The Easiest Version of a Rag Rug
My First Attempt at a Rag Rug! Check It Out!
I cannot knit, i cannot crochet, hopefully one day it will “click”, as that seems to be the one thing left needed.
Its a bummer not having those skills. BUT I MADE A RAG RUG! YIPPEE!
A Rag Rug is awesome because you can use basically any fabric you want, there are almost a million ways to put one together, and there are several different styles and designs—something for everyone! It is a quintessential homesteader/self-sufficient living/DIY project.
So, I’m just going to start right off:
For This Particular Rug
Materials:
Cotton Fabric in Strips. Length of your choosing. It is recommended to keep the width of your strips between 1 and 3 inches. (AKA GREAT PROJECT FOR JELLY ROLLS!)
I Chose Cotton Batik 2 1/2 inch Fabric Strips, SOLD BY THE POUND! by one of my Favorite Merchants Of Fabric; My Fabric Addiction. (what a perfect name, right!) These are strips of fabric of a high quality cotton, measuring 2.5 inches wide and 44 inches long.
Tape. Any kind of tape. to tape down braid ends when working on braids, and sometimes to tape long stretches of a braid in place, etc.
Paperclips. To hold things in place when you leave the project. (tape is also useful here)
Needle and Thread. Any kind is fine.
Straight Pins. I found these to be life savers when it came to keeping the rug even and in order BEFORE I got to sewing the rows together.
Sewing Machine. if you choose to use this method.
Batik Cotton Strips. This photo was taken with an old cellphone. But i think it shows and proves just how vivid and amazing the fabrics actually are—fabrics from My Fabric Addiction on eBay.
Lets Make This Rug:
Begin with three strips. Secure them to a surface—attach it however you want, as long as the fabric is secure, and attach it to any surface thats comfortable.
Some suggest sewing your three beginning strips together, one on top of the other, to begin. I just tied mine into a knot and it was perfectly fine, even great.
This being my very first time doing this project, i wasn’t super sure how to navigate it. The first braid i made was moderately tight; similar to a braided pigtail. The second braid, for whatever reason, i braided very tightly, tighter than any other braid of the rug, and you can tell (but you have to look for it) Don’t Braid Too Tightly
So—”second braid” just means, after attaching/adding more fabric strips to the three ends of the 1st Original Braid. Once you’ve almost reached the end of that braid, the new pieces you just attached; I’m calling the Second Braid.
I ended up connecting the strips in several different ways, each one being just fine. Find whichever method you like best, and go with that one.
—That’s another reason this project is so great! It really gives you SO MUCH ROOM to explore and try things out WITHOUT compromising your rug! (All of your weird ideas? Keep ‘em in!)
Photo of the strip joining method from Natural Life Magazine
Eventually i settled with this method of connecting strips—it seemed to be the easiest and the best way to secure the fabric.
***It is important to stagger your strip lengths so that you don’t get bulges of knots from the strip connection points in your rug. Cut a strip shorter if you must; just make sure you’re adding strips at different lengths throughout.***
Keep braiding your fabric. Adding strips. And braiding your fabric.
Its helpful to occasionally lay out your braids into an oval shape to make sure you are satisfied with the braids you have made. It would be horrible to discover a problem 90% down the way.
When you have completed all of your braids, and you are pleased with the layout of your oval; its time to head to the sewing machine.
Illustration of the thread weaving technique I was hoping to do originally. (Origin of Photo Unknown)
I really wanted to weave a thick thread, lace, or yarn, back and forth, to connect my rows. I had hoped to arrange the finished long rope of braid into an oval, and connect each “circle” by weaving through the loops of the braids themselves, and not piercing the fabric with needle and thread. I couldn’t find the supplies i needed to do this properly, so i went ahead and machine stitched the rows together.
To Sew The Rug
“Clockwise Rotation” ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF MACHINE SEWING. Check out this Awesome Tutorial for more on this photo.
Use a Zig-Zag Stitch. Set Length and Width to their maximum
Sew your rug in a clockwise rotation so that the bulk of the rug stays on the outside side of your sewing machine
I used the sewing machine platform extender, and then set up some random boxes and binders around the sewing machine; trying to build the best level area i could to keep the rug flat
Always make sure the rug is flat and is not starting to bowl upward or downward
Sew slowly, especially around the curves
Keep an eye on your rug, and make any adjustments you need as you go
I had to bring my needle back up and re-situate the rug dozens of times! Many of those times, the needle went back to its preset position, and i forgot to change it back when i went back down to sew; and still, the rug came out perfectly!
That is what makes this project SO GREAT AND AMAZING! Its a project where literally your PRACTICE RUN, your FIRST ATTEMPT, can and will end up being a finished product that you’ll be proud of and excited to use, share, show off, or give as a gift!
And after you complete your first rug, You’re Off To The Races!
The different ways to make a rag rug, or rug, are endless! I cant wait to experiment with t-shirt yarn next; an ace up the sleeve of a rag rug :-D
Do you have any Tips to add? Do you have any pics? I’d Love To See Your Magnificent Creations!!
Thank You As Always
LOVE ASH
