Toothbrush Rugs

Originally publishing on Patreon, April 18th 2021

I'm always on the lookout for ways to use up scraps that are too small for quilting. Okay, postage stamp quilts are a thing for that very reason, but they are not MY thing (to make). Over the years I've made futon-like cushions stuffed with scraps, mended tiny holes with tiny patches, and even tucked natural fiber scraps like wool and hemp around my plants for mulch. A few years ago I sent a couple of boxes of scraps off to Gabrielle Page who wove them into beautiful functional textiles. Recently I got WAY into Amish Knot Toothbrush Rug making (say that ten times fast).  

My strongest memory of this kind of rug is from about ten years ago when a housemate lent me one made by her grandmother. I remember sitting on the floor trying to figure out how it was made and eventually writing it off as crochet (my biggest textile mental block). Although now that I've made one I think it's possible that my Oma had a bowl made with this technique- I remember running my hands over the rim and trying to push it into shape (Mom- do you remember a knotted cloth bowl?). Anyway, it probably is a lot like crochet, but I wouldn't know as my brain won't let me get into crochet yet. It's also a lot like some of the Zimbabwean baskets I have, which I think is really cool. Knots! They're universal! 

Here is the video* I used to learn the moves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC59MqaedKM 

I found (as I have found with braided rugs before) that making a flat circle is HARD. I ended up going in and pulling out some of the knots in the center of my rug because it was very witch hat-y. Once I got the hang of things it flattened out a bit, but I decided to stop while it was small and use the rest of my scraps to make a vessel. Creating a solid 3-D basket was DEEPLY satisfying. I have big plans to make many more :) I'm adding basket maker to my list of skill-titles. I'm all in. Stay tuned for more lumpy and colorful vessels in the future, because there are always, ALWAYS more scraps!

The little tiny rag rug is going in front of our kitchen sink- it really elevates dish washing (by a 3/4 inch, hahaha). The vessel is currently holding... more 1" strips of fabric! My next project is a big bowl, something that can sit on the floor and hold projects or socks or or or... the possibilities are endless. Baskets! I'm really so pleased. 

*I made a needle like in the video but it broke pretty fast. I ended up finishing the rug with my fingers because it was loose and I made the basket using a safety pin in place of a needle- something I wouldn't recommend unless you also have leathery calloused fingertips.