connecticut quilter: I have made cotton matieral rugs, placemats, chair pads. I cut my strips to the width of how thick i want my strips when I crochet the matieral. 11/2 for narrow strips to 2" med 2 1/2 . You can make round, square and oval. They look like you have braided them but its crochet. They are really pretty. I just made a two tone green for my upstair bathroom. Give it try I think you will really like them...