Braided Rug
basket of strips
A friend gave the Hittys a bag of nice silk and cotton fabric strips, hand dyed with cochineal, logwood and madder…
slice at each end
Coincidently we were just thinking of making a braided rug. Since the strips were quite short, we looped them together into long strips of like colours. For the purposes of showing how we make the loops, though, I’ve used two different colours. First cut a little hole in each end…
Thread one through the next
Then thread a second strip through the hole in the first one.
Thread it’s own tail through
…and loop the tail of the second strip through its own end….
ease the knot tight
…and ease the knot closed.
Spools and elastics
I’ve wound the strips around wooden spools, and held them in place with an elastic.
Offset knots
and offset the knots so that giant lumps don’t form in the braiding.
weigh the ends
The end is weighted down (you don’t HAVE to use a section of railroad track), and the strands are braided up till you reach the end.
stitch the braid
Then you stitch the braid together in a coil…
Keep stitching
…and keep stitching…
Cats approve
Until it is done.
It is so easy, you probably didn’t really need any instructions, but we thought we’d show you what we’ve been doing in our spare time this week!
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Quimper Hittys 
It’s beautiful! The Hittys must be thrilled with it. How pleasant it will be for the lucky Hitty who gets to have it by her bedside!
Yes, there will be warm toes in the winter!
Ah, dear Mary Ann…what a lovely tutorial you’ve helped present here…the colors are so soothing. Thank you once again for your spectacular instructional for a nice quiet Hitty project.
You are welcome!
Love it! And I didn’t know that method of joining strips, so thanks for the directions!
Pretty easy – eh? Try and offset the lumps though or you will get a lumpy rug.
oh no…the Country Hittys are now clamoring for their own braided rug. That is a new to me joining method..thank you . Your rug is quite delightful…and of course it is now Cat Approved!
Cat approved is a major consideration in this household!
Always lovely to see your tutorials, very helpful and inspiring.
Thank you! I like to make little things for my dolls, and am very happy to share the methods I know.
I love the advice that you don’t HAVE to use a piece of railroad track!
🙂
That is a pretty looking rug – The Quimper girls are so talented.
Thank you – they like it, and so does the cat!