Rug Making Materials

Why Make A Rug?

• For centuries the art of rug making has been both functional and ornamental. Commercial rugs sold these days are generally standardized in size, with 2 by 3 feet, 4 by 6, and 8 by 10 most common. Sometimes, though, you have an area you wish to cover that is oddly sized or shaped. Rug colors tend to follow design trends. If you are designing a room with a unique theme or color scheme, it may be difficult to purchase a rug to match. It can also be costly to have a custom rug made, but you can make or revamp an existing rug to the size, shape, color or theme you need.

Foundations

• Some types of rugs have a foundation, or backing, while others are simply made by weaving, braiding, crocheting or otherwise tying the materials together. An open-weave backing can be used with or without an imprinted design. This type of backing is commonly used with a hook that pulls yarn or other material through, which is then knotted, but can be used with any material that fits through the openings. A rubberized backing can be used as a base or can be added to an existing rug to keep the rug from slipping. If you have an existing rug that is about the right size, but the colors are not right, you can use dyes or paint to make a design, highlight, or totally change the color. If you are not able to draw freehand you can add a particular theme to your rug with stencils or patterns.

Yarn

• Wool yarn is traditionally used to make rugs, either by hand tying or weaving. These rugs are expensive because of the time involved in making them. You can use one of the larger, newer varieties of yarn on the market--super soft, fuzzy, or bright and colorful--many of these are bulkier to make faster work of your rug. You can also use yarn to enhance or make an entirely new design on an existing rug. Notions such as ribbon and feathers can also be used as rug material. You can use them on the whole rug, or to enhance the perimeter. Imagine walking on a rug made of soft feathers. Long strips of feathered material can be purchased at most craft stores.

Fabric and Unusual Materials

• Fabric comes in many textures, colors and themes. You can purchase enough to make the size rug you wish, and sew or quilt it if necessary. Attach fabric rugs to a rubberized backing to keep them from slipping. You may also use a sheet, quilt, comforter, canvas tarp or any other fabric-based material that is large enough and comes in the color or theme you wish. Cotton, wool, fleece, felt, silk and denim are commonly used in homemade rugs. These can be cut into short strips that can be sewn onto an existing rug or pulled through a loosely woven backing. You can also recycle old scraps of fabric, clothing, including T-shirts and jeans, or plastic bags into long strips that can be woven, crocheted, or braided into an entire rug.

Mixing Materials

• Any of these custom techniques can be mixed and matched to make elegant and cozy designs. Because braided rugs are more about intermixing colors than an actual themed design, you can mix any materials that give you a consistent-sized braid. You may choose to cut everything to the same length, or for more textural interest, vary the length and type of material. All of these materials can also be sewn, either by machine or hand, to the top of an existing rug or other backing, or woven together to create a unique design.