A few tips when crocheting with rags

First of all a caution, crochet with rags can become addictive.

1. My first tip is to wash your materials before you begin.

If they have been sitting way back in the closet for some time, they may have a stale odour to them.

2. Iron your material if needed.

This will make sewing or crochet much easier.

3. If the original stitching is weak, sew over it again.

The stitching will come apart and you will then have to knot it if you are up to the crochet step.

4. The thicker the fabric, the thinner your strips need to be.

The thinner the fabric, the thicker your strips need to be.

5. If you come across a weak joint whilst crocheting, knot it now to make it stronger.

It will come apart eventually.

These rag bags make up quite quickly. I made 2 in a day and also decorated and lined 3, with time to spare.

I have used some of that cheap fluffy yarn in the top of the bag above, for decoration.

The rags used were from a king size sheet I bought at the op shop.

Once again I have used some fluffy yarn at the base of this bag, added some flowers and some pink stitching around the handles. The material is from my daughters doona cover that I mistakenly cut up.

This is made from 2 and a half pillow cases, the contrasting colour is from the half a pillow case. The inside flap from the pillow case was used also, I cut thin strips from it to make bows and sewed little buttons onto the centre of the bows.

The lining material is from either the contrasting colour I used or bits of scrap materials I have bought from the op shop over time.

To read more about my rag bags, go here.

For an easy tutorial on making the bags, go here.

For an easy bag lining tutorial, go here.

My Large Crocheted Rag Bag

I so enjoyed working with the crochet rags, that even before I had finished this project, I was planning my next one.

Here is the finished bag, I wanted a big bag, but it turned out bigger than I expected. I have woven a line of beads directly below the plain pink crochet line. The beads consist of cats eye's, painted glass and a cracked glass heart.

Below is the first doona cover I cut into strips. Tutorial here.



This is the second colour of choice, just as I had cut both ends of the cover off, my daughter came down the stairs and yelled to me that this was her doona cover. Woop's. My reply was that she must also have the pillow cases then.


This is my second colour choice and the last of my old doona covers.


So after I had cut strips from about a third of each of the covers, this is how much I have to work with so far, I had to cut more later.


The bag made up reasonably quick. On the final 2 rows of the bag and around the bag handles, I used a light weight cord, that I single crocheted over, to give the upper part of the bag more strength.



I measured and marked where my handles would be made.


Now it was on to lining the bag. I used laughing purples simple bag lining technique.

I was a little apprehensive about the lining, so I would refer back to laughingpurples blog.

I wanted a divider in my big bag, so guess who I went to for help?
Yes laughingpurple


Now I did this all on my own. A pocket for my hooks.


Making the pocket. I really had to think about what I was doing here, ironing really helps to give you a sewing seam.


So I'm feeling pretty good at this stage, pockets in and hooks fit.


Then I was brought down to earth, I had sewed the pocket upside down and onto the bottom of the lining, so I had to unpick it, ugh.

Now it is the right way up and I decided to face the pocket with the reverse side facing outwards, to keep the over flaps from the folds on the inside of the pocket.



It actually looks great and the liner fits perfect!



This is just to give you an idea of the size of the bag.



And another look inside.


This is what I picked up at the op shop for 50 cents a pair, there are 3 pairs here and they are now cut up and ready to go for my next project. I love crochet rags, it's so much fun.




And just a few hours later and almost finished, the little rag bag.

They seem to be multiplying

Tips for working with rags.

Stash Buster

Referring back to my scrumbling/freeform crchet project, I've decided to turn it into a stash buster project as well. I have the scumbled piece hanging over the back of my rocker and because it was not a large piece, it was for ever creeping off the rocker and I was for ever putting it back. I've also had these small bit's of yarn left over from many things that I have made. Whilst watching an antique show a beautiful quilting piece was shown and it was made from left over pieces of the royal family's dresses that had been hand made. That is when the idea came to me. What better way to remember a lovely piece of yarn used, or a favourite item made. So I am adding the left over yarns to the original piece and I do this when I am brain dead and do not want to concentrate too much on any one thing. I am also using a variety of crochet stitches to keep it a free form project. I will also add those odd bit's that did not make the cut, flower's, beginning's of some thing's etc.

This the first piece

Now it has grown more and stay's put
Now that it has grown, I'm actually using it more, it keeps my legs warm when sitting on the rocker.

Just a bit about my day

Today I went for a browse in the local op shop's, I was hoping to find some pillow case's and maybe a doona cover to cut up for rag crochet, the one's I did find were too stiff, so I came away without any (I do have some at home to use as yet), but I did find some little treasure's all for a $1 each, 3 balls of yarn , 2 packet's of sequence's, some nice cords and tassels, a belt and a grassed weaved edging, I am considering using this and the lovely belt for an edging around a rag bag.

My grandson Cooper loves to watch Toy Story, so I snapped up these slippers for him for $1, aren't they cute.
The post man came today also with my book's I ordered from Amazon about a week ago (quick), I still have another to come. They were both worth the buy, for under $20 a book.

I found these picture's on the internet, so you can have a preview of their content's.

Sensual Crochet Pattern Book

I love the one pictured below

This holiday pattern book is so cool, I can't wait for christmas!