Hand Crochet Rope Mat with Rope Lights

I have been moving several yards of handmade rice-straw rope around the barn for 25 years. I finally decided to use it or lose it.

Using the same technique as the toothbrush rugs (but without a toothbrush or tool since the rope was so thick), I made a doormat.

When I needed more rope for the guide rope, I used an old set of rope lights from the holiday decor that we no longer use.

Size: approx 110cm x 60 cm

Toothbrush Rugs

Toothbrush rugs are easy and fun. I used a child's toothbrush because it had a hole in the handle. I whittled off the bristle end and expanded the hole in the handle. 

No looms or frames needed. 
These are very durable seat pads and carpets.

Recycled cotton curtain toothbrush rug, 1 meter diameter

Recycled cotton curtain toothbrush rug, detail

Recycled cotton bedspread, sarong cotton wraps. Toothbrush rug. 1 m.diam.

Recycled plaid school skirts, blue jeans and wool scarves. 1 m. diam.

Recycled sarong. Chair pad. Toothbrush rug.

Recycled summer kimono (yukata). Chair pads. Toothbrush rug.

Recycled silk kimonos. Toothbrush rug chair pad.

Cotton yukata repurposed into toothbrush rug seat pads.

Toothbrush rug seat pads using recycled denim and cotton kimono.

 

Toothbrush seat pad using plush fleece baby blanket and cotton/poly tablecloth for border.

The fleece blanket had a pastel design which comes out as varied colors in the finished weave.

Hooked Rugs

Supplies: 

• Monk's cloth, rug warp or rug linen or similarly loosely woven fabric to serve as a backing; 
• rug hook; 
• felted wool strips or other fabric that does not readily fray;
• frame to hold the fabric (like a large embroidery hoop or quilter's frame)
• scissors, rotary cutter, straight edge

There are numerous outlets that sell precut wool strips. There are also cutters designed for cutting consistent width strips.

It is all more expense that I care to invest in. 

I made a simple frame of scraps with adhesive velcro to secure my fabric and cut strips of wool and silk using the rotary scissors. I got started by watching Gene Shephard's video:  How to Hook Rugs

My first carpet is all wool, mostly felted wool that was purchased as well as a re-purposed shawl from Nepal and remnants of a Scottish kilt.

Hooked rug, wool