How to Make Carpet Pieces Into Rugs

Carpet samples

Permanent marker

Utility knife

Heavy muslin

Carpet glue

Carpet scissors

Area rugs and rug wall hangings can be very expensive, and sometimes it's difficult to find just the look or color scheme you want. When you make your own rugs out of carpet samples, you can get the exact design and color scheme you need to match a room. With the proper tools, it's not difficult to make your own rugs. With experience, you can learn to imitate others' designs or make more complex designs of your own.

Instructions

- 1
  Sketch an overall design for your your rug. Make a pattern on a piece of paper for your design. For example, if you wish to make ovals in your rug, cut an oval out of paper that can be used for a pattern. Trace your pattern onto the back sides of the carpet samples. Make sure that you trace your pattern onto at least two contrasting carpet samples.
- 2
  Cut the shapes out of the carpet samples using a utility knife and carpet scissors. Fit the contrasting shapes into the holes left by the cutouts. They should fit perfectly.
- 3
  Lay out the heavy muslin on the floor, and then assemble all of the carpet samples into the shape of your desired rug on top of the muslin. Trim the muslin around your rug, leaving about two inches of muslin on each side visible beneath the carpet samples.
- 4
  Turn all of the carpet samples over so they are facing down. Push them all tightly together. You may want a friend to help you hold them all just right. Apply the carpet glue to the backs of all the pieces, making sure the pieces are still pushed together. Leave a two-inch border all around the rug that does not have any glue on it.
- 5
  Roll the muslin up and then unroll it over the top of the glue. Rolling it will help you to position it easier. Make sure you press down evenly on the glue as you unroll it over the entire rug.
- 6
  Allow the glue to dry for 48 hours. Do not move the rug during this time.
- 7
  Fold the 2-inch border of muslim under to form a crisp edge all the way around the rug. Glue the edging into place with the carpet glue.
- 8
  After the border has dried, turn the rug over and run a vacuum over it to draw out all the loose fibers from the raw edges that were cut. If desired, hot glue a decorative border around the edge of the rug.

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