Guest Author - Iris ten Holder

You have a mountain of strips in a variety of colors. What's next?

1. Organize
Rag balls are the answer to organize all this material in a pleasant and decorative manner. Even if the project is not started right away, the material is organized and this way rag material can always be created and stored for future use. Making rag balls for each color is a visual aid in determining when enough material has been gathered to start a project. Perhaps the children like to get involved in doing this as well.

Baskets are currently available in a multitude of materials, sizes and colors. A simple shelving unit can hold these baskets with rag balls. My mother-in-law had a wool cabinet; why not have a rag ball cabinet? For a decorative effect, consider a high, narrow shelving unit with one basket or one large rag ball on each shelf.


2. Joining the strips.
For a large braiding project, the strips must be sewn together There are several methods ranging from invisible sewn joins to simple loop joins and crafty slit joins that do not require sewing. What you do depends on your preference and on the type of rug you are making. You will find a good description of these joins at Rugmaker's Homestead.

3. Preparing the strips.
The next step is turning under the edges and folding the strips in half lengthwise. A quick basting stitch will prevent the strips from unfolding while you work and also aid in braiding. Roll the strips into balls. When working with different colors, some joining will have to be done while the rug is being braided and assembled, as it is not always predictable where the new color must start. There is another article on braiding that goes into more detail.

4. Braiding
To keep beginnings simple, start with a small mat, braiding the strips and sewing them side-by-side. This does not require any joining of the strips, so we skip step two. Secure three or more strips about 2 inches from one end and make a braid. At the end of the strip, secure the ends leaving about 2 inches again. The ends of these braids provide the fringe on both ends of the rug. Expect a 20" rug from 30" strips, as the braiding will result in a shorter length than the original strips.

5. Design
The obvious design for this type of mat is a striped pattern. Draw out a design on paper in the planned colors. A light rug with just one contrasting border strip can be very effective. A multiple color border of several strips is another option. For alternating stripes look at Mexican weaving with their vibrant color combinations Take your inspiration from your décor and from the available materials.

Since the project is small, it is a good time to experiment and gain experience for larger projects. Try braids with more than one color. Alternate these with solid color braids

6. Assembly
Arrange the braids side by side in a pleasing pattern. Then sew the side of each braid to the next braid and sew a finishing strip or braid across both ends of the rug where the braids are secured, leaving the fringes exposed.