Email
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
Rag Rug – Granny’s Style
September 9, 2009 by Craft Passion
in Highlight, Sewing
Love this post? Give me a thumb's up 
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!!!!
Related posts:
Older Post : How To Style With Crochet Hairband
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 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
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