Toothbrush Rugs: Starting one with the half hitch stitch 4/4 FINAL
March 11th, 2010
Tutorial of how to start a rug using the half hitch knot/stitch. I just discovered this technique, but I find it the easiest way to start a rug. The start is very strong too, as strong as a braided start, and much stronger than a chain stitch start.
For more on this wonderful craft which is the most beautiful way to recycle old clothes, plastic bags, hosiery, etc., go to my tutorial blog- http://toothbrushrugs.blogspot.com
Duration : 3 min 37 sec
While one of the best things about this craft is that it recycles garments, linens, etc., which would be disposed of into something beautiful, durable, and usable, a hazard you run with that is… what do you do if you want to repeat a color or patten and you can't?
Background: I was finishing the rug made of the clothes my wife and I wore when we wooed and fell in love 13 years ago, and as she was in the hospital, and the rug celebrates our love and marriage, I lugged the huge rug down on the L and bus to finish with her. 
Tutorial of how to start a rug using the half hitch knot/stitch. I just discovered this technique, but I find it the easiest way to start a rug. The start is very strong too, as strong as a braided start, and much stronger than a chain stitch start.
Tutorial of how to start a rug using the half hitch knot/stitch. I just discovered this technique, but I find it the easiest way to start a rug. The start is very strong too, as strong as a braided start, and much stronger than a chain stitch start.
I've often talked about how I carry rugs everywhere and work on them as I'm walking, but never had a video to show of it because… durr… I'm walking to the store, etc. But thousands of people in Chicago and Indianapolis have seen it. So today I set up my camera on a tripod, put my adorable 3.5 week old papillon puppy Ambrose Bernard in my rug bag, and here you go… walking forwards and backwards, talking, petting the puppy…
Tutorial of how to start a rug using the half hitch knot/stitch. I just discovered this technique, but I find it the easiest way to start a rug. The start is very strong too, as strong as a braided start, and much stronger than a chain stitch start.
While my wife was in the hospital, I took a rug with me back and forth to work on while on the CTA. One day I made the mistake of leaving it in "Savi land" and she decided the needle was a chew toy. I got it back, but forgot to put it with the rug.
(In Elmer Fudd voice) Ssssshhhh, be wery wery quieeet, I'm hunting 'brellas!
This is an all blue jean rug I made for a dear friend's wedding. Beyond the center I alternate darker and lighter denim, but at five rows from the final, I start fading to black. First I do four blue strips + one black, then three + black, and so forth.