DIY american braided rug

"do, do do dobe do, do be dobe  doo. do do do dobe do, la la la la lahhh!

It's time to light the lights, it's time to turn the music up, its time to..." get a load of my ace rug!

Finally, I finished my first american braided rug.

I feel like this!

its in our bedroom, over the cold patch were we can't get under the floorboards to put in insulation. its exceedingly cosy. i've launched straight into another since i still need a rug for in front of the fire and I'd quite like to lounge on it before winters end. i'm planning to do it in a narrow braid, more traditional looking, with some black in it, plus some red and beige, kind of like one of these.

I also have a plan for a, more modernist , no 3 (think hudson bay blanket colour/design)

the only thing holding me back is blanket-bagging in winter. they're a wee bit scarce, though i did eventually score this red one on trademe; and then found a very old woollen navy overcoat down the oppy.

 the other thing holding me back is the ripping something perfectly servicible and quite attractive into shreds thing. the coat fits me really well, and even though it looks like it's been amateurishly altered many times, i actually love that, the rustic quality of it. and the slight military styling that weirdly makes me feel like madeline-in-paris when i put it on. the only issue i have with it is the arms, they're a deeply unflattering shape (i look like i have wings). it has no lining so i may have a bash at improving the sleeves, though i haven't an idea how to just yet, but hey, if i can braid a rug i'm sure i can skinny-up some sleeves. and if it all goes wrong i'll just rip-and-rug it.

another reason i'm keen to try and fathom sleeves is this.

in case you can't tell, its a woollen rug being worn, poncho style, but with sleeves. isn't it wonderful (you'll spoil it for me if you mention 'clint eastwood' you know). i got it at a local craft fair, an impulse buy that i now notice is a little too roomy, has holes and a small tear (perhaps from the kilt-pin closure) and it kind of comes undone a lot. though i love its worn-ness (especially now i darned it, in ill-matching thread, darn it!); and its warmth (its like an old school version of a down-puffa jacket on that front), i now also want a 'not-knackered going-out' one. so when i saw this blanket down the oppy i thought "i know, i'll make one myself, with improvements"

Watch this space!

I'm sharing this stuff at all these great locations

our creative spaces

ta-dah! tuesday

and at flea market find finds