Braided Blue Jean Rug

We needed a new rug for the kitchen--the one we have I bought at Ikea over four years ago and it is sadly nearing the end of its life. I had read about rug braiding in my favorite book, The Tightwad Gazette, and wondered if you could braid blue jean material into a rug. Turns out you can, and there are a handful of lovely bloggers who posted their pictures and directions. I also read The Braided Rug Book and found a picture of a blue jean rug which was exactly what I wanted (Judith Feldsburg was the braider who designed the pattern I am basing this rug on).

I had no idea how time consuming and material consuming this project would be. I had a pile of old blue jeans that I was certain would be more than enough, but I think I was way off. I decided to press my blue jean strips with a steam iron so that they are easier to braid. It does make it easier, but adds a lot of work time. I had some difficulty learning to lace the strands as well. I read and re-read the directions, but some of the thread still shows. I think the technique is meant only for wool rugs and not stiff denim...The other thing I didn't plan on was that this project seems to drive my cat, Willow, into a frenzy. She likes sitting on the rug, attacking the blue jean strips, scratching the rug, and chewing on the lacing thread. Here she is merely checking it out.

Updates 5/18/08

This project is moving very slowly, but it is about the size of a bathmat now, so it is actually looking like a rug. I'm thinking of waiting until I have some time off of work to continue so that I can rip a bunch of strips all at once, rather than doing it a little bit at a time.

Aran Sweater

My husband and I visited Ireland nearly three years ago. He was eyeing some beautiful Aran Sweaters and rather than just buy one, I decide why not just buy the yarn and make the sweater myself. It'll be a third of the cost and I'll get to do something challenging! Brilliant! It really was a good idea, except my husband has been waiting nearly three years for his one and only souvenir from Ireland. The yarn sat in my stash for over two years and finally in August I decide to get cracking on this sweater. It is my first Aran sweater and it is, lets say, a very slow process. Granted I got side tracked with Christmas gifts and all of you people who insist on needing handmade gifts for your babies. But here is what it looks like so far--I guess I'm a little over halfway there.

It is made with Jacob's sheep wool, which is not dyed. It is also knit in the round, which I love! I will definitely look for more sweater patterns that are knit this way. This pattern came from "Two Sticks and Some String." Now I have to decide if something this special is worth giving to a man...