This throw rug's leafy design, made with raffia in three cool-green shades, conjures a vision of palm fronds moving in the breeze.
How-To
Work gently with the raffia to prevent any fraying or breakage.
Preparation
1. Start with a grass mat and raffia in 3 shades. Download the template for the palm fronds. (Enlarge template to fit the size of your rug. Follow our pattern or arrange leaves as desired.)
2. Using a disappearing-ink fabric pen, trace templates onto rug where desired; draw a straight line down middle of each leaf. Thread a large-eyed needle with raffia in desired color, knotting it before embroidering design using a fish-bone stitch.
Fish-Bone Stitch
The very first stitch (point A to B) should be about 1 inch long, to create the top point of the leaf. Stitches that follow should be about 1/2 inch apart. [See image 2 above.]
3. Draw needle up through A, then down through B.
4. Draw needle up through C, which should be 1/2 inch to the left of A. Draw needle down through D, which should be 1/2 inch to the right of A, creating a loop.
5. Draw needle up through B, inside loop; this will be your new point A. Draw needle down, outside of loop and 1/2 inch from A on center line; this will be your new point B.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5, moving C and D 1/2 inch forward along edges of leaf each time. Leave space at the end for a stem.
where does one buy grass mats? in boston, ma area?
There are no directions given altho mslo_tiffany says they have been fixed
I think it would be cool to make a bunch of this and stitch them together to make an area rug.
The steps have now been fixed -- we apologize for any confusion this may have caused.
step 3 is step one of the stitch instructions, then step 4 is step two, etc. The numbering got a little confused. You will repeat steps 2 and 3 of the stitch instructions until you have al eaf you like.
step 3 is step one of the stitch instructions, then step 4 is step two, etc. The numbering got a little confused. You will repeat steps 2 and 3 of the stitch instructions until you have al eaf you like.
Was there a step 5?
It sounds like a great craft idea, nice to be able to take something simple and add your own beauty. I don't know why the other "contributors" are so down on it, seems if someone is kind enough to think of a nice idea and wants to share it with you, the only response should be "Thank you". Just a thought.
I would rather have stencils to paint on the pattern, (or patterns?)
you must mean "How to paint a embellish a Raffia Rug"
thought this was a raffia rug craft. Should have been titled "if you can find a grass mat, here's how to embellish it!"
Finding the rug will be the issue for me. I like the pattern and idea.
I agree that the title of this project was deceiving. I clicked on it specifically because I wanted directions for making a rafia rug. I hate when that happens!
I, too, thought it was a pattern for the rug! Glad I'm not the only one who missed the boat! I do like the leaf pattern, though. I think that could be useful in other uses--I'm thinking about a canvas tote bag embroidered with the palm fronds. Anyone else think that would work? Thanks, Martha!
Yes, I thought so too, that dirctions for making the rug is the main idea. I will check IKEA.
You can purchase colored raffia at Michaels, JoAnn's, Ben Franklin, etc. They come wrapped in bundles, much like yarn, except it's not one continuous strand; there are many, many strands in a bundle.
I think IKEA has some natural grass mats that would work. I'm wondering where to find the rafia in different colors?
I thought they were going to tell us how to make the whole rug! That would be fun!
shoot. i thought this was going to be how to *make* a raffia rug lol..
I would look for grass mats someplace with imported goods, such as Pier One or Cost Plus.
I too am looking for a grass mat - is there a place online where I can purchase one?
I love this idea, but cannot find a grass mat. Any suggestions as to where I can find one? I have looked in Lowes, Home Depot, Bed Bath, Target, etc. Ideas?