Wednesday, November 17, 2010

A New Use For---

You recgonize these floor mats, available at your local home decorating, DIY type store.



I use them in front of my cutting table to cushion my feet.  One side of the mats has a textured, non-slip surface for your feet,  but the other side is smooth.  Necessity being the mother of invention, I discovered that the smooth side of these mats are perfect to use as  a pinnable surface!  Fabric and patterns can be pinned into them.  So, if you need to pin  a slippery fabric and pattern to cut out--this is a good solution.   Pin fabric into them when manipulating pleats, etc, and for designing.  Knitters can use them for blocking.   Quilters can use them as a design board.  If you need a padded surface for your dining table--these are a good solution.  They can be cut to size also, with a craft knife.   Because they fit together like a puzzle, you can have any length or width you need.   Mine were sold in packages of 4.   Who knew?

Last month, I took a knitting workshop from Mihaela, who sells her fabulous sweaters and coats for hundreds of dollars and whose designs are seen on the likes of Julia Roberts aned Oprah.   Needlework and Textile Guild of Michigan was fortuante enough to have have her for two days.  She is a knitwear designer and has her own line of yarn.  Michigan people, she teaches at CraftyLady, which is--Shelby Twp, I believe.  Our workshop was called "Texture in Knitting".   We were given a bag of mixed yarn, different textures and colors to begin this "Peruvian Shawl".   Here's a picture of the pattern.


There's a lot of 2-stranded knitting, and it forces you to put a lot of colors and textures together that I wouldn't normally do.  Unfortunately,  I got sick and couldn't take the last day of the workshop.  I have the pattern though, and this project is on my needles.

On another pair of needles is this Einstein Coat,


by Sally Melville, from this book:

It's an oversized, easy coat, knitted in garter stitch rectangles.  There are several gals I know who are knitting this.

Still working on the Vogue pattern in my last post.  I haven't made much progress, but I'm practicing bound buttonholes and hope to get them finished today.

Have a great day!

15 Talk to me:

Little Hunting Creek said...

I hope you are feeling better. I think I need some of those mats!

Irene said...

That flooring idea is brilliant! Thanks!

sewistafashionista said...

Hi Gwen! So good to hear from you. Sorry to hear you were sick. The mats are a terrific idea. I am going to look for them at the kid's secondhand shop because they are sometimes part of a toy set.
You know I used to have Melville's knit book and I made a few pieces. I traded in the knit book for the purl, because I wearied of garter stitch taking so long. I admired the Einstein coat but knew I would never get it done. Bravo if you are making one. I look forward to seeing it! :)

Bunny said...

This is brilliant. These would be great to block smocking or do lace shaping as well. I am sure the list goes on.

It is so good to see you posting again. Hope this means you are on the mend. You have been on my mind as I "rested" and did not feel like blogging either. Welcome back!

That coat is gorgeous.

shams said...

It is good to see you posting again! And knitting! I am a bit obsessed with knitting myself lately. I have that book and started a "texture" project myself, years ago, that I never finished.

I also recently learned that those mats are used for blocking and I'm kicking myself that I gave our set away when my kids outgrew them! :)

Aminat said...

Love the mat idea. Hope you are feeling better.Take care

Lynn said...

I need to check those mats out. I used to knit before kids. After they learned to talk, my concentration went. Hope you are feeling much better.

Steph said...

I can't find those mats anywhere here, I've been looking for 2 years to use as blocking boards, but I like your use of them, too. I might just get mom to go ship me some...

Rebecca said...

Great idea! Thanks for the tip.

Cennetta said...

great tip. I'll keep them in mind.
Thanks!
C

Victoria said...

Using the floor mats as a pinnable surface is a great suggestion!

Angela said...

That's a great tip!! Thanks!

Claire S. said...

A great use for those boards - I ought to pick up a package. I hope that you're feeling better.

Anonymous said...

The big box stores have these mat sets for cheap and they are great for standing on. I used them for a flooring project a few years ago. Nice to sit or kneel on when working on the floor.

I use to knit when I was a kid but have forgotten how so last week I bought a set of needles and a skein of yarn and a How To... DVD at Wal Mart so I can teach myself again. I also have a knitting machine I want to drag out and use again. Tried crocheting once and bombed big time at that one. Never could master the tension on it.

Linda T

Michelle said...

What a great idea to use those mats in that way! Inspired!

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