Rug Braiders International
formerly known as the Valley Forge Rug Braiding Guild
2020 - 2021 Rug Challenge:
Braided Hats & Braided Sculpture
In 2020, the pandemic prevented us from gathering at our usual Spring Conference. As a result, the Rug Challenge for that year -- Braided Sculpture -- was delayed.
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The planned 2021 Rug Challenge was Braided Hats.
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After a vote, it was decided to combine both of the Challenges into one event! On May 8, 2021, we held a Rug Challenge over Zoom. Photos are below, and also a link to a video of the event.
Hannah Gritton of Colorado sewed this hat with a braided band and decorated it with a flower.
Here is the other side of Hannah's pillow, with a beautiful arrowhead design for the border.
For the sculpture challenge, Hannah also made a pillow with one side hooked and the other side braided.
For the sculpture challenge, Gail Stephens made a patterned basket with ruffled edge. Notice how she stacked the braids so that the colorful parts of the plaid lined up.
Shirley Harrison made a jaunty braided hat for the challenge!
For the sculpture challenge, Lucinda Harrison-Cox braided a book that is a box for her rings. She chose maroon for the book-covers because she is a law librarian, and most of the law books are maroon. The lighter parts are text. The sides of the box are the color of pages. Creative!!
For the sculpture challenge, Jenn Kiarsis brought out her braided teapot, and Penelope the Pig. We first saw the teapot for the Blue Willow Challenge, and it remains beautiful! Jenn is clearly a talented sculptor with braids! Isn't Penelope the cutest thing? She has a quillie nose and feet, and adorable sewn and pleated ears.
For the sculpture challenge, Sandy Kub outdid herself! Left, a gorgeous wired braided pumpkin -- which Sandy has shared the pattern for: see Members Only page and look for patterns. So cute! Then, Sandy made "ruggies" or slippers, from a pattern by Barbara Fisher. She says she can wear the slippers... but they are more for display. The pompoms on the slippers are sweet!
For the braided hat challenge, Pam Rowan braided a hat for her granddaughter's doll. The hat's braid has a pigtail finish down the back. It perfectly coordinates with her outfil!
For the braided hat challenge, Peggyann Watts made several braided hats -- a cloche, a fedora, and a cowboy hat. The left one has a pretty wool flower, and the right two have "mystery braided" leather straps for the headbands.
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Diane Pecha made a beautiful all-braided hat of 3 different colors of Dorr Wool, PLUS one strand of mink fur! She added a wool flower. It fits perfectly, and she does wear it!
For the Braided Hat challenge, Christine Manges braided extremely stiff metallic silver and gold vinyl into a crown. It wasn't possible to lace because it was so stiff... so it is taped together with clear packing tape!