Friday 29 January 2010

Method in my Matness

It must be well over a year since I finished this bath mat and it has looked a bit odd paired with a pale blue toilet mat. But now the matching one is finished and here they are, an almost-matching set, being put to good use. When they get a bit grubby I just throw them in the washing machine. Mary at Sewing as Therapy is hoping to make a similar mat for her kitchen and Monica at Quilt While You're Ahead is interested in how they're made.

The method I used for cutting up the t-shirts is the one used here by Laughing Purple Goldfish Designs (after cutting off the hem and across under the arms) although the t-shirts obviously do need to be joined so I used the method explained here at Craftstylish. I cut the strips one and a half inches wide but I think I would try a bit narrower next time as they are quite chunky. It helps if the t-shirts are all similar weights too. All the t-shirts belonged to the family except an orange one that I bought from a charity shop for £1.99 so that there was a bit of orange in both mats to coordinate a little.
Counting up from this picture I can see that about 12 t-shirts were used here so you need quite a lot!
I just added a little extra photo here for anyone not interested in mats crocheted out of t-shirts.
That would be most of you then!! This wholemeal loaf was made with the addition of the Bread Improver from Lakeland and is certainly lighter with a more even 'holeyness' than usual.
-
My OH is back from his week in France tomorrow evening. I thought I'd get so much done while he was away. One thing I did manage was to watch a couple of DVD's, that he wouldn't be interested in, while doing some hand sewing and quilting. Last night I watched Last of the Mohicans which I love most of all for the music, and the night before it was Meet Me in St. Louis. The opening scenes in this are so sweet and the whole film is just so 'twee'.
-
I also chose some fabrics for a new project for the home. I've come to the conclusion that my current favourite parts of making something are deciding what to make and picking fabrics. I don't know why that is except that maybe the finished results are not what I had in my head at the start!! Anyway, I've got a WONDERFUL idea so lets see what comes of it this time.
-
Bye for now
Teresa x

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the mats! Inspired!

Do you know, my hubby is the same about Last of the Mohicans. And Pride and Prejudice (the colin firth BBC one is my favourite).

Leslie said...

I love your mats! They look great. I would love to make something like this for my kitchen. I am going to have to think about this. Thanks for the links.

Lis Harwood said...

Hi Teresa, thanks for being a followers, good luck in my giveaway. I love your T-shirt mats by the way :), Lis x