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Media Press Rag Rug – Granny’s Style
This type of rag rug has been a part of my life since childhood as both my late grannies used to make it and distribute to all their kids, aka, my parents, aunts and uncles. The rug shown in the picture above was not done by my grannies nor me. I bought it from the market. I wasn’t lucky enough to own one from them as they passed away many years before I had my own family. The one in my mum’s house which was made by my granny is already mangled beyond recognition…. but my mum is still using it because it was handmade by her beloved late mother. If I am not mistaken, it should be more than 10 years old or even 20 years!!!! This type of rag rug is very good for absorbing water and trapping dirt eg. sand between the folds, yet easy to clean and it is durable. My mum loves to step on it while doing her cooking. It keeps her feet away from the greasy and cold kitchen tile flooring and it also helps absorbing spilled water on the floor fast and neat… Yeah, for Chinese, it is always greasy and steamy when it comes to cooking!
I don’t know what’s the name for this rug…. can anyone tell me? I used to call it “Granny’s Rag Rug” but what is its common name? Vintage Rug With Folded Triangle? I have been google-search it but still can’t find what is the exact name…. If you know it please tell me by leaving a comment down there…. THANKS!!!!
Traditionally, the tiny “spikes” are supposed to be folded into triangle, but somehow the one I bought turn out to be “rectangle”. Be it triangle or rectangle, the “spikes” were then being machine sewn onto a piece of fabric base, starting from the outer row working inward to the center. 
Wonder whose feet is it in the photo? It is Nicole’s, my lovely daughter. She came back from school and saw this colorful rug on the floor. She loves it so much and doesn’t want to take her feet off it 
She’s even begging me to take photos of her with it. There she is, imitating that she is the lioness, “ROARING… errrr” at me!
This is only the piece I bought from the market. How will she react if I made one???? I can bet she will use it as a blanket if I made it big enough to cover her body in bed. By the way, she likes to stroke the soft corners of her little pillow while falling asleep, so I think she will like this tiny soft ” spike” for her to stroke to dreamland I will make one, 1 day and pass down to her when I collect enough fabric scraps from my project’s leftover…. Or will someone feel so kind to sponsor some to me so that I can implement this plan faster? It needs quite an amount of fabric to make though.
Hopefully I can make as many rag rug as I can to all my kids and grandchildren, the same way as what my grannies did. One day, they will still continue to call it Granny’s Rag Rug when I am gone!!!!
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This rug was a common project during my secondary school but I didn’t get to learn it. I also didn’t get one from my grandma…… I am not sure about your dd’s reaction, but I will definitely jump up and down if you make one for me!
Yes, it is a very common craft here in Malaysia, but if you google search it, it is hard to find any similar project in the web. There a a lot in weaving, crochet and quilting but nothing look similar to this!
You should make one for you own, it is easy but need quite a lot of fabric scraps
That really looks neat!
I love that! It’s so bright and colourful! I’ve never seen one so well made before! I would love to see how you can make it. I wouldn’t have a clue where to start!
Btw, how much did the rug cost you from the market? I wonder how much they’ll cost to be sent here to Australia!
It is cheap here if you get it from market, but not all the fabric in it is cotton….
Will sure love to show a tutorial on it soon, but as I said, let me collect enough fabric scraps
I would love to send you the fabric for this. Email your address to me and I will send them on their way. Only have to give me a tutorial in exchange. I have stashes. Let me know how many yards/different colors. Is patterned fabric okay? Or do you only want plain? Color preference?
My Nana still makes these. They are all over her house. She showed me how to make them once. I should get off my butt and pull one together
I love these rugs. Would You please share the pattern with me? Thank You very much.
This is the rag rug I bought. I haven’t have time to make up the tutorial yet, but will do it one day when I collected enough fabric scraps.
I too waiting for your tutorial,I am having lot of fabric scarps,I will be very happy if you tell me how to fold the fabric scraps.
I suggest you go to the Op shops for fabric from dresses for sale. A friend of mine collect Hawaian shirts and shorts from Op shops and makes quilts from them, zips, ties and all and they are great.
I love these and have plans to make a few too!
I love it! Looks so soft to stand on while cooking.
Terry and anyone else- PLEASE share how to make that rug!!! I’ve never seen one before and really want to make some for my little girls’ room.
Can you please create a pattern from the rug you have and share it with all your fans please?
I love this. I’ll have to ask my Mother In-Law if she has one. I would really like to try and make one. Thanks for sharing.
Where are the instructions for the rug? I looked at the sight and loved it, but I could not figure if the instructions were there or not
please may I have instructions for this triangle rug? to my email?
It’s unbelievable! I love it, I wonder how you do that! I would love to learn. Maybe someday you could make a tutorial for us? hummmm!
Cindi
Texas
Sure sure sure… my next post will feature how I fold the triangle (my granny’s style) and sew it to the base.
I will come out with the pattern for this rug soon, but first, let me show you the way how to fold this triangle in my next post and how to sew it on a base. I can’t finish the whole rug as I don’t have enough fabric scraps to make a big piece of it, instead, I will show a cute little animal purse by using this triangle spikes….
Wow! This rug is so colorful! This also remind me of my Grandma’s handmade rug! But it works the best to absorb water, agree? Thanks for sharing this old nice craft!
Yes, superb in water absorbent!!!! Most families here will have one and seems like it has been in our culture since the old days
Stunning! I have never seen a rug such as that.
It is commonly found in Malaysia, not in the department store but in the market. Most of the house-holds here should have at least one
You are such an inspiring person and so talented.
Oh wow! what an amazing rug!! I’m a crafter/seamstress myselff, but can’t even begin to imagine how this would be pieced together!
All I can say is WOW, ITS AWESOME! I just adored it. Could you tell us how they’ve folded a rectangular piece pleaseeeeeee? I’m getting married next month and want to make a big one for my living room.:)
I’ve seen many “granny’s rag rug” selling in Malaysia’s market, but I think this rectangle folded one is the MOST beautiful I’ve seen. I wish to know how the crafter folded the rectangular piece as this is the first time I see this pattern. Thank You and Merry X’mas \(^o^)/
I love this rug!!! I want to make one. I’ll try to figure out how to make those little squares and let you know. Thanks for sharing! Hope you got your sleep ;p
I knew the triangle one my mom used to do a lot,but this rectangle one is
suburb,please can you tell us how it is folded,it tried a lot the result
was zero,please help us
I bought it so I haven’t really looked into it on how to fold it. I will do it in a couple of weeks time. i am very tied up with current project. Definately will post it up when I do so. Thanks for asking!
Thank you so much
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I have a rug which I received for a wedding gift-26 years ago. My squares are folded into a triangle, then laid down and sewn. I use it everyday in front of the kitchen sink.
I made a coaster based on the triangle fold, and from there I developed a hedgehog purse.
It is truly a long-lasting rag rug to use
would you please tell me how to get a pattern of this type of rug making and instructions.
Sorry, I don’t know because I didn’t go and search around. This project is still on my to-do list, may be I will show a tutorial and pattern in making it one day
This rag rug is actualy quite easy to make. The only problem is it uses a LOT of material so it is suggested you buy cheaper dress cotton material. The folded pieces is quite thick thus the high absorbency of the rug. The pattern I have is using a 6″x 4″ rectangle that are folded over twice to form a rectangle 1/4 the origianal size. The open side is then brought down about a 1″ from the closed side and pinned. Once you have enough of these you stitch them down on the outer edge of the base material and work your way inward to the center.
Is there a tutorial or pattern for this rectangular rug? It is amazing and the only one that I have seen like this.
Thanks,
Diane
I am afraid no. I have made a small round coaster with similar method, the folds are in triangular shape instead of rectangular.
hi, can u please provide the tutorial for Rag Rug – Granny’s Style on craft passion .i would love to learn this.waiting fr ur reply.
It is on the list but it keeps fall to the bottom when I have new project coming in. Will do it one day.
Beautiful and so comfy looking too. Look forward to learning how to make one.
Just a thought: Couldn’t you make it with one long strip of fabric? You fold the top right corner down to meet the bottom edge then mirror that with the top edge of the remaining strip to form a triangle with the 2 edges meeting in the center. Next, fold the strip that is now hanging down from the last fold and fold it on the diagonal so that the remainder of the strip is now running horizontal. Now fold it up so you have half a triangle next to the previous triangle, then again fold the top edge of the strip down to form a second triangle with the remainder of the strip hanging down . Repeat. pining as you go.
Check out this link:
http://craftingcreatures.wordpress.com/2010/04/25/rag-rug-tutorial/#more-1783
It gives directions on how to make a rug very similar to this one that you’re trying to figure out. Perhaps by viewing this link, you’ll have a jumpstart on how to make this beautiful rug. I hope it helps!!
Thank for the link, Laura. It sure is a helpful one
Beautiful! I ended up here from another rug-rag blog post somewhere in blogland in search for ways to recycle old sheets and transform them into a much needed bath rug, and I wonder if this isn’t the most practical idea I’ve seen so far, because this way I’ll also get to use up all those fabric scraps that are too small to braid or weave!
In Sweden we have something similar called “fattigmansspets”, which traditionally is used in places where you otherwise would put lace – like hems and cuffs on garments, for instance. The word translates to “poor man’s lace”, but I know there is something else called this in English, so it must have another name!
The fabric is cut into little squares that are folded twice – once in each direction – and ironed, and then you tuck one square into the last fold of the next and stitch diagonally (if you look up the word on a search engine, you’ll see what I mean), making sure the folds all go in the same direction. The cut edges will then point in one direction – these will be hidden under another row or inside the garment – and the folded edges in the other, making neat little triangles.
I never imagined I could use it like it’s been used in this rug!
It’s me again!
I just remembered another traditional Swedish craft called “klackmatta” – it translates into “shoe heel rug” – and which is made with a similar method to your rug here except there is no folding. Instead you use scraps of felted wool fabric of the kind traditionally used for outer garments. These fabriscs are often black or gray. The scraps are cut into the shape of shoe heels – hence the name, embroidered with brightly coloured wool yarn, and sewn slightly overlapping onto a piece of fabric the size you want your rug. The method is used for all kinds of rugs – for the floor, for tapestries, for chair cushions, bed throws, etc. The center is often covered with a bit of fur – usually sheep.
Look up the word on an image search engine – I think you will like them!
Thank you very much for telling us about these traditional swedish crafts – “klackmattor” and “fattigmansspets”! I’ve never heard about them before and they are really beautiful!
Hi, This is a really neat rug, but I’d love to hear about and see more of your table runner.
It looks like something I’d like to have.
Thanks!
Jill
Pingback:Sew | Braided Rag Rug | Free Pattern & Tutorial at CraftPassion.com
I found the same blog with a tutorial that Laura posted. Not sure I like putting a piece of material in the center. What is in the center of the rug that is pictured here? It looks like more triangles but I can’t tell for sure.
it is a 2-row ruffles at the center.