Rags by Sock Monkey

T-shirt Travels- Where does donated clothing go?

2012-01-26T10:36:00.000-06:00

An interesting documentary about where all of the shirts donated to Goodwill really go. I'd recommend watching this if you donate any of your clothing to Goodwill. Also, I would research other thrift stores to find out their history. Not all thrift stores are equal.

a dinosaur dig

2012-01-10T15:10:00.002-06:00

Enjoy a treasury full of dinosaurs : )-Find my upcycled clothing designs on ragsbysockmonkey.etsy.com!-

idea: doily curtains

2011-12-23T11:04:00.000-06:00

doily curtains by Michela Scherrer

I've been dreaming about making my own curtains for a while. But I hate how heavy some curtains can look. I want light in my house, but still want the privacy that curtains can provide. So, I've been browsing around for some inspiration, and I think I've found it.

DIY doily curtains.

I wish I had saved more of my grandma's sweet doilys. I love how they can be transformed when light shines through them.

curtains by Little White Boutique

There is a great little tutorial on how to make a full-length doily curtain very easily on Siren Adams DIY blog. But I don't want mine to be full length. So, instead I will mostly likely be making a valance for my windows that are inspired by these curtains-

photo by Sweet Paul

It will take me some time to get a nice little collection of doilys, but I'll be keeping my eyes peeled.

What would you do with a collection of your grandma's doilys?

Want more ideas on what to do with all of your doilys? Click here.

going home/leaving home

2011-11-26T14:53:00.001-06:00

I didn't take any pictures while I was home. I kept forgetting to take out my camera. Or maybe it was that I just think that cameras get in the way sometimes of actually experiencing the moment. But I still wish I had taken a few.

Home and I always seem to travel further apart from each other in many ways. The distance becomes harder to span, the food begins to seem foreign, and it becomes harder to explain what is going on in my life to family and friends.

My generation is a generation that travels, lands, flits, flutters, and flirts with a new home until picking it up and traveling again. My generation changes addresses as often as their shoes. They also gather new friends at an alarming speed. Their trends, their interests, their clothing, their jobs rapidly transform with the blink of an eye.

For instance, vegetarianism is not uncommon in my family. What is uncommon is the act of vegetarianism becoming a life choice. Food choices wax and wane, from omnivores to vegans, from organic fans to Walmart produce consumers. I admit, I'm part of this too, as I continue to remove animal products and processed food from my diet while always being tempted to cheat whenever I'm home from lack of healthy choices being readily available.

This year, I also decided not to go Black Friday shopping with my friends. Granted, I never usually bought anything anyways, and always went for the companionship and humor my high school friends never seem to run out of. But this year, I couldn't bring myself to even stand at the doors. It was all a bit sad to me, watching the people on the evening news fight over televisions and X-boxes because they believe this would bring them happiness.

I did end up going to the mall later with my sister, but we were both bored to tears and returned home empty handed after getting a coffee from a local coffee joint and visiting with Grandma.

Home has changed, and so have I. We've both grown, in different ways. And yet, I always look forward to coming home.

How has home made you aware of how you have changed? Do you dread or look forward to going home, or is there a little of both?

-Find my upcycled clothing designs on ragsbysockmonkey.etsy.com!-

a rustic thanksgiving

2011-11-01T20:09:00.000-05:00

Featuring members of Chicago Style Crafters. Enjoy!

etsy treasury- crisp leaves under my boots

2011-10-26T14:40:00.001-05:00

-Find my upcycled clothing designs on ragsbysockmonkey.etsy.com!-

welcome andrea and alyce!

2011-10-18T08:35:00.001-05:00

This is Alyce. She writes, knits, sings, plays the bass guitar, and makes people laugh.

This is Andrea. She a talented visual artist and dancer who is starting her own art studio, has pink hair, is super sweet, and has a way of making everyone feel super special.

These wonderful ladies helped me out for my latest photo shoot of my new scarves so I can (finally) post them to Etsy. I can't thank them enough! I've known them ever since I moved to Chicago, and I feel blessed to have such talented and sweet women in my life. They make Chicago awesome.

Also, I have to say, my photography is improving slowly but surely. My new favorite backdrop is the brickwall on my stairwell, which worked beautifully on Sunday even though it was cloudy and kind of chilly. The clouds actually probably helped diffuse the light nicely, although a little more light might have been nice.

Check my shop for more items that will be posted everyday! Also, check back soon for information about new shops that will be carrying my scarves for the holidays : ).

-Find my upcycled clothing designs on ragsbysockmonkey.etsy.com!-

t-shirt shag rug tutorial

2011-10-11T10:12:00.001-05:00

Here it is, finally! My shag rug is complete. I love how it feels under my feet, and if it starts to look a little flat, I pick it up, shake it, and it fluffs right back up!

It took some time but I finished it and I'm glad I decided to make one. You can too, especially if you like to cut up t-shirts but never know what to do with the scraps afterwards. The scraps from my scarves are perfect candidates for making a rug. And this craft is very easy, even children can learn how to thread the rug with some assistance with cutting the scraps.

Feel free to message me with any questions. The idea and instructions for this rug came from the book Generation T, which is a great book to purchase if you like making eco-friendly t-shirt clothing and crafts. Please visit their website and check out their multitude of fantastic ideas.

How to Make a T-shirt Shag Rug

Supplies: 1 XL t-shirt, cloth scissors, and lots of small t-shirt scraps

the base with a few scraps threaded through

1. Make the base.

For the base of the rug, lay the X-L t-shirt flatand cut a large rectangle out of the shirt, as large as you would like the sizeof your rug to be. It’s possible to make a larger rug by sewing more t-shirtstogether- two to make a runner, four to make a large square, etc. You couldalso cut it into a circle shape for a circular rug.

a rotary board makes cutting easier

perfect sized scraps!

2. Make scraps.

If you are me, you have scraps of t-shirts all over yourapartment. If you aren’t, you may need to go to the thrift store and purchase alot of t-shirts to make into scraps. I would go for 10-12 to start, although I’mnot positive exactly how many you will need. Go for more rather than less, andchoose complimentary colors, or try to purchase t-shirts that are the samecolor for a monotone rug.

Cut these t-shirts into strips that are approximately 5-6’’long and 1-1 ½’’ wide. You can use scissors, or if you are lucky, a rotary cutter and board, which helps make things faster. Some t-shirt fabrics stretch and so you can pull them tomake them longer. Others don’t. Once youcut a few t-shirts you’ll begin to see what works. Also, don't be afraid to use imperfect scraps-scraps that have odd edges, have a serged edge on them, are ruffly, etc. They add to the shaggy look of your rug.

holes before and after scraps are threaded through

3. Cut holes into the base.

Starting 1’’ from the edge of the base, carefully poke orsnip horizontal and vertical rows of small holes about 1/2 ’’ to 2/3’’ inchesapart. It will look like a big Lite-Brite board without the little pegs! You can also do this as you go along while putting the rug together, asI did, or just go ahead and make all of the holes before you start to threadthe scraps into the rug. If you want perfect rows, you can mark the holes firstusing a ruler to mark the spots.

see how the scraps share each hole?

4. Start threading scraps into the base.

Beginning at one corner, thread a strip down through thefirst hole and back up through the second. Take a second scrap and thread itthrough the second hole (the same hole you just pulled the first scrap upthrough) so that it shares this hole with the first scrap, and then pull it upthrough the third hole.

Continue doing this for a very, very long time… Do thiswhile watching movies, television, when you have a really short moment of timeand you don’t know what to do. It will take time, but it will be finished!

the back and top side of the rug- pretty on both sides!

5. Give your rug a haircut.

When you are finished, you can give your rag a littlehaircut to even out any longer scraps that look off, or you can leave your ruguneven for a shaggier look. But remember, these scraps don’t grow back!

The top side of the rug looks great, but so does the bottom side. Flip the rug over for a new look and feel! If a scrap falls out or gets uneven, simply put it back in or pull it until it is even. It's very easy to maintain. If you would like to wash it, please use a lingerie bag and run it in a delicate cycle as it could fall apart in the wash. However, the fabric is not delicate itself, so if something were to happen, it can be cleaned.

Send me pictures of your own rugs, and I'll post them here. Or, make one for a Christmas present this year. It's not too early to start!

handmade handkerchiefs and a shag rug

2011-09-28T20:56:00.000-05:00

I've slowly been wrapping my head around the appearance of fall. Not only does this mean apple cider, jackets, and pumpkins, (and my dear yellow puffy vest!) but it also means the holiday season is nearing for my business. WHOA! Where did summer go!

This holiday season, I'm hoping for a lot of love from gift-givers visiting my shop looking for gifts for their eco-concious loved ones. I've also been dreaming up new items for this winter.

new handkerchiefs! what do you think?

How about a lovely handmade handkerchief as a little gift to show someone you are thinking about them (and their nose) as the weather cools down? These are my first ones, a prototype you might say. I'll be working more featuring bright cheerful colors and different designs.

I'm also working on a rug made from my t-shirts scraps. This is my progress as of a few days ago. I'm actually much further along as of today. It feels so nice under my toes!

squishy shag rug! yup, that's a pink floyd t-shirt for the base...

If you're interested in a shag rug made from jersey fabric, feel free to message me at my Etsy Shop and let me know you'd like to reserve the next one I create! I will be selling a 28'' by 18'' rug for $58.00. Right now, they take a little time to make, but I expect to get the next one done a little faster. Also, because I don't dye the fabrics, they end up very beautifully multicolored, but you can choose a shade of colors such as red/orange or black/white, etc.

I'm also working on a tutorial for the rug, inspired by the Generation T book, to come once I complete my first one!

So, that's what I've been up to lately. I've also been busy on my other blog, Urban Herbal Girl, so if you haven't headed over there, check out my latest post on cayenne pepper. You'll thank me when your first sore throat hits you and you're looking for some relief.

And, for a little piece of my daily life, check out my feature on 3six5 Chicago, a blog project written by a different author everyday. I was featured on Sept. 26th :).

I must leave you now. It's time to get back to cooking up some vegetarian collard greens with my man. : )

leggings for the eco-concious

2011-09-20T14:05:00.000-05:00

Panelled Leggings by iheartnorwegianwood

Leggings. In or out for 2011?

Depends on who you are and where you live. To be frank, when you live in the Midwest and fall hits, it's hard to say no to a pair of comfy, cozy leggings. So, regardless of what the fashion gurus say, I'm sticking to my leggings like glue.

At the same time, I want to be fashion forward this fall. How should I go about wearing my leggings without crossing any bad-fashion lines? Also, how can I go about wearing my leggings in a way that doesn't harm the environment?

Bamboo Dreams Cropped Leggings by Yala

Answering the first question is easy. Here are a few rules to follow when wearing leggings this year.

1. Wear your leggings like pants but only if your top is long enough to cover your bum and is not tight fitting. Make sure it goes past the hip and wear something that is roomy like a tunic or sweater.

2. Wear them under a dress or skirt, so long as they are cropped or at a length that compliments the length of the skirt. If the leggings are long, make sure the skirt does not go past your knees unless you are going to wear high boots, in order to make the proportions work.

3. Wear ballet flats, ankle booties, or something that is flat. Avoid high heels unless they are pretty short.

4. Wear the right size! Don't squeeze into a size that is too small. They shouldn't create the "muffin top" look around your middle, or be baggy either. Sizes on leggings are deceptive and so go with what looks good.

Play around with your leggings to find some new looks for fall. There are a lot of ways to wear them that look great, as long as you get the proportions right!

Now, what about eco-friendly leggings?

Bamboo Leggings by DreamNation

The answer to this question is a little harder. What may look like eco-concious clothing is often just a marketing ploy. Just seeing "organic" or "eco-friendly" on a label doesn't necessarily mean that the entire garment contains organic or eco-friendly materials.

It helps to be knowledgeable about how fibers and fabrics are made in order to make conscious decisions as consumers.

For instance, bamboo fabric has become the new eco-friendly "it" fabric in recent years. However, the chemicals used to make the fabric can cause headaches, fatigue, and nerve damage when workers are overexposed to them, and the chemicals can cause problems to the environment when factories have to dispose of them. As a consumer, you can read tags carefully and purchase bamboo clothing from companies that use fabric that is mechanically processed instead of processed with chemicals, such as REI.

Organic cotton is another new "eco-friendly" fabric that has been around for years. However, much of the organic cotton used in the USA is shipped from India or China, making as much of an impact on the environment as non-organic cotton grown in the USA. Also, a shirt labeled "organic" may not be 100% organic unless it is labeled as such. Try to buy your organic cotton clothing from local companies, and read your labels!

These are just a couple of different kinds of "eco-friendly" fabrics you may find being made into leggings. I'll share more research as I continue to post more blog posts. You can also look into Tencel, also known as Lycocell, or clothing made from hemp. Do research on the dyes used to make your clothing as they can often cause chemicals to leach into the environment as well.

Whatever you do, I always think the best option is to shop second-hand! Second-hand leggings are hard but not impossible to find. I might try to scope out a pair the next time I shop at my local thrift shop!