Pajamas for Aidan

To appease the masses who have been hounding me about my braided rug, I will show what I have been up to. It is not the rug, but I have been busy with more important handiwork:

Warm flannel pajamas for my Aidan! Finding pajamas in stores that we can actually approve is a rather daunting task. There is nothing suitable out there. So, Aidan chose these two fabrics (green with lizards, blue with soccer balls) some months ago. They have been sitting in my sewing "stuff" for quite awhile, with me never getting around to making them. I finally got past the overwhelming fatigue of early pregnancy, and then the busyness of Christmas, and could sit down and get them done.

The pattern is from a boys sewing instruction book called Buckles and Bobbins. The pattern is very easy to follow, and since I have made so many of these pajamas (winter and summer versions) for both boys, it went quickly. I did not have to study the instructions for 20 minutes at a time to figure out what on earth they are telling me to do! I have that happen with some patterns!

Am I off the hook for the time-being on the rug? I do have some nightgowns for Amara yet to make, as well as finishing a dress I started for her, and I would also like to sew some maternity dresses (from where?) since they are also impossible to find in a long length. Busy, busy, busy. Poor unfinished rug.

~J

Braided Rug

I always have several projects going at once. There are just too many wonderful things with which to keep busy! I do love the process of using my hands to create items for my home and family that are useful and also hopefully beautiful.

One of my current projects is a braided rug. For a few years, I have been looking at my husband's exercise equipment as it lies on a flattened cardboard box put there to protect the basement floor. I disliked the way it looks, but certainly did not want to spend decorating money on something for the exercise area! So, I started thinking, "why don't I make a rug?" It can't be THAT hard if other people can make them. I was envisioning something lovely, useful, and practically free that I could enjoy making.

I've gotten loads of free pants to cut into strips for the braids. I got tired of cutting them and felt I was never going to get anywhere. Around the same time I tired of my task, my son, Jordan, wanted a job to make some money. I seized upon this golden opportunity to get the strips cut. He loved it. It was not difficult, just time-consuming. Actually, it was very time-consuming. My "free" rug has now cost me a lot of money!

I am still enjoying the process. I hope that putting my project on here for the "world" to see will motivate me to keep at it! My crocheted afghan took me about 18 years of working off and on (obviously more "off" than "on") to finish. I don't plan to take quite that long....

Here are the strips of old pants, all cut, rolled, and ready to go. Aren't they colorful? I think they will make a lovely rug.



And here is the very little bit I have braided so far.



The plan is to make a 4' X 6' rug. We'll see.....

~Jill