Not OT: scrap stash reduction

Ginger, I admire your effort and your resolve. And your ability to reduce your scrap stash. I'm not going to ask for any. Lord knows I've got enough scraps to make... well, something large and scrappy. I just want to commend you for actually doing what I keep threatening to do.

Good luck and hope you enjoy the new sewing room, Sunny

I found a way to make a pretty serious dent in the scraps. Cut them all into 2 inch strips, iron in half and use to make toothbrush rugs. A good size rug will take 7 yards and up. Plus they'll match the quilts!!

Ms P

toothbrush rugs?

Sunny I have an embarassment of fabric . As in, way more than I'll ever use. I needed to really sort it out so I couldn't use the old excuse "well, I need a piece to match this, it is somewhere in here, can't find it, oh bother, just go buy another piece like it". If the saying is true that you live long enough to use all your fabric, I will be immortal.

Going through the fabric brought back a lot of memeories. One that hit me especially hard was a chunk of fabric from MeSue, when we had an rctq meet-up at her house and had a "fabric toss" in her livingroom. And for someone who is not really into novelty stuff, there sure is a lot of Halloween fabric!

There will also be some headed for Jill's Critters blankies and others.

G> Ginger, I admire your effort and your resolve. And your ability to

Yup, they're really neat. They're called toothbrush rugs because originally people would take an old toothbrush and cut off the head end and file it down to a point and use it as a sort of shuttle or needle.

Here's the website of the patterns, NAYY of course. It was a really fun class and gives me a way to use up miles of scraps.

Hi Sunny,

Could you please explain what a toothbrush rug is?

Sure. Originally they would cut the head end off of a toothbrush and file it down to a point and use it as a sort of shuttle or needle.

has patterns and the toothbrush tool. I've about got my first one done. It makes really soft, durable rugs.

Hi Ms P, Thanks for your reply. I look forward to giving it a go (I think).

I saw this process done on TV one time and it looked so easy. I ordered the book and the tool, and although I'm usually very good at following instructions from a book, I just could NOT get it through my head, even after seeing it on TV! I finally did manage a small basket with a handle, but I resorted to using crochet techniques that I knew from crocheting and I don't think I did it correctly. (The basket looked cute, though.) I've never tried a rug since I had so much trouble with that instruction book! I guess I need a class, but I doubt that I'd find one.

I've taken a class in toothbrush rugmaking. The local Cooperative Extensions and 4H and maybe a couple of other agencies team up most years (this year not, but okay. I would not have been able to go anyway.) to put on a one day "conference" or mini retreat. You sign up for which classes you want, usually three of them. I first went with MIL, but have been a couple times since alone. Great for finding Christmas gift-y projects! The woman teaching the class I took was just someone who enjoyed doing the craft---she turns out to be one of the most popular classes offered. Try contacting cooperative extension or 4H leaders in your area---even if there is not someone who is teaching a class, they might be able to put you in touch with someone who knows how and could spare you an afternoon. Or maybe girl scout leaders---my sister has two troops and is always networking to find teachers for events.

MAmadurk

If I didn't live so far out in the middle of nowhere, I'd probably look into it. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view) it takes me 20 minutes to drive to the nearest small town, and a lot longer than that to get to someplace that might have classes, or to the cooperative extension. Since I don't like to drive, and gas still costs a fortune, I try to get my learning experiences from the internet or books whenever possible. It's not as social, but it sure is cheaper!

On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 18:02:50 GMT, "MAmadurk" wrote re toothbrush rugs:

Carole in Northwest GA - Retired and loving it! Homepage -

She has a DVD available on her website. It is about $35 though.

My mother took a class at one of her LQSs and purchased the DVD. I had purchased one of her patterns and didn't understand when I looked at it. I was planning to look at it again when I could spend more time trying to understand her directions. Instead I just watched my mom's video, and although I haven't gotten around to making one yet, I don't think I'll have any problems following the directions in my pattern now that I've seen it done. I've got some old sheets that I am going to try it with in hopes that it is easier on the hands than crocheting them. We'll see.

It really is pretty easy but I'm not sure I would have gotten it just from the booklet either. Taking a class and having someone show you makes a huge difference and you get it in less than 10 minutes!

Ms P "Carole-Retired and Loving It" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

One of the local fabric stores has offered classes and they have also been offered through community education here. If no one is offering one, ask if they could offer one. Usually if there is enough demand for a class someone will offer it.

Julia > I saw this process done on TV one time and it looked so easy. I