Crafting and magic

(Nimue)

This is the first rag rug I’ve made in a while, and the first one made specifically for the living space I share with Keith. It provides a second life for worn out socks, dead t-shirts and a dress I was very fond of but that was falling apart. It’s a mixing together of our lives, our histories and our old clothes. There’s a certain amount of magic in that. It’s also an expression of intent about the future, and a life together. 

Magical practice is very much about focusing your intent. Crafting takes a lot of time and intention, so the two can go together rather well. This rug is not a spell exactly, but it is willful transformation of worn out things into something new. It’s an act of keeping fabric out of landfill and a commitment to living responsibly.  It’s an expression of love and joy that will sit around in the living room being happy and joyful for some time to come.

I like having unique items, and this kind of upcycling is a way of doing that. The fabric in the rug is full of stories and memories. The colours are the colours we wear, so it reflects us and suits the space. I worked on it with life going on, with documentaries on in the background, with music, so it carries the resonance of all sorts of things that happened around it during the making process.

Making anything creates change and possibility. There is magic in crafting and creating. It’s an enchanting process. I find crafting to be good for my mental health, it soothes me and clears my head. Making is magic, and making magic can involve making other things.