We've been going through so much hay this year. Sophie eats very little, but the two boys are hay eating machines.
So, I'm left with baling twine. SO much baling twine. No one around here takes it as recycling, so I've been putting it out with the household garbage every couple of weeks. I don't like doing that, but also the more 'traditional' methods of reusing it only go so far on a small hobby farm with newer fencing and gates ;)
Finally, a quick journey down the YouTube rabbit hole gave me a few ideas. Lead ropes, door mats, baskets, rugs, wreaths...there were a surprising amount of ideas. If I'm honest, none of it looked like anything I'd be excited to create or own :) But still...the idea of repurposing it felt solid. The base to all the ideas seemed to start with braiding the strings together, so I went with that to start. I 'cheated' and doubled or tripled up the strands so my braid actually consists of 6-9 hay strings.
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| look, I braided string |
Because I was invested-but-also-not -invested in this, I just tied new strings to the old ones when I needed more. No fancy splicing, knots, braids, or trying to make it look pretty. Starting in September, by mid December I had one really long, butt ugly 'rope' that I would never use as an actual rope. Cue new YouTube search.
And so, after about an hour of 'weaving' said rope I ended up with the world's most unique door mat. It makes me laugh because it's bright and weird, so I think we'll call this a win.
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| I should move it to the front door so people have a warning of what they're getting into around here, right off the bat. |
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| Was trying for a pic of Tradey holding it to show you but it turned into a toy very quickly |
This is such a great idea, I'm so impressed!! Now I want to try to make a lead rope since I feel like whatever style I buy it falls apart pretty quickly...
ReplyDeleteThat was my original plan, but the twine I have would be pretty rough on hands. Good thing, because it quickly become apparent that my patience is lacking and I would not have made anything usable ;) If you make one I'd love to see!
DeleteOur barn staff make the most amazing things from baling twine and old feed bags, like beautiful woven doormats and big sturdy tote bags. Love the ingenuity!
ReplyDeleteNo way! People are so creative! Tote bags are such a good idea, not ruling out trying but also likely well beyond my non existent skillset :D
DeleteOh, wow! That's so cool. Very creative!
ReplyDeleteFully blaming the internet for it. After a month of hard use, I can say it actually works well for really mucky boots - it's more the texture of 'giant pot scrubber' than finely woven door mat so I wasn't sure at first.
DeleteThat is so clever.
ReplyDelete