I have always loved penny rugs. Back when I was quilting a lot, 20 years or so ago, I thought about making one. I did some crazy quilt projects, but never got around to making a penny rug. I didn’t make this one either.
Sheila from The Quintessential Magpie sent it to me last week, along with some other treasures. This one was my favorite.
It’s a cold day today, so I lit the candles. For ambiance on my colorful red penny rug.
Oh, pure unadulterated love…
So now I’ve got a bee in my bonnet.
I think I might like to try my hand at making one. And what do you know, then on a blog I saw this beauty…
OH MY WORD. I got shivers just looking at it. A woman who blogs at Salmagundi made it. Is that not the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen? I am completely and utterly smitten at her talent with this work of art.
A penny for your thoughts…
I see why you love the big one… oh my!
Oh my was what I uttered when I pulled it out of the box!
Brenda
Oh!!!! It makes me want to start one myself. Oh no! another project to the list. Actually love, love them both! What talent!!
I love them both. I will probably try to make the one from the blog I found. Simply because I love patchwork so. Both look fun to do though.
Brenda
I have always loved penny rugs too. I even made a few back in the day. I think I need to go and find them. They really are gorgeous pieces of hand work!
Oh, post them for us all to see!
Brenda
Adding a penny rug to my want-to-make list! Those are both beautiful.
Brenda, the link to The Quintessential Magpie blog isn’t working. Looks like you need to add “the” into the URL: http://thequintessentialmagpie.blogspot.com/.
Glenda
Thanks, Glenda. You know, I went in and fixed this and put the “The” in the link and it worked last night. Something squirrely is going on. Because I clicked on it last night and it went there. Anyway, thank you very much for letting me know. I fixed it again.
Brenda
This is simply perfect! How sweet that Sheila sent this to you! I wonder if this is possible to do without a sewing machine. That’s a basic blanket stitch, right?
I just love this to pieces!
-Denise
If I make one, it will be basically by hand, except for the squares. Yes, that is the basic blanket stitch.
Brenda
Hi Brenda…I just love your post today…thanks for sharing this beautiful piece of work…just stunning!!! I need to make me one now and I will!!! Have a great day!!! Love ya! Carol
Well, I hope you send me photos of it when you’re done!
Brenda
I will!!:-)
The penny rugs are adorable….I have never made one but I would love to! Must make a little note on my to do list
Keep cosy, Brenda!
Helen x
Well, everything you make is so beautiful, I can imagine yours would be quite stunning, Helen!
Brenda
I just love these too. I featured Sally’s work a few weeks ago. I’d love to have a pillow or tablerunner. They are just so wonderful and love the color combinations. You ought to give one a go. It looks like something you’d do beautifully!!
I may just do that. Yes, I saw it on various blogs and it just spoke to me!
Brenda
That’s so darling….I have never seen anything like this, and I am crafter…Oh I love seeing something new to me.
Go for it!
Jen
Oh Jen, can’t you imagine sitting in a cozy corner on a cold night stitching one of these?
Brenda
The red one is my favorite! It looks so lovely with your tea pot and candles in the muffin tin (great idea, by the way)!
Paula, I went to reply to your comment, and it didn’t go to a blog or link site…
Brenda
Whoops! Try this! Thanks, Brenda!
I agree – these penny rugs are gorgeous! I’d never heard of them. But now I want one, lol. I certainly can’t make one myself, so perhaps I’ll have to poke around on etsy and ebay.
I’ve seen them on Etsy. I’m sure you could make one, Melanie. It’s just the blanket stitch on top. And there’s got to be lots of tutorials online.
Brenda
Oh my goodness!! I was so surprised to see my penny rug on your blog. I’m so thrilled, and glad you liked something that I so much enjoyed making! Sally
Sally, that is a true work of art. I am in awe of your talent!
Brenda
GORGEOUS!
Your vignettes and penny rug and that one you took us to – wow, just gorgeous.
I am not one for much colour, but I sure do love those – would love one in beiges, browns, blacks, ivories and maybe a dash of paprika and harvest gold……….
Michele, if you want to make one, you can buy various wool combinations/scraps on Etsy. I’ve seen blues and browns and more subtle colors. The very colors you mentioned. Just Google felt for penny rugs. I think back when these were very popular years ago, these are the colors that were most often used.
Brenda
I’m so glad you liked it, Brenda! It just looked like you in all its cute redness and craftiness, and it told me that it needed to go live with you at the Cozy Little House.
And I love Sally’s that she actually MADE! Wow, I wish I could say the same, but I’m not that talented with sewing. Who knows, maybe I’ll give it a whirl some day! Now, if wishes were horses…
Love to you this morning and always!
XO,
Sheila
I am so very grateful to you for sending it to me. I love it so! You could make one of these. It might be peaceful at night to sit and blanket stitch around the circles.
Brenda
I think they are just darling. I’ve never heard of penny rugs before now.
Do you think this is something you’ll be putting in your etsy?
I like the one on your bench with the candles.
Pat
I might. I’ve got to get to working on one. I could sit and do this by hand.
Brenda
That is so cute! They both are! Are they made out of felt?
I think it is wool felt. I ordered some last winter. I think the shop was maybe called Prairie Junction in Nebraska or someplace. (If you want to look, Google Prairie Junction or wool felt.) It is softer than the felt you buy in the craft stores. There are many, many colors, and you get them by the piece, but I think they’re about 9 x 12 inches, instead of the smaller pieces you get say at Michaels. And recycled wool maybe for the squares.
Brenda
I love the penny rugs, too. These warm rich colors and candlelight really lend themselves to the fall season, don’t they? I did make a more contemporary version of a penny rug for Easter, a couple of years ago, using bright pastels. But it would be fun to try a slightly more traditional one. Are you going to order a pattern or a kit, or have this be a “do it yourself” project? I’ll have to make one along with you.
I usually just wing it. I never could follow patterns! Let’s make one!
Brenda
OK! Lets do it!
I’m on the hunt for wool felt.
I remember seeing that one few weeks ago…loved it!!
Simply adorable, isn’t it? And such luscious colors.
Brenda
Hi Brenda!
When I was a little girl whenever I would ask my Mother how much something cost she would always say “a dollar two eighty” no matter what. So, here’s my “dollar two eighty for your thoughts”. I adore your penny rug and your perfect stitching! Your color choices are sublime and how lush they look framed in the soft candlelight.
Thank you for sharing your masterpiece!
Blessings,
Carolynn
I’m afraid I didn’t make this one, but I’m going to try my hand at it.
Brenda
Oh, Brenda…Thanks to a comment from one of your friends I have gone back and more carefully read your post. I am in awe of the beautiful penny rug and am sorry if I hurt the feelings of the person who sent it to you. It was so kind of her. I do recall your email to me sharing that you were planning on possibly working on some hand stitching using felt. I jumped the gun thinking you had already completed your stitching project. Please forgive me, my dear friend and I hope your friend will, too.
Blessings,
Carolynn
No worries!
Brenda
So pretty. Another addition to my to make list. Love it!
What would we do without our lists? We’d probably get bored!
Brenda
Both of them are so very pretty! Hope your day is a good one. Tammy
I’m glad you like them. I’m in love with these now.
Brenda
It is very pretty. I always love your candles in the muffin tin. I am also enjoying your new blog and all of the good info.
Thanks, Betty. I just put some new votives in another old muffin tin I had. I’m glad you like the blog.
Brenda
OMGoodness.. I am so inspired by those two lovely things! I have never had the courage to do quilting, after one failed attempt, but I think I could actually do THOSE! I just sent my quilter sister to see them and suggested we have a craft day and make some. Thanks for the inspiration!
((hugs)), Teresa
Oh, that would be a fun sister thing to do! I don’t think they’d take all that long either.
Brenda
I love it- My gramma made some penny pieces for quilts and there was a box of them but I don’t know what happened to them after she passed. Sad- I would love to have them today. I love the one gifted to you AND the other one, too- xo Diana
These things often get displaced over the years. There are so many things I wish I could find. Maybe you could make some, and they would be handed down.
Brenda
I just love those penny rugs! I’m with you – they are inspiring!
~cathy
All the fabric and colors gets my blood flowing!
Brenda
Brenda, I think both of the penny rugs are beautiful.. I love them and think they ad so much personality to a room.. It’s so fun to think about the colors to be used together just like making a Granny square afghan, if it’s done with a variety of colors.. I made one, one time, and edged it in black.. It’s like a “coat of many colors”.
I think you would enjoy making a penny rug and I would love to see the finished addition to your home..
I love the pillow that you made using Yo-yos. Isn’t if fun to sit back and enjoy your own handiwork ?
It’s so thoughtful for your friend to send you the penny rug and your candles look so cozy on it..
Hugs, Charlotte in Va.
It was extremely thoughtful of her! And I am so thankful she thought of me when she saw it.
Brenda
Love the penny rugs…they are so cozy looking. I used to work in a quilt shop and we taught classes on how to make them, but I never made one for myself.
Oh, that sounds like a fun place to work!
Brenda
Brenda ~ I have never heard of these ~ but I am not so talented in knitting, sewing and the like. I love this ~ it looks so homey and comfy. I say ~ you go girl and try it ~ you have such talent in sewing etc., I betcha yours would turn out just beautiful
Brenda, they are both wonderful pieces. I’ve long admired penny rugs, but have never made one. Are they made of wool or felt? I have boxes of small wool samples for men’s suits that I’d be happy to share with you if they would work for this project. Not bright colors though, just typical men’s suiting fabric. Let me know……….Sarah
I agree, those are darling.
Brenda the penny rugs are so sweet. I am anxious to get home and hopefully get a few crafts done before Christmas. Are you going to start sewing for you Etsy shop again soon?
hugs, Linda
LOVE the penny rug! Love em all, actually! Though I dont really have any, they are so cutesey! Also, you are invited to my Christmas giveaway!
Hugs,
Love the yellow stoneware coffee pot
Those rugs are gorgeous, Brenda! I’ve never heard of them before…I’m wondering if they are difficult to make?
Even as olden as I am, I’ve never seen or heard of a Penny rug…beautiful little things…
I would love to make a penny rug. Maybe it can be a project when I am recovering from surgery this winter. Of course I haven’t started the project I was going to do after the last surgery. I need just a few more hours in the day
Brenda,
Sheila is a delight. What a sweet and thoughtful gift! It is beautiful. I’ve never seen one before!