Improving Creativity in the Education Sector
Rag-Rugging:
This craft seems to be making a comeback. There are two traditional methods- proddy and hooky, often known as loopy and shaggy. The 'Loopy' method is as it sounds, loops of fabric forming a neat and smooth finish. Specific patterns and pictures can be created using this technique. The 'Shaggy' method is more abstract. It creates a soft fluffy finish and was more commonly used in historic rugs due to the practicality. This technique forms a thick pile which helps to create a warm and cosy rug.
These days sustainability is a big issue so this craft is fantastic for up-cycling old clothes, fabrics, etc... Rag rugs in the past was classed as an inexpensive way to re-purpose old cloth and was often used by poorer families in the community. In Britain, the craft was seen as a sign of poverty. Using materials from things that would have been thrown out, the rugs were necessary to keep cold flagstone floors and floorboards warm. The rugs were practical and necessary but nowadays they can be seen as a form of artwork too.
As I have never tried this craft before but always been intrigued by it, I was interested to meet a lady at the Norfolk Makers Festival in Norwich who taught this. Her business was called Mudshake Makes. Here is some of her work:
Taking inspiration from the work above but realising that this particular detail takes time and experience, I decided to start experiment with the shaggy technique rather than the loopy technique as its important to master the basics before progressing onto higher level methods.
Experimenting:
Hessian backing can be used, along with rubber matting both of which are economical. However, I decided to use a plastic mesh backing which was previously purchased from a local craft store. This only cost £2. The other materials were formed from old clothes and curtains which were stored in the loft. These were then cut into strips, size 1cmx 15cm and then threaded through the mesh using a crochet needle. They had to be knotted to ensure they were attached properly. Once a few were in place, a pattern tended to form and the piece became more rigid.
Completed Work:
This project was tailored to schools by cutting the matting into six pieces, all of the same size. These could be handed out to students and then allocate one specific colour to each person. My idea used primary colours, red, blue and yellow and then added further secondary colours, orange, green and purple. The separate panels could be sewn together for a permanent solid rug, this could be used as soft seating in a school library. Alternatively, it could be used a mix & match resource for students to identify the primary colours needed to make each secondary colour. This could even be extended into tertiary colours with more time and materials. Each panel took approximately six hours to form with an additional two hours to cut the fabric. Therefore with six panels, this project took forty eight hours from beginning to end. This craft is therapeutic and satisfying but not cost effective if these were being made to sell due to the time taken to create.
This week's care home visit was based around daffodils. Unfortunately only two residents were present due to a lot of illness so we only able to create a few flowers for our picture below. The daffodils centers were a bit off shape so an alternative would be needed next time. The residents wanted to add some beautiful butterflies with their flower display so completed one each. Although very basic, this week's project still added a splash of colour in the home.
