DIY Rugs

Rag Rug

• 1

  Select the fabric you would like to use to make your rug. The rug can be made out of the same fabric or a variety of patterns and colors.

• 2

  Cut the fabric into strips that measure 1 to 3 inches in width. Remove any seams from the fabric. The length of strips depends on how often you wish to join strips together.

• 3

  Tie a knot connecting two pieces of fabric. Leave the knot loose so that you can push fabric through it later. Your rug will look better if the knot is tied leaving the ends uneven, so the final result will have staggered strips.

• 4

  Braid the four ends of the two strips together, going first under, then over, then under. The braid should be tight enough to lay flat without being overly tight.

• 5

  Turn the braid by tucking one of the strips into the existing braid. This should be done when the braid is the length that you want the rug to be. Tuck each strand into the original braid so that the rag continues to lay flat. You may not need to tuck all four strands this way to turn the braid.

• 6

  Continue your braid back down alongside the original braid, tucking the innermost strip into the original braid each time. If you want your rug to be striped, be sure to tuck the strip into its matching color. Continue braiding and tucking, adding strips when necessary until your rug is the desired size.

• 7

  Finish the rug by tucking each strip into the rug's braids until they are all tucked away.

Sweater Rug

• 8

  Select an old area rug that you already own or buy one at a store.

• 9

  Select an old sweater that matches your decor and that is durable enough to make into a rug.

• 10

  Cut the sweater into pieces. Cutting along the seams is a good way to do this without causing the sweater to unravel.

• 11

  Sew the pieces of your sweater into the shape of your area rug, using needle and thread or a sewing machine. If your sweater is thick, a sewing machine may be difficult to use. In this case a whip stitch is effective at holding the pieces together.

• 12

  Sew your modified sweater to the area rug. In most cases the two layers will be too thick to sew by machine, so use a whip stitch. Yarn may also be used, both to hold the pieces together or to make a decorative border.