Thursday 4 July 2013

T-Shirt Yarn Rugs - Different Techniques

Being in India for more than 3 years didn't make me accustomed to its weather. These days it is so humid outside that you are covered in sweat within 1 minute. The only way to stay indoors, in a cooled room, with fan too. We don't have AC in our drawing room, so any visit to it is a challenge, and we almost stopped watching TV there. Though last Sunday I attempted to sneak into it, switched on the fan at a high speed, and managed to have a look at the Big Bang Theory, after which I had to retreat into a cooler location. I look forward to the season change. 
The monsoon hasn't arrived yet in its full power. I hope the rains will not bring more devastation as they did to poor people in Uttarakhand. The tragedy is still echoing, the news is about it still on all the channels but unfortunately not much can be done now for those who lost their family members, or got a huge psychological shock for the rest of their life. 
Our life here at the foothills of Himalayas has been quite and I am grateful it has been this way. You can call it a "slow living", with all its ups and downs. Yesterday I had a unique chance have a mid-week break with my D, as he had an off, so I couldn't afford leaving him alone at  home :) We didn't do much cooking, had some street food, maggi for dinner (it is okay sometimes). Now I hope my morning exercises will not go in vain, I always hope after such "heavy" days. Besides I also did some crochet, to my pleasure and satisfaction. 
The rug below was made last weekend from that T-shirt yarn I proudly presented you last week + yarn produced from the grey  t-shirt kindly provided by my colleague. I like the the color transition at some places. I am not so fond of lumps and uneven edges though. Also it was so difficult to crochet this yarn at times, my right thumb was aching a lot when holding the 8 mm crochet hook. The rug is about 12 in (30 cm) in diameter, but I plan to add few more rounds to it, as it looks unaccomplished.
So yesterday, as soon as I had some free time during the day, I commenced and finished another crochet rug. This time it  was inspired by Pinterest, and involved clever usage of acrylic yarn. See the tutorial here. Really, I am amazed by the thought that once came to a person's mind to make it this way! Yes, there is expenditure of  acrylic yarn, but also a good stash buster of it, in addition, no thumb ache and t-shirt yarn is being utilized economically. I used only half of the blue track pants and half of a green t-shirt. More is left to make another rug? a table mat?
Furthermore, the edges are much neater, almost no lumps, the rug feels soft, though thinner that the first one. My D's verdict after seeing both the variants was: "That one (red and black) looks more like a mat, and this one (aqua) you won't lie on the floor, it's too good for this purpose". I agreed, still I insisted that aqua one would be his bed side mat, he had no means of retreat and surrendered.
The mat is now resting on my D's bed side. It came out about 45 cm (18 in) in diameter. My D told me he put his feet directly onto it when he woke up, but he didn't dare to stand on it with his slippers. So sweet, my dear! I am planning on making a rectangular mat in the same technique, as to lie it in front of our bed. As I found out in India people don't usually put mats (at least I haven't seen this yet), as mostly everyone has marble floor which stays cool in the hot summer season. However I long for coziness in my room, and such kind of details simply make me happier. I am sure my husband doesn't mind to have all of that too. Hope you also had good project to do and enjoy.

I would like to share a call from a fellow blogger and a doll maker Teresa of A Magical Whimsy, who needs help for her son recovering form West Nile meningitis. Please, follow the link and may be you would be the one interested to buy beautiful hand made dolls, Teresa put links to in her blog. 


Take  care of yourself, my dears! Have a blessed day! Happy Fourth of July to all who celebrate today!

41 comments:

  1. dear Anna, I love these mats but I have not had a chance to experiment yet, you have been great to work with, weave beautiful colors, really like ..

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    1. Thanks, Derya! I am sure your mats will be pretty as all the crochet you do :)

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  2. Love your mats Anna - know what you mean about achey fingers with those chunky yarns - but what fantastic results!
    Ali x

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    1. Yes, the result is the best reward for all the pain we sometimes get.
      Thanks, Ali!

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  3. Lovely mats.Just wish I could have them.But it must be hard to maintain them...isn't it?

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    1. Thanks, Garima!
      Not difficult, just wash them, as usual clothes, as they are made of usual t-shirt fabrics, so no special care. may be just to keep the shape proper while drying, that's it :)

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  4. Hi Anna

    You have a lot of perseverance in anything that you do. That was quite a fast project. No wonder you had achy fingers. Take care dear.

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    1. Hi, Aishwarya! Thanks, and achu fingers is okay, I don't feel pain as I am pleased with the result and yes, my husband is happy to have that boyish rug ready for his feet.hehe

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  5. It is very hot here, too. Yesterday, I went for a walk and had to return home after less than 30 minutes--the humidity and the blazing sun were making me dizzy.

    Love the mats! Bet your husband smiles every time he gets out of bed ;-D

    I will follow the link to your friend's blog, and I'll pray for her child.

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    1. My friends were in NY about 4 years ago, yes they said it was very humid, though some liked that their skin became better.. :)
      Here I really have a trouble these days, my skin doesn't like humidity AT ALL. It needs fresh air.

      He does, and still keeps the mat aside every time he has to step onto place in his slippers.

      Well... I hope Teresa will find the way out. Let's pray.

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  6. Divni su tepisi!!
    Znam kako boli palac,heklam i ja isto debelo.:))
    Živiš u egzotičnom delu planete,to je lepo!
    Izvini što pišem na srpskom jeziku,ne znam dobro engleski,pomoć od google translate.:)
    Pozdrav i lepo leto!!:)

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    1. Thanks, Ljubinka! Glad you liked the mats, the second one was easy to crochet, so I will follow the second technique from now on.
      Yes, I live in the exotic part of the world, but I wish so much to be in my native country right now!
      it is perfectly fine, I can translate of course!

      Lepo leto to you too, Ljubinka!

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  7. I like both rugs, but the aqua one is my favorite. I looked at the tutorial and added it to my bookmarks. A future project ;)

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    1. Yes, the tutorial is great and you will like the results for sure! Looking forward to see your project :)

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  8. I just came back from visiting your blogger friend, Teresa, and my heart aches for her and her son. You said it right, it is terrible that she has to give up her pretties because of such a cause, but I'm glad she has some choices. Life is very unfair at times, but she still gives us little bits.

    Hugs, my friend!

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    1. I hope that life always gives us better options, or at least helps us to solve our issues... at least sometimes.
      Hugs to you too!!!

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  9. Hope you have a safe 4th. It's been raining here this morning and some areas have been flooded. Thankfully, I live on a hill. Love the mats! Prayers for your friend.

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    1. Here we have been waiting for the rains.. but they are not coming, because of which humidity level is very high.
      Glad you are safe, Charlotte!
      Thanks, I hope Teresa gets some help.

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  10. Both mats look so nice - I especially like the blue on though (it's one of my favorite colors). :)

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    1. Even I like the blue one most... but the first is dear to me as I spent quite much time on making it too :) Thanks, Debi!

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  11. I love to crochet. Your mats are great !

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    1. Thanks, Willow! Glad to find another fellow-crocheter :)

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  12. Wow those came out great!!!!! Love them! It's humid here too, but not as bad as India! Still, I'm staying inside today. I even blew off the parade in town.

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    1. Thanks, Jojo! You always appreciate my works so much, may be too much.. :) but I like it!hehe
      It is okay, you celebrated the 4th of July greatly with those yummy patriotic strawberries!

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  13. Both rugs are lovely but I think the blue is my favourite,I find crocheting with a large hook and thick yarn very heavy on my joints too so I have to avoid it which is a pity because I would love to make a rug, I will investigate the technique of the blue one as it does look lighter. Try to keep cool and stay safe :)

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    1. Right, Linda. That's what I found out, as I never tried to make such rug. The second technique is really as easy as simple crochet, and you can play with colors. I love my rug so far, and it flattened a little on its own while lying.
      I keep cool and drink loads of water!
      Be safe too and enjoy summer days :)

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  14. I liked the one with blue shades :) I find it very difficult to work with thick hooks and avoid working at a stretch with those.
    I pray for Uttarakhand people, it is the worst tragedy ever that hit Himalayas. The temple is still standing upright which shows how olden times people who constructed cared for proper eco balancing and built it ...now no one bothers where and how to dig a hole in the mighty mountain. Himalayas are not hard rock but newly formed mountains but govt doesn't educate itself and tourism industry about it.
    Weather here is pleasant. Hyderabad is dry so it doesn't turn humid.

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    1. Thanks, Preeti. Yes, I also now understood how it is working with big hooks.But it depends on yarn of course.
      Nowadays not many people care for nature... environmental talks are being held, but it is all useless as we can see.

      can't say ti is pleasant here, I still complain on humidity, it got too much these days :(

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  15. LOVE those t-shirt rugs! What a great idea. I have some old t-shirts I might try this with! Thank you for the inspiration!

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    1. Thanks, Jill! You shall try, it is such fun to make these rugs! As far as I know you are fond of upcycling :) Glad if you could get inspired to do more of it!

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  16. Your mats are amazing! Your hubby is so cute! He wouldn't stand on it with his slippers ;o) Please stay as cool as you can! Heat and humidity is no fun! I hope everyone is safe where you live! Take Care ;o)

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  17. Hi Anna, I haven't been around lately. Several days ago read your post of a couple of years ago of how you met D and came to be husband and wife. A lovely story! It seems you are certainly keeping busy. Very hot here, too. Have had lots going on and no time for crocheting or crafting at all. My son graduated high school and we will be taking him to the States for college so am planning that trip. We leave in just 17 days. Yikes! Your rugs turned out very nice. Great for cozying up your bedroom. Have a wonderful day. Tammy

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  18. Very inspirational! Love the turquoise colors.

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    1. I hope somebody will get inspired too to cozy up their house :) Thanks!

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  19. I hope you stay okay during your monsoons. We live in a rainy part of the world too, but we're having a very nice sunny stretch right now. I hope you have a great week ahead! Love your rag crochet! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  20. Lovely lovely rugs Anna. I especially liked the blue one. I have that project in mind since a long time, but i am not finding the proper t-shirt for it..Maybe i will have to buy some fabric for the same! I am sure your dear D will smile and think about you every time he steps on it :)

    I too was shocked by the Himalayan disaster, agree with what you say, its very saddening as to the future we are leaving for our children. The change should begin with each and everyone in their homes first i feel.

    Praying for your friend and wishing her well..

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  21. Its always a pleasure to be around creative people. They motivate and inspire us to live a life with purpose. They make us realize that there are so many things we can explore and work upon to make best and optimal use of our time. I truly adore your work and skills.

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    1. Thanks, Preeti! Such a nice comment :) I am pleased to get it from you!

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  22. Super mats, Anna!! I like the idea of combining t-shirts & yarn, thanks for the link :-))

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  23. So much of hard work and both look amazing.
    Cheers
    Dr Sonia
    Cards Crafts School Projects

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