How to Make Braided Rugs From Old Clothes

Cut up old clothing to create the longest 2-inch wide strips possible. Long sleeves, pant legs, dresses and skirts work well for this. Create strips that are at least 1 foot long. Sort the strips by color, if desired.

Pick up three strips of fabric and pair them together at one end. For a color pattern, make sure at least two of the three strips are the same color. Attach a safety pin to hold the ends of the three strips together. Insert another safety pin an inch from the first.

Braid the strips together, starting just below the second pin. Place a clothespin or binder clip on the braid when you are a foot away from the safety pin. Continue to braid the strips and bring the clothespin or clip forward every foot to hold your place.

Stop braiding and bring the clip forward when you are four inches from the end of the shortest strip. Pick up a new strip and overlap one end of it against the end four inches of the short strip. Fold the short strip's end lengthwise over the new strip to trap it in place.

Continue to braid the strips, moving the pin or clip every foot and stopping to add new strips until you use all of the strips.

Turn the ends of the strips under to tuck them next to the end of the braid. Hand sew the ends to the braid to keep it from coming undone. Remove the safety pins from the start of the braid, tuck the ends under and sew them to the braid.

Spiral the braid around itself, starting with one of the ends and coiling around to form a circle or oblong. Sew a zigzag between side by side portions of the braid, beginning at the center of the spiral and working outward until the entire rug is secure.

Flip the rug over and place where you want it in the room.