Finally Finished Some UFO'S

These bags are the rest of what was left from the table full of projects, the rag bag embellishment and the gold toned rag bag. I haven't shown the purple back pack type rag bag before, so it's a first time here and it's finished.

This is where I chose to place the flowers, they actually have a little window behind them, I cut out a piece of cardboard and covered it with the material I used for the bag and sewed it onto the back of the flower.

This the bag fully lined with a piece of material I used in making the bag.

Here we see the gold toned rag bag, the handle is adorned with beads.

And here it is lined with the matching material I used in making the bag. With a pocket to use.

This is a new style back pack type rag bag, there is a slider on the handle which closes the bag and doubles for a spacer to use the straps for a back pack. It also has beads that surround the outer top of the bag.

Here you can see the bag is lined and the slider is at the top of the bag, ready for you to make it close.

I would say this little purple beauty would be great for the beach.

Update on Rag Crochet Stiffener

Nine days after my initial PVA glue experiment.

I've re-used the left over glue.

I just had it sitting in a plastic bowl with out a lid.

Firstly I warmed it slightly in the microwave oven, I soaked a piece of material I was using to line a basket that had been previously stiffened, then I simply put the material into place and waited for it to dry. Secondly I immersed a small rag crochet basket into the same mixture, this small basket is being used for a needle and cotton holder. I cut a rubber into half (for holding, sewing needles) and pegged it onto the glue soaked basket and waited for it to dry.

Success!

Both items dried as stiff as my first attempt with the glue.

See this Post

My initial $ out lay was not in vain as I can re-use any left over solution.

The purple toned basket has the big bows attached securely to each end now.

The baskets are going to be used for gift baskets.

A unique and original gift.

A table full of projects

All of this to get through! 3 bags to line, 1 bag to needs a bottom and 2 hard glued baskets need the final touches.

So I'm just looking at them all ready to begin, I know once I start it shouldn't take long, but I'm just not getting that urge to get on with it.

I may have done too much today already.

First it was, lets go shopping with the grandson and get new tropical fish.

Next it was lunch at home with no 4 daughter and meet the new boy friend.

Then it was off to the dance studio to record no 3 daughter's dancing exam.

Rush back home to cook tea for no 3 daughter and her new beau' so they could get ready for a big night out, then keep hubby happy until he is zapping out Z's in front of the TV.

My turn I think, coffee and computer, leave the rest for tomorrow.

Do you agree?

Rag Bag Embellishment

What do you use for embellishment and where do you put it?

This can turn into a real challenge.

I have chosen an option here, but I would like to know where you would put the flower or flowers?

Rag Crochet with Flat Sheets Back On the Menu!

Some time's when you are feeling very low and upset it helps to get your mind off the bad things by re-visiting your favourite things.

Rag Crochet of late is one of those favourite things. I was flipping through some old crochet pattern books and happened to open one that was "crochet with fleece" when I found it! A no join method for flat sheets! What? I thought you could only do that with doona covers or when you had taken the time to sew up the sheet like a doona cover. In fact I have already tried it and it is twice as fast as using the doona covers, there is no prep work with sheets, they are flat and the majority do not have the thick edging that some times is a cause for a loss of valuable re-useable product.

The sheets are cheaper to buy second hand than the doona covers too!

Below is an image of the long and slow process of joining rag strips.

Below here, is an image of how to no join a flat piece af material.

The super speedy method.

Link to other no joining method.

Special thanks to Purple who put me on my road to the discovery of rag crochet.

Gold Toned Rag Bag

Mix these to gether and what do you get?

This Gold Toned Rag Bag.
The beads were threaded onto some welding wire and sewn into place on the rag bag handle to arch over the shoulder when carrying.
I just have to line the bag now.

Oh It's A Blue Loo

Who would have thought that I would write a post about a WC.

Well here I am doing it.

Hubby bought this out ragious loo seat for the guest loo, it completely ruined the colour scheme in there and I did not have a loo mat to match, so I made one, from rags of course.

The grand kids are going to love the Mr Sharky loo seat when they see it.

Above. The cutting of the rags process.

Below. The finished loo mat.

And below a view with lid open, you sit on the sharks razor sharp lower jaw.

Rag Crochet and Stiffener

Ever tried to use a stiffener? Well I had never tried the process up until the past few weeks. The baskets I have made of late were in need of a stiffener, not only to shape them but to keep them in that particular form, I was aiming for ever.

Firstly I did dome research on line.

I read this article.

The only thing I had lots of on hand of at the time was sugar, so I used that method, 5 days later and not so sticky, they were dried.

Mmm, not as hard as I would have liked, I forgot to bring them in from out side and the night air gave them a slight limp, not the for ever I was aiming for.

Back to the drawing board, I rinsed the sugar solution from them (definately would not have lasted for ever) and dipped them into a new solution of PVA wood glue and water that was slightly heated on the stove. I had already found the perfect shaping tools (kitchen bowls) and once I had squeezed the excess mixture from the baskets, I put the shaping tools in place, made the finer adjustments then put them on big plastic trays (won't stick to them) and then out into the sunshine for a couple of days.

Hard as a rock and the drying time was halved.

The glue dries clear and the remaining glue from the squeezing process has been kept as I will try to re-use this for another project.

Once the baskets are fully completed I will post their pictures. I'm hoping for some lovely country decor'

Here is a very stiff hanging heart basket, it was dried whilst hanging from a nail.

Bec's Crocheted Rag Bag

Bec is my 32 yr old step daughter, she has supported me with all of my crazy crocheted items by either wearing them, using them or dressing her children (my grand children, Lily, Darcy and Bella) in them. My husband (her dad) Terry and I went for a visit to see them all on Sunday (including Bec's husband Dave) and I just had to make something for Bec to take to her, I just love seeing the surprise on her face!

So I made her this crocheted rag bag to take up to her, the little heart on the bag came from her dear departed Nannie's button tin (which I have) and I just knew it would add sentimental value to the bag.

I used a 12.00 mm hook and I cut strips from an old sheet and tied them together. I used the easy peasy crochet bag method. I began with 5 sc, did 15 rows for the base and 15 rows high for the sides. I also used laughingpurple’s bag lining tutorial. Thanks Purple for all of your tutorials, they assist me immensely.

Because I had the rags already cut and joined, the whole process took me a solid 2 hours.

Above are the selections for the contrasting trim, lining and pocket.

Above is the view from inside, I included 3 pockets, 2 being narrow (mobile phone etc) and 1 being slightly larger.

Rag crochet basket

Remember this colour scheme?

Here it is in action. Ready for some flowered embellishment.
And the flowers attached, this makes for a lovely decorative basket.
I love rag crochet.

Browsing through the op shops for crochet materials

Feeding my new addiction for rag crochet, I sorted through doona covers sheets and pillow cases to end up with these colour schemes. There has been a noticable price increase through out the op shops, so I have chosen sheets this time to feed my habit.

The colours above can be used in many combinations, it was fun matching them up

These ones are baby cot sheets and baby pillow cases to make for a project I shall reveal later.

I came across this cardigan too. I had to have it even though it was a little large for me.

The find of the day was this little beauty, a spider man bean bag for my spider man crazy grandson.

More Rag Crochet

Just a quick post to share my latest rag crochet. I'll more than likely add more as I am already onto another. It's a pretty little crochet rag basket and I actually used a pattern. The pattern is from Annie's Rag -Crochet Baskets.

Crochet Rag Bag

I saw this being done over at laughingpurples blog and I just had to try it.
I already knew I had supplies in my linen closet as I had planned just prior to this project to clean it out and give it to charity, doona covers, pillow cases, curtains, just to name a few. So far I have used, 4 pillow cases, 1 curtain and I'm starting on a pair of jeans that shrunk (LOL).

The beginning

The ball.
Another beginning.
This far into the project I have used 4 pillow cases and a curtain.
Now the jeans.

So now the denim is a ball of denim to use

Oh no, the denim is too thick for my bag,I don't want to damage it, so now I am cutting it down the middle, which will give me twice as much and thinner, but ouch! my fingers hurt whilst cutting it.

I'll be back with more!

Here it is finished. The denim was tough to crochet with. I made a flower to place on the bag but I did not like it, so I will leave it without embelishment until I know for sure what I want. I made the handles so as Icould throw it over my shoulder or hold it with my hand. Nothing fancy all sc and chain one with the handle, the rest of the bag was made all in sc. I usually crochet in the back loop only when I am going from the base to the sides of the bag, but it was not quite possible here, so I did a back post sc instead, which had a similar effect. I have used an 8mm hook (US L/H)

My daughter Cristy models the bag over the shoulder.

Here is a link for some more rag idea's.