Weaving Magick into a Crochet Rug

​One doesn’t usually think of their bathroom rug as a magical portal of transformation.  I never thought about my bathroom rug after buying it, except to wash it on occasion. Then, about a year ago, I moved from a one bathroom apartment to a two bathroom bunk-house and found myself in need of a bathroom rug.  I heard opportunity knocking and decided to make a bathroom rug with my old t-shirts.  

Now, before I go any further, let me clarify something.  I am not going to teach you how to make this rug; I will provide links to tutorial videos, if you want them.  I am writing about the magic I discovered while making my rug.  The magic I imbued in my rug and the magic you can bring to your own.

Let’s talk about the steps I took to make this rug and the magic potential they contained.  Step 1; making the t-yarn.  The t-shirts I used were ones I have collected over the last 15 years.  They are shirts I was too attached to and couldn’t give away to Goodwill.  I no longer wore them as my wardrobe had evolved beyond wearing high school t-shirts.  Granted there are also shirts from the Army, volunteer work, and college.  None of these shirts were considered good candidates for t-yarn.  Most were printed front and back, and they all had side seams.  I used them anyway.  Making the t-yarn was a bit time consuming, taking a couple weeks to do, but it was worth it.  If you want to know how to make t-yarn, watch this video.

Are you are asking, “What’s so magical about making t-yarn?”  Are you already sensing the witchiness?  Deconstructive Spinning, or at least that’s what I came to think of it as.  I am up-cycling my t-shirts, creating the deconstructive part of this project; which can be connected to rebirth and transformation.  As for the spinning, take into consideration the following:

“Spinning and weaving metaphorically suggests creating something powerful and beautiful from one’s own essence and substance, like a spider.” Witch’s Encyclopedia Pg 838.

My 15 year collection of t-shirts, from various events of my life, is a manifestation of my essence.  I have made the metaphorical, literal. Spinning has a close association to spiders, who are considered the ultimate spinners and weavers.  While spiders may have inspired mandalas and labyrinths, they have a close association with birth, death, destiny, and immortality.  They are also associated with sex, wealth, power, and magical knowledge.

There are several goddesses that are associated with spinning, the most powerful ones being the goddesses of fate.  The Moirae, the Norns, and the Wyrd Sisters.

That’s a lot of magic in just the t-yarn!  Now we get to the actual rug, which I finger crocheted.  If you don’t know how to finger crochet I recommend this video.  At first I was looking at weaving and it's magical associations but it occurred to me that crocheting deals with knots.  Knot magic!  Sadly, I didn’t find as much history or information on knot magic. The few entries I found were specific spells, like the well known “Knot of one the spells begun…” and some candle magic using knots to burn through obstacles.  The only general entry I found said knot magic was difficult to do and was commonly used for healing, love, sex, protection, and hexing.  Well I won’t be hexing anything with my bathroom rug, but the other associations are useful.

Next we have the shape of the rug, a circle.  Now according to Magical Household, round rugs are associated with peace and spirituality.  Some fun rug history: imperfections were actually preferred in the rug’s design, or the owner could invoke the jealousy of the gods!  Good to know I’m safe on that point.  Round rugs can also be used to mark a place of power for magic.

Now let’s put it all together.

A witch sits on a rocking chair in her living room with a cup of tea on one side, her four legged companion on the other.  She takes up her t-yarn that took weeks to cut and create. Seeing the first strands are from an old workout shirt and another from college, or perhaps an Army shirt, she makes the first knots.  She does her best to recall her mother’s crochet lessons when she was young, younger than the oldest shirt before her.  As she settles in to her work she begins to hum and chant.  The songs help her work out the intent of the magic she wants to knot into the rug.  “Grounding magic?”  No, the rug isn’t laying right, she takes out several rows and tries again.  Knot magic and a round rug share protective qualities, “What do I need protecting from in the bathroom?”  Her heart feels heavy with the weight of the rug and the answer to her question, “Myself.”

“Where am I more vulnerable than the bathroom?  Stepping out of the shower, no clothes, no make-up, and giant mirrors to reflect it all back to me.  The time and place where I find the most fault in myself and my body.”

Again the rug does not lay right.  She takes out all the knots and starts from the very beginning.  Her intention is clear and strong.  Protection from her most critical and hurtful self-judgement.  Healing for her spirit as she finds acceptance in her body.  Self love as she stands on 15 years of her life that she loved so much she could not throw it away.  Love so strong, she chose to take the time and effort to transform it into something powerful and beautiful.

The rug is complete.  It is not perfect but it is powerful.  It is beautiful.  It is hers.  Blessed be!