Twinning Plastic vs. Fabric

Well, I made it! I thought through the process and worked each step out. Now I have a completed plastic rug made from those abundant and pesky plastic shopping bags.

Process:

1) Frame: I decided to adjust the frame I have instead of making a totally new one. The idea of hitting nails straight did not appeal to me. So I moved the top bar of my current frame.

2) Strips to weave: I started cutting the strips at 1 1/2 inches but

soon went to 2". Two big bags of bags made 1 big bag of strips and a little bag of leftovers.

My DH has the brain storm for me to make a pillow out of the leftovers. Sorry but that did not happen...they went into the trash bin. I figure that I keep alot out so I was in the black for recycling/reusing. Next time I will make that pillow.
3) I found some bright yellow 2"strips on Wednesday and loaded the frame. That's why I cut all that fabric the last 3 weeks for twinning.

4) Then I started weaving...this is a great mindless project since it is just in and out rote work. I didn't touch it on my bday, Thursday. But Friday I got with it and finished it this morning. Wow, a quick project. The fabric twinning rug I did was not this quick but it was the larger size too. This one is abou 3/4 size of the fabric rug.
I am pleased with the finished project. It is just the right size when folded in half to fit inside my camper door. DH says I need 2 or 3 more - one for the front door, one for the side door, and one to put in front of the camper door. I seemed to have created a work load for myself. Even my youngest daughter wants one in fabric.

Only problem I have is that I didn't sew at all this week except to start my bead bags. So when I am finished here, I am going to go try to finish a few.

Lator, gators! Have a blessed day.

Design Wall Monday

I couldn't find my design wall in the mess I made culling fabric for 2" strips.
I have design boxes, bags, and a design door instead. One box is holding my Autumn Leaves squares...I will hopefully be putting that one up in July. Another box holds the black scrappy New York Beauty...it will go up in July also. Another box holds Tanya's "Student Teacher" bag (I am so proud of her b/c it took alot of dedication for her to get this far as a single mom) that will be worked on until the end of June. The bags hold the Houston class blocks - all done waiting for me to decide how I will put them together and what method of quilting; & the blocks from the mystery from hell (sorry Sandra); & the handpieced hexagon top. Another bag holds the BOM from TQS which I am 3 months behind on. The final bag holds Tanya's graduation quilt. The design door holds the Be There or Be Square BOM blocks which I have not worked on since I heard the shop was closing.

My plans for this week are:
1) make bead bags for cancer kids
2)adjust twining frame to a small size or build a smaller frame. It will be easier to move the bars on the big frame and hopefully that will work.
3) clean sewing room so that I can find things again.
4) load new small twining frame with plastic strips and experiment.
5) load large twining frame with fabric strips and start a new rug for RV.
6) do whatever the mood dicates. lol
Well, gators I will see you all lator!

Stash Busting Sunday

This week and weekend have been very busy. We came back from camping on Tuesday. I washed, dried, and folded clothes on Wednesday. Thursday was birthday of grandson so off to the movie with him, daughter, and various grandkids. Friday I cleaned the RV. Saturday and Sunday we spent in Houma, La. bowling. Actually, Pape (DH) bowled (over 21 games in a 48 hour period - the man forgets that he is 72 years young.) and I cut fabric and read in the camper. I love my RV. It is small enough to go anywhere even a bowling lane parking lot and big enough to be very comfortable.
Stash Report:
Last week (while camping)
Added This Week: 6 yards (sashing and blocks for Be There or Be Square BOM)
Added YTD: 87.5 yards
Used This Week: 12.12 yards (strips, headbands, etc)
Used YTD: 48.25 yards
Net Stash Busted: -39.25 Yards

This Week (while camping and bowling)
Added This Week: 0 yards
Added YTD: 87.5 yards
Used This Week: 25.25 yards (strips)
Used YTD: 73.5 yards
Net Stash Busted: -14 yards

New Project Process:
Identified Need: I need something to go outside of the camper door that does not hold water nor is harsh to my bare feet.
What to use: So what do I have around the house that I could recycle -- mmm. A church is cutting up plastic bags and crocheting them into mats for the homeless. Plastic bags are free, waterproof, and heaven knows I get a million of them. But I can't crochet worth a darn. But I do have 2 twining frames (window frame). So if I can weave fabric strips then maybe I can weave plastic strips. My two frames are large so off to the lumber yard where Pape buys me wood and L brackets. ( I did some reading and I may not use brackets. It said that you could screw the top & bottom braces on the side braces allows you to change the size of your frame easier.)
What Now: I am constructing my small frame using nails and screws and eyes to use with plastic. I am cutting plastic bags into strips using a method I saw on a blog - partial cuts 2" across bag then diagonally connect.
Also: I am using the container of strips to make a rug or three for my camper floor since I do not like the rugs we have now. So I will have one small frame of plastic and a large one of fabric. If the plastic strips work, then I will try one on the large frame.

Next post I will show the cutting process and my newly constructed frame.

Well, my walking crew has arrived so Lator, Gators.