|
| |
Braided Rugs or
Placemats
|
|
|
The old tailor in Beatrix Potters The Tailor
of Gloucester does not waste his materials. He cuts the cloth for the coats
he makes so carefully that barely any scraps are left over once the coats
are sewn together. What better way to teach your child to value materials
than to recycle old clothing and scraps of fabric from around your house
into a lovely braided rug or (if you havent much fabric!) placemats? |
  |
What you need:
Old clothes or unused fabric scraps
Strong needle
Thread
Scissors
What you do:
Pick a theme for your rug or placemats. Do some of the clothes you will be
recycling hold special memories when grouped together? Which colors and
patterns look best mixed with each other?
Cut all buttons, linings, and zippers off of the chosen pieces of fabric.
Cut your cloth into strips about 23 inches wide.
Sew all of your strips together into three long strips, attaching the end
of each strip to the beginning of another one. These long strips will make
up the three parts of your braid.
Sew your three long strips together at one end to make the beginning of
your braid. Braid the strips together until you have a long enough braid to
tie to a chair. Use this chair as an anchor as you braid remaining length of
the strips.
Once all three strips have been braided together into one long braid, sew
the ends together. Then begin to coil the braid around and around in a
circle, sewing the sides together to make your rug. You can use pins to hold
the braid in place as you sew.
What you can talk about:
Ask your child why the tailor might have been so careful not to waste
materials.
When materials are scarce, people think up creative ways to use things.
Pioneers made braided rugs to reuse old clothing that could not be worn
anymore. Brainstorm with your child other uses for old clothing or scraps of
cloth.
|
|
