Rich in rags

by Maryjane Butters
| February 27, 2010 11:00 PM

Do you have a bag, basket or bin set aside exclusively for rags? If not, it's never too late to discover their many uses - everything from holding up your up-do to piecing together an heirloom quilt. Although the word "rags" tends to elicit images of tatters and stains, I'm here to clear the record. Rags that are collected with loving care are rich in color, texture and possibilities. Had you asked my mother about her stash of rags, she would have told you it was akin to having money in the bank. Taught to value rags by my mother, I never feel poor when I can dip into a bin of rags - a little something for my hair, a ribbon for a jar of flowers, a tiny bit of yellow for a daffodil. I'm sure to find the perfect piece for any project. Once you decide to value and collect rags, you enter the soul-satisfying world of farm girl make-do!

Bag, basket or bin?

You can store your rags in any container that inspires you to snip and save. A beautiful basket might be just your style, providing easy access and contributing charm to your decor. Sturdy plastic tubs are perfect, practical solutions that stack well in storage. I use old-fashioned galvanized garbage cans with a pair of utility scissors attached to a string on the handle on the lid. Of course, if you're a seasoned rag-bagger like me, you may need more than another sack to stuff when you're low on containers. Just the other day, I asked my husband if he knew where a large garbage bag might be. "Why?" he asked. All I had to say in order to send him searching was "more rags." He knows just how serious I am about my stash!

The one bit of advice I can offer when choosing your container is this: Leave room to grow. At first, you may only have a few scraps to store, but as your love of rags grows, so will your collection.

Rag collecting 101

While there is no strict science to collecting rags, my mother certainly elevated it to an art form. She would religiously save every last piece of fabric that passed through our humble home, from t-shirts and denim dungarees to sheets and towels, preserving the pieces for future repurposing. Her protocol included snipping off buttons (these were saved in a separate button box) and then "filing" the scraps first by fabric type, then by color. Her meticulous organization made it easy to find just the right swatch for the job. Plus she was a serious quilter, so she also turned her rags into family heirlooms.

When it came to pieces that were a tad too worn to re-create in an aesthetically pleasing way (think grass-stained knees, frayed cuffs, extra seams and edges), my mother would delegate them to "dirty work." These rough but ready rags were used to clean up spills, catch drips and stuff holes to keep out drafts. They may not have been glamorous, but they served a purpose just the same.

Ready, set, renew

your rags!

So, whether your aim is practical, penny-pinching or pretty, there is always a fresh way to renew a rag. Here are five ideas to inspire your own rag collection.

1. Make-do apron

Patterned fabrics from one old shirt can be used to edge an apron cut from another. Voila - vintage, kitchen-farm style! If you'd like to give it a whirl, check out my Make-Do Apron Tutorial at www.maryjanesfarm.org/make-do-apron.

2. Gift wrap

Instead of gift-wrapping paper, embrace the traditional Japanese art of furoshiki (fabric) wrapping. It's an eco-friendly way to dress up a package, and the fabric doubles as an extra gift. Use a tablecloth, pillowcase or napkin, and try a few furoshiki-wrapping techniques that'll make your mom proud (www.furoshiki.com).

3. Table runners

On my Farmgirl Connection chat room, Martha in Idaho shared this tabletop tip: "I sorted through fabric remnants that I have kept over 30 years and made cute table runners. I just hemmed them, not bothering to turn under the raw edges. They are all different lengths and widths, but that doesn't matter. They should last a long time, but if I need more, there is always plenty of fabric scrap to choose from in the future!"

4. Can-do curlers

Shari in California relishes rag curlers: "I have straight hair that resists perms and curling irons, so I tried rag curlers. I just roll my wet hair around 12-inch flannel strips, tie at the scalp, and sleep on them comfortably. In the morning, I have curly hair that stays until I wash it again."

5. Rag rugs

Use your old sheets or pick up a few at the thrift store, and create this simple, yet lovely, rag rug: www.maryjanesfarm.com/column/rag-rugs.pdf