Like a cheap rug

[clevermanka]

Yesterday I made a thing.



The entire living area and kitchen of our house is ceramic tile, so it can get pretty echo-y and chilly. mckitterick bought a whole bunch of sample rugs (miniature versions of full room rugs) when the local Sears closed. He scattered them around the downstairs--areas where we sat or travel areas. I hated them. I thought they make the area look cluttered. I was constantly tripping on them, so they frequently got scuffed a few inches which meant they were always crooked and/or had a bit of the anti-skid mat peeking through. We gathered them up and stacked them in the sewing room for dance parties and I decided after Friday's party I was just not putting them back again. Instead, I was going to make one giant rug for the south side of the living area where we have a sectional couch and (usually) the dining table (our house has kind of a weird layout). Sunday morning I woke up ridiculously early (extra ridiculously early because of the time change) and decided I was just gonna do this thing.

So I lay them all out, matching sizes as best as I could so there wouldn't be gaps, then flipped them all over and then, using a giant tapestry needle and some heavy buttonhole twist thread, spent the next four hours crouched on the floor whip-stitching rugs together. Even though I used thimbles to push the needle through, my fingers are tender from having to grip the needle tight to pull it through the rug edgings.

It looks fantastic, though, and I'm thrilled with it. Now we just gotta buy some anti-fatigue mats for the kitchen so I'm not standing for hours on the ceramic tile when I do weekend food prep.

Comments

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

That's awesome! The combination of patterns looks really great. We rearranged the weights area in the basement, so now there's room for me to swing kettle bells this winter. Booyah.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Booyah indeed! Fuck yeah kettlebells.

I am feeling the need for movement again, and I'm hoping the (new) guy I'm seeing this week can put me on a track to enable that SOON.

[grnvixen.livejournal.com]

Luv it! Really a great idea :).

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[indicolite.livejournal.com]

Looks great. I love the near-symmetry in your arrangement choice.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yeah, I like things that are just a wee bit uneven. Perfect symmetry isn't pleasing to me.

[ms-danson.livejournal.com]

Brilliant!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so happy with the idea and that it actually worked and looks good.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

A good job and a lot of hard work.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Yeah, it was a lot harder than I thought it'd be. I figured on tedium and sore fingers, but I hadn't really considered it would take four hours. UGH.

[zitronenhai.livejournal.com]

Love it!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thanks! We should figure out a time for you to come see it in person. You know, like maybe after Spring Thaw.

[mundungus42.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, what a brilliant idea, and it looks fantastic! Your fingers will heal, but the awesome composite rug will remain! :D

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

EXACTLY and THANK YOU!

[seascribe.livejournal.com]

Damn, I am impressed with that sewing. Also, the rugs look awesome. Also, I love your living room lay out. Tile floors are my favourite forever.

[write-out.livejournal.com]

How creative! And it does look fantastic. Yay you!

[pamelonian.livejournal.com]

So cool! Also, a vast improvement over the former rug situation you described.

[msmitti.livejournal.com]

jebus that is a lot of sewing. It looks great thoughA

[splix.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh! I love that. It's welcoming and rich, and warms the tile up nicely [I have tile too, very easy to clean]. And I love your living room. It looks like a great place to hang out and read or chill. :)

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

wow.. what a change!

(I haven't done a damned f'ing thing except booze it up Friday night and explore early birthday retail therapy on Sunday

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

It's nice to hear things like this because I freaking hate that tile floor and the layout of the house. It's good to be reminded that it actually isn't as horrible as I think. =D

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and you saw it in person, so you know what it was like.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thank you! There are so many things I don't like about the layout of this house (we don't have an actual dining area, which bugs me), but it really is optimal for entertaining that doesn't involve a sit-down meal. You should visit sometime. ;D

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

[msmitti.livejournal.com]

your awesome giffage makes me so happy.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

[zitronenhai.livejournal.com]

Yes! See you then! =)

[theoneinblue.livejournal.com]

That looks amazing!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

[the-themiscyran.livejournal.com]

YAY! You made a thing! YAY! And it looks great! :)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]