For this week's Fun Monday challenge Blue Momma said, "I want you to show me your......projects. More to the point, I want to see your unfinished projects. I have so many that I really need some reassurance that I'm not the only one. Home improvement projects are what I have in mind, but it you don't have any of those show me any kind of project - needlework, cooking, scrapbooking, etc."
When I first signed up for this Fun Monday, I did not read carefully, and I thought that Blue Momma was asking us to show our unfinished crafts. Not being a crafty person, I do not start many projects. For the few projects that I have started, I usually finish because my projects are intentionally short term. In fact, Daddy D and I have discussed the comparative length of our projects many times. He tends to start projects that take months to years to finish. My projects take hours or at the most a few days to complete.
I do have one project that has taken years to begin, and it looks like the project will not be finished soon. The project may seem simple to you, but I am not making much progress in completing this task. My project is making a braided denim rug. I began the project by saving old jeans. Since my son, Luke, is quite tall, he provided a wealth of old jeans. The jeans then need to be cut into strips, and then the strips are braided together. I collected jeans for ten years or so. I have cut the jeans into strips. Three summers ago, I started braiding some strips. I did not get very far. Maybe someday, my crafty husband will help me finish the project.
Making a braided denim rug
Step 1. Save old jeans.
Step 2. Cut the old jeans into strips.
Step 3. Braid strips of denim.
Step 4. Ask talented husband to help.
24 comments:
Interesting! What are you going to make with the braids?
OMG....that looks like it'd be fun to do. I love crafting myself. But, on second thought, this looks like it'd be a LOT of work.
a friend of mine made a quilt out of her family's old denim jeans. I think your rug is going to be just awesome. My hubby says that a "sail" needle is what you need.
What a GREAT use of old jeans, especially if they're in too bad of shape to pass along to friends or family or Goodwill! I can't wait to see the finished product, Molly! CHOP CHOP, GET TO IT! (or ask Daddy D to get to it ;) ).
That'll be so cute when you finish. I did this with towels once and it frayed terribly. Do the jeans fray or is there a trick to keep it from happening. Inquiring minds want to know.
A rug 10 years in the making? That's better than my baby blanket I started to crochet - the baby is now 7.
This would be a good project to sit and do in front of a movie!
I do artsy crafty stuff but would never have 10 years of patience for one project. LOL! I bet your rug is going to be really cool when it's done.
I'm impressed you have kept going for so many years and not given up - I'd love to see the finished thing I can't quite imagine what it will look like.
What a time consuming project! I can't believe you saved the jeans for so long. I hope to see it once it's finally finished.
I think I like step 4 the best. This reminded me of my grandma when she used to make rag rugs. Although I think she ventured into bread wrappers at one time.
Do you have to fold the denim or do you just start braiding?
After coming back and re-reading your post while I was not in such a rush, I realised you were making a rug. Good idea. I like it.
Did step 4 actually work? It doesn't usually work around my house! I can't wait to see the finished rug.
Of that four(4)step process, step number four might be the weak link. But he would work on it, to make it happen over time.
By the time this rug is finished I fear people will ask.... what on earth were jeans??
Denim seems like it would be VERY difficult to work with! I can hardly braid my hair!
The hubby looks capable - let him help.
Interesting project. I wouldn't have the patience and would have gone out and bought one by now. Have fun and good luck with Step 4. My fm is up.
Robin of mytwoblessings
Laughing hysterically at Peter's comment LOLOLOL I've never heard of a rug made out of jeans like this, I think it's amazing. What's even more amazing to me is step 4. I'd ask my talented husband but that's about as far as it would get.
my grandma braided rugs. BUT, she didn't have jeans. She just got rags from where ever. My brother has one hanging as a wall decoration. She died in 1976
I cheated and bought one. Not nearly as crafty, but I fear mine would look like yours if I had started one myself. I hung back on this fun Monday. As I scoped out my house for unfinished projects and found many, I decided to move on. Avoidance you know. That's probably why there are so many things half-way done.
Bread wrappers...oh my I did that 20-30 years ago......as I recall the dog chewed it up.
I have several rugs made out of good old double knit braids and one out of denim. Long wearing.
REM
That sounds really neat - I want to see it when it is finished!
It is taking me awhile to catch up on blog reading. I have a bunch of jeans saved, and I have some large pieces cut out. They are about 3 inches wide and different lengths. I even have some sewn into long strips. I still have to sew those together to make a throw. I have it in a box. I started it 10 or so years ago. I have not worked on it in 6 years. It is in a box, in storage. I feel your pain.
I'm so uncrafty. That sounds like fun, but I know I'd totally screw it up. *Snort* Pathetic hm?
I like the rug idea but my mom already used all of our old jeans to make rag quilts for the kids. :( Hubby looks like he wants to help.
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