Do you have bunches of roving around and don't know how you are ever going to use it all.  Here is a great use for roving just in time for holiday gift giving.

Or

If you need roving for the project give Suzanne a call at:

fibermill@yurtboutique.com or 517-852-1871

Simple Crocheted Rug from Roving

Designed by Suzanne Pufpaff

Natural colored Alpaca and wool make a wonderful rug statement.  The second picture shows the crochet in more detail

 

Spinners aren't the only people who can create beautiful finished items from roving. 

 If you can crochet a chain and do a single crochet you can make wonderful, machine washable
 natural fiber rugs from either roving from that mysterious fiber closet or have it custom designed 
for a particular room.  The same technique can also be used for chair pads and pillow covers. 
So let your imagination take you on a wonderful fiber journey. Co-ordinate chair covers, pillows
and rugs for that new family room or brighten up the living room or spare bedroom.

Roving Requirements: The rug is crocheted with medium weight unspun roving.  The roving works 
easier if at least 30% of the fiber in the roving has less crimp and is smoother.  Suggested blends 
include, but are not limited to: llama and fine wool, alpaca seconds and fine wool, medium wool 
and mohair, Lincoln and a medium crimp wool and Romney wool just to name a few.  Using 100%
 of a very crimpy wool makes it difficult to work with the crochet hook.  The size of the roving is 
determined by the size of the carding machine used to create the roving.  Small machines with a 
12 to 18-inch carding width create a very small roving and these may have to be doubled to get the 
proper thickness for a rug.  Medium machines with a 24 to 36-inch carding width create an excellent 
size roving to either crochet or knit.  Large machines with 48 to 60-inch carding width will create a
 roving that will need to be split in half to work effectively

 
Fiber Requirements: A small rug approximately 18 inches by 36 inches will require about 2 pounds
 of roving.  Four pounds of roving will create a rug approximately 30 inches by 48 inches, and 8 pounds
 of roving will create a rug approximately 50 inches by 65 inches.  These are all approximate sizes and 
total size will vary depending on the size of the roving and the tension of the individual.  Different fibers 
will also vary in the total length of roving per pound and which will also effect the finished size of a rug. 

Crochet hook: Size N plastic hook is preferred.  Small roving will need a smaller hook and very large
 roving will need a larger one. 

Gauge: Getting an exact gauge is not important since the rugs are worked in a circular pattern. 

Stitches and Abbreviations Used:

RS or WS: Right side or wrong side.

St(s):  Stitch(es)

SC:  Single Crochet

Turn Sts: Work 2 or more single crochet in a single st from the previous row.

Basic crochet instruction can be found free on the Internet, from simple instruction books, from a local 
fiber instructor or your mother or grandmother.  

Important Notes:
1: When changing colors with roving, overlap one roving with the next, tug down to size and continue. 
 This same technique can be used anywhere the roving breaks and needs to be started again.
2: Keep a very loose hold or tension on the roving when working with the hook.  Allow the roving to 
move freely through the holding fingers.
3: Hold the roving near the hook.  This also reduces breakage in the roving.

Rug instructions: Create a foundation chain about 20 inches long.  This will make an oval rug.
  The shorter the chain the rounder the rug.  

SC down one side of the chain, make 2 turn sts in the last two sts on the chain.  SC down the 
second side of the chain, make 2 turn sts in the last two sts of the second side of the chain.  

The center of the rug is now complete. Always work from the RS and continue to SC in each st 
around both sides until desired size going under both upper strands of each st in the previous row.  
Color changes can be done at random or in a set pattern at the discretion of the artist. Add additional
 turn sts as needed near the ends of the rug to prevent curling and keep the rug flat.  

Last round of Rug: On the last round, flip the rug to the WS and reverse the direction of the crochet.
 This will assist the rug to lie flat and not curl up on the edges.  In the last 3 sts, taper off by doing 
a half SC though the next st, next do a SC through only the front loop of next st, and then do a half 
SC through the front loop.  Break the roving and work remaining length into the edge of the rug.

Finishing:  Machine wash on gentle cycle in a top loading washer or regular cycle in a front loading 
washer.  Water temperature does not matter.  Dry flat, turning occasionally to speed drying.  
When the rug becomes soiled, clean the same way

After two years of hard use this roving rug still looks wonderful.