Crochet rag rug runner from old clothes
You might have noticed that I have a real problem throwing away things. Especially if ‘things’ have only been used in their original functionality, in a sole form. To give an example, throwing away old clothing troubles me big times!
That’s why years ago I made a (humble) replica of a Droog design. And in later years I have made several rag rugs with clothes that I had cut apart into yarn. Next to that I’ve used nice looking old clothing to make lavender sachets and if they were in a bad state, I would just make pieces of cleaning cloth with them. When the clothes still were really new, or barely worn, I would bring them away to something like the red cross.
As I am losing weight – I’ve lost 16,5kg at the moment – I can slowly get rid of big (pun intended) parts of my closet. Things that aren’t really suitable for red cross as they have been worn quite intensively. I guess it’s time for more/new rugs in the house.
I’ve started this black (pants), grey (tunic dress), green & yellow (long sleeve t-shirts)-one this weekend. It’s actually very easy to make if you have good scissors. You just cut long threads from your old piece of clothing and start crocheting. I’m using a double crochet stitch all around till I run out of fabric. I’m making an oval rug this time, that we can use in our hallway at the entry door.
Although as said, it’s quite easy to make, I am always confronted with the ‘dirty’ side of manual work with these kind of things. In this case I ended up with small pieces of fabric/junk coming out of my nose for two days in a row, after I had been cutting the black (jersey) fabric. It really makes me feel sorry for the people working in clothing factories, day-in-day-out. Most of them probably work without any protection. I guess making things by hand incidentally, is good for keeping us aware (of the circumstances) of people that do these kind of things permanently.
I do hope that one day I’ll know what to do with my increased awareness. For now I find it very difficult to choose the best of all evils in terms of fabric choices or labor conditions. I therefore choose just to buy less clothes/things for myself. I’m being quite aware that that also isn’t the best option.
What do you do to keep your conscious semi-clear when it comes to consuming?
If you need some upcycling/recycling inspiration for textiles, visit my inspiration board here.
January 27, 2015
Great idea!
I totally understand what you are saying about the dirty part of our clothes :( Some clothing start shedding that kind of particles while wearing. I try to get only locally manufactured clothing and when not found, try to sew myself, but often the fabrics are manufactured elsewhere as well.
It is very difficult to keep ethically clean these days and to consume less and less seems to be the only way out.
January 27, 2015
With my size locally manufactured is quite difficult, there isn’t much available. I have to resort to bigger brands that have branched out to bigger sizes. I sometimes have bought handmade clothes over the internet through small makers. But having a bigger size means also that your bodies curves are more accentuated, so it’s quite difficult to buy normally fitting clothes via these kind of channels. Generally it has been disappointing I must say. I know that other people do have better experiences, but most probably they aren’t blessed with my ‘curves’. ;)
I do try to look at the fabrics. I generally go for a cotton blend (with some stretch), for example, only the black part of this rug above isn’t a bio-cotton. That also gives me a bad feeling though, as bio-cotton apparently isn’t too sustainable for our earth.
It’s difficult to wear the right thing. I’m hoping that as I’m losing weight, I will have more choices (to make). And in the end I think less is best, although we might rob some people from their jobs.
You know I just remembered that I have a different set of choices I can make with shoes as my shoe size is very regular. And I do buy regularly ‘green’ shoes. Often these shoes are ill fitting and I rarely wear them, which isn’t sustainable as well. It has been a real disappointment over the years (except that one brand that you recommended, but they only have ‘cold’ shoes).
I therefore think sustainable clothing is probably clothing that you want to wear often and that stays well for a long time. Ideally the clothing is made under proper circumstances with sustainable materials.
January 28, 2015
I love the colors of this rug!
it is true, I don’t like throwing away things just because… without thinking of another use for them first. With clothes I have stages that go from new (take care of them…) to very old (use them for working on the garden, going camping, etc), so they last longer. Don’t use new clothes to do activities that will most likely ruin your clothes… painting the house for instance. I still have a sweater I brought from Argentina 13 years ago, and it was already then old! ahahaha maybe I should let go.
I try to consume less and take care of what I have. Don’t just buy “because it’s cheap”. I’m not very handy with sewing but I’ll check your pin board… maybe something inspires me.
16k! Excellent!!!