Saturday 21 February 2015

Rag Rug Workshop ~ What a Lovely Morning!

Our Simple Living Toowoomba group held a Rag Rug Workshop this morning and it was a really great morning. As Cyclone Marcia was making her way down south and Toowoomba was on the edge of the tracking model we weren't sure what the weather would be like today but Margy felt to go ahead with the workshop as it was too late to contact everyone who had booked in. There had been a severe weather warning issued for Toowoomba at 8pm last night and I expected a sleepless night listening to heavy rain and wild winds but, as it turned out, all was calm during the night as Marcia headed towards the coast which I imagine received more heavy rain. She is expected to have moved out to sea by tonight and good riddance I say! She has left behind a path of destruction in many areas.


Back to the workshop....it was very well attended and I am sure that everyone really enjoyed themselves. I think the hardest part is remembering how to start off the rug as I had been to one of the past workshops but had forgotten how to do that. Once you have the tension right you are off and running. I made mine a bit too tight and then missed a few 'holes' so mine was turning into a square not an oval :-) It was all just a bit of practice and a lot of fun and I will make another one and try and do a tutorial as Annabel from the Blue Birds are Nesting asked me to do one.


It was interesting to see how the different coloured fabric strips looked after a few rows had been finished.


There was such a variety. 


 Once you have made a few rows you can decide if you are happy with the colour scheme or would rather a different one before going any further. 


You can use old sheets, doona covers, fabric scraps or whatever you have at home rather than buying any new fabric.
 

This was Shiralee's rug which is looking a lot neater than mine is :-)



Some of the more experienced 'rag ruggers' brought along their rugs and a couple were still being worked on.



 There were a couple of circle shaped ones as well as oval shapes. 


Before we held the workshop Margy had taught her hubby how to make a rug and he made this small one which would be great to put a hot casserole dish on. I am going to make a one as a teapot stand as I don't need a rug.

So, all in all, it was a lovely morning and there was lots of chatter and laughing. Our next workshop will be held on the 21st March and we will be shown how to make homemade health and beauty products. You can find more information here and, if you would like to come, then fill out the form on this page. It should be a very informative workshop so spread the word if you know anyone who lives in the Toowoomba region who would be interested.

Have a great weekend everyone!



26 comments:

  1. Wow they look fabulous! Thank goodness we missed the worst of TC Marcia. Feeling for those further north who copped the brunt of her fury. I am feeling that I might need to try to make one of these rugs.

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    1. Jane they aren't hard to make once you have the first part done. It is just a matter of going round and round.

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  2. Hmmmm, my interest is piqued. Definitely going on my winter-things-to-do list

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    1. They are a good way to use up scraps of fabric, Phil. You just need 3cm strips of fabric.

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  3. Glad to hear you escaped the worst, our thoughts are with those who were not so lucky! I attended a rag rug workshop last summer and - you guessed it - forgot all I heard!! I'm with Annabelle waiting for you to help us out as they look wonderful! What fun!

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    1. Yes Kathy, it is easy to forget how to start them off if you don't do it for a while. We were fortunate that the cyclone didn't pay a visit on her way out to sea. She certainly left her mark up north and on the coast. There is flooding to come now.

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  4. Hi Chel, Looks like some lovely bright and colourful rugs there. I wish I had come, as I was getting towards the highway the ute was making some odd noises, so I thought better turn around and come back. I'll look forward to the next one though.

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    1. Barb, I thought you hadn't come because of the weather. It didn't end up raining here apart from some drizzle during the morning. Better to be safe than sorry when you are on the highway.

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  5. I will second you in saying good riddance to Marcia. I am glad your workshop went ahead. Making a rag rug has been on my wish list for years. The ones in the photo's look great.

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    1. Sherri, everyone is glad to see Marcia leave I am sure. What a lot of damage she did and it must have been terrifying to those who were in her wake. Thank God nobody was killed.

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  6. Thank you Nanna Chel! Firstly I am so glad you were spared the worst of the storm.What a relief.
    I love the rugs! At first I thought they were plaited but I think I can see how its done. If I get stuck I could try you tube but I think I can see.
    I have lofty ambitions of making a heart shaped rug. But I will begin with an oval and see how I go. I am collecting old pretty coloured sheets for this.
    I am loving the workshops you have. Keep posting what you learn for us! Also what fun, apart from learning new skills.
    Many thanks, I am inspired and have a new project to get into which for me is good once autumn weather gets going as then I am inside more etc.
    xxx

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    1. Annabel, these are also called toothbrush rugs so you might find some YouTube videos to help. The Rag Rug Cafe also has instructions. They are a lot of fun to make although mine need a lot of tweaking :-)

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    2. Thanks For that as knowing what to call things is big when trying to find videos and instructions! I will try the Rag Rug Cafe first. Now to collect more sheets! xxx

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  7. Oh I love rugs.. I would love to make one.. Thanks for the link to the storm pics.. Glad you are ok.. xo

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    1. Faye, the rugs are really nice to look at. We are very relieved the cyclone veered away from us as she was moving south. I feel for those who suffered a lot of damage.

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  8. It looks like a lot of fun and such a great way to use up those scraps. I love the colourful ones :)

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    1. It is very addictive, Kelly. I am trying to perfect my technique and it is hard to put it down.

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  9. Love those psychedelic colours everyone's got going on. Could you imagine being slightly woozy (not that i ever am) and trying to focus on one. Trust me to look at it from a completely unique angle. Where is my head at i wonder.

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  10. So glad to hear you survived the cyclone Nanna Chel.

    Those scrap rugs are gorgeous and what a great way to use up leftovers.

    xTania

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    1. Tania, I was very relieved when I saw on the net that the cyclone had moved to the coast. The devastation up north is terrible as we saw on the news tonight as the TV crews get into some of the more isolated areas.

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  11. They are lovely colours, Lynda. Yes, where is your head at? I wonder that too :-)

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  12. Wow they look spectacular Nanna Chel! This is something my 70s self always wanted to try. But I think I was too busy doing the Bus Stop and the Nutbush City Limits dance at my favourite disco to apply myself....lol! They do look gorgeous though and I think my more sedate 2015 self might give this another go. Wonderful inspiration in those photos for sure. We only got heavy rain and a bit of wind from the fringe of Marcia. We measured 160mm of rainfall on Friday night! Wonderful for our garden as we just planted a heap of giant jade and some very pretty daisies, so they've had a good ole watering in! I feel for those who've been more directly affected and who are now cleaning up and repairing damage. It's always a hard lesson to realise we can't tame Mother Nature. As always though, our communities will pull together and do what we can to support those in need. For our part, we always donate a little to The Salvation Army who do so much good work following a wild weather event, and I always deliver some home baking to our local Fire Station which is literally around the corner from where we live. If the frequency of their sirens was anything to go by, they had a frantic weekend. Mimi xxx

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    1. Mimi, my 70s self was probably doing granny squares. LOL! Glad you didn't have damage from Marcia. I just read online that there are little towns which have been devastated which have received no help. I would like to donate to an organisation that could help them out. The ABC reporters seem to be going into these little townships and it is sad that the residents feel forgotten as the focus is on Yeppoon and Rocky.

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  13. there's some gorgeous rugs there! my interest is also piqued, will be looking forward to the tutorial :))
    thanx for sharing

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    1. Aren't they so colourful, Selina? I am trying to be more careful how I make my trial 'little' rug before doing the tutorial. Don't want to teach everyone the wrong way :-)

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  14. These rugs would be very cozy on the feet. Perfect for beside the bed. Wishing we had this type of workshop here. Thanks for sharing

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