottoman. The warps are some scrappy polyester suit lining that I picked up at the flea market.
I started with a large cranberry juice bottle in the center and several water bottles around it. I secured them in place with duct tape.

The bottom of the PETs are the seat  (top) of ottoman.

To fill out the shape, I used bubble wrap and then covered it with cloth (I happened to have pieces of a terry sheet). A circle was cut for the top and bottom and then pieces wrapped around and roughly whip stitched into place. This is my base for weaving.

Now I will add my warps to the top and begin twining.

 I used a stitch to hold the warp spokes in place and just started twining as usual. I went counter-clockwise for no reason except it was convenient for me.



As I moved away from the center, I needed to add more spokes to the warp, so I took a double long piece, looped it through the previous row and created two new warps. I did this somewhat evenly around the wheel as needed, to keep my twining stitches fairly even.



As I got to the sides, I needed to slip in a couple extra warps
as well.

I didn't want to waste good kimono cloth on the bottom and so I just trimmed the warps and wove the bits in and out in a plain weave just to secure them all and keep it fairly flat. 

Detail of twined ottoman sides.

Scrap Paper Projects

It seems there is more than fabric laying about. 

Old sheet music, wrapping paper, origami paper and bits of wires and beads leftover from days of yore met a new fate. 

The great thing about these: they don't need to be watered!

Kusudama flowers and  kusudama butterfly  fold were used for the flower petals. Old buttons, bits of wires and beads in center. Coat hanger wire makes sturdy stems.

Woven Rag Rug

This is a way to get rid of odds and ends scraps that were too ragged even for twining. I set up a kite string warp on a frame from discarded PCV pipes.  Then I made a continuous string heddle as one would do for backstrap weaving.

Small mat, 35 x 75 cm

PCV pipe frame. This is with yarn warp. I undid this one and used kite string instead for the finished mat.

The  fabric strips are hand-stitched end to end to eliminate big bulges. Also, since my fabric strips were so irregular is was easier than knotting them. 

Each strip was 1/2"-1" wide, then folded or tucked under.

Detail of woven rag rug, mixed silks, polys, cottons, wool, denim.

Woven mat from old t-shirts and kite string warp.

Soft bathmat size carpet from old t-shirts, plush bathrobe and fleece muffler.

Woven bath mat using variety of soft cotton strips, heavy cotton cord warp.

Mixed cottons, jersey bath mat

Detail of mixed bath mat, twining and weaving (the twined strips give a little extra strength)

 Then I found the old rigid heddle loom that my mother gave me in 1969. I remember weaving yarn mufflers and mats on this model.



Having a short supply of yarn, I used the yarn for the warp and strips of wool (from an old skirt) left over from rug hooking for the weave.

70 cm x 30cm mat 

80 cm x 30 cm mat

Detail of woven wool strips