Rag Rug Directions

If you have an assortment of soft cotton clothes that you can't bear to put in the trash, make them into a rag rug. This in an excellent way to recycle old clothes while decorating your home with a new braided rug. Children enjoy helping cut and braid the fabric rug while learning how to perform a variety of simple tasks. If you're even more creative, color coordinate portions of the scraps so that the rag rug has stripes and other designs.

Scissors
Needle
Thread
Sewing machine
Steam iron
Ironing board

Instructions

- 1
  Cut 2-inch strips of similarly weighted fabrics. To make a denim fabric rug, only use denim fabrics. For a lighter-weight rug, select items such as cotton shirts, tea towels and sheets.
- 2
  Divide the strips into three piles. Sew the narrow ends of strips together to form three longer strips. Use a needle and thread or sew the strips with a sewing machine.
- 3
  Roll one strip into a ball, much like you would roll a ball of yarn. The ball should be at least 6 inches in diameter. If it's not, add more fabric depending on the size of the rag rug. Repeat this process for the other two strips of fabric.
- 4
  Begin with one of the ends of the fabric in a ball. Fold the length of the fabric in half and press it. Fold the outside edge into the middle fold. Press it. Repeat for the other side. Press the entire strip of fabric in that manner. Re-roll the ball as you work your way through the strip. Repeat the process for the other two balls of rag strips.
- 5
  Gather each of the ends on the three balls of fabric. Tie them in a knot. Anchor the end of the strip to a solid object. Braid the fabric strips together. Place a clothespin at the spot in the braid where you stop to hold the braid tight.
- 6
  Create a coil out of the braid. Make the center fairly tight. Work with the braid to get the shape, either round or oval, that you want the finished fabric rug.
- 7
  Use a needle and thread to lace the braided coil. Start in the center of the rug. Anchor the thread by taking two stitches in the same place. Slip the needle and thread under one of the braided loops on the outside edge of the beginning of the coil. Pull the needle and thread out and cross to the adjacent braided loop. Insert the needle and thread into that loop, pull it out and cross to the next adjacent loop. Continue in this manner until the rug is the size you want it. By joining your braided rug in this manner, the rug should be reversible.
- 8
  Add more fabric strips if necessary by sewing them on the existing strips, folding them and braiding them.
- 9
  Finish the rag rug's end by tucking the raw edges of the fabric strip back under it. Sew them in place with the needle and thread.

How to Hang a Zebra Skin Rug

Information on Polyester Carpet

Rugs