Thank you for all the great feedback for liking my Braided Rag Rug. I understand that not everyone has a sewing machine or/and able to sew, so I created this no-sew version for the non-sewer who like to recycle their bed sheets or de-stash their fabrics to make this foot cozy Woven Rag Rug. This woven rag rug tutorial doesn’t require any loom for weaving; just use a sturdy corrugated carton box from your recycle pile.
I hope everyone can do their part on greening the Earth again and reduce the rubbish that loaded the landfill, turn trash into gold. By the way, I gave the braided rag rug to my mum and she loves it so much, she is going to dig more old bedsheets out from her storage, which means I will have another bunch of supply to recycle. I need to scratch my head for more stuff to make from them. 🙂
I love the way the mixture of colors presented in this woven rag rug, I didn’t make it on purpose but just to randomly gather color strips.
Let your feet feel cozy and warm with this thick soft Woven Rag Rug.
Woven Rag Rug
Material
1. Old bedsheets (3 king-size flat sheets, more if you have fitted sheet)
2. Sturdy corrugated cardboard of your preferred size (mine is 28 x 20″)
3. Tapestry needle or masking tape
5. Scissor
Finished dimension: approximately 25″ x 14″
You might want to refer to the braided rag rug for some basic preparations for stripping and how to join the strips.
Mark the short side of the cardboard 1/2″ apart and 2″ down. Leave the edge 2″ wide so that the cardboard is not being weakened at the edge.
Cut it to create slots for gripping the fabric strips.
Cut or tear the old sheets into 1″ or 2″ strips. Arrange 12 or 6 strips into each slot, leaving 6″ extra for each end.
Alternate the colors between the slots to create some color patterns for the woven rag rug. You will be surprised how it turns out.
Reserve some strips for the weaving.
Take a strip and slot it into the eye of a tapestry needle and start weaving.
If you don’t have a tapestry needle, you can tape a masking tape the end of the weaving strip, this will make it easier to go through the warp strips.
Secure the tail end in the first slot.
Begin by passing through the weaving strip at the bottom of the first bunch, then on top for the second bunch, and bottom again for the 3rd bunch and so on…
Until you reach the last bunch, rotate the cardboard and continue weaving for the next row. If you ended the weaving strip at the bottom of the last bunch, then begin your second row at the top.
Since there are 12 strips in a slot, make sure you have all the strips weaved.
Pull the bunch vertically a little to straighten up the 12 strips as you go.
Repeat this until you complete the whole piece.
Weave the last row in close to the previous row, with needle up or down to make a crisscross to the previous strip, pull the weaving strip and tie the warp strips in place.
Do the same on the other end of the rag. Join a new strip to sew and tie.
Hide the weaving strip in the warp strips by passing through the strip within the weaves.
Take the woven rag rug out from the cardboard by lifting all the strips from the slots.
Trim the end to the length of bout 4″ or to your preference.
The woven rag rug is completed.
I love this rug but I am confused about the warp strip …. do I tie it off at the beginning of the warping process? Am I tying off each row of rags where they meet the cardboard? i am just not getting that part. Hopefully this blog isnt too old for responses. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks
I love this rug but found the directions left me with a few questions too. I haven’t tried to make one yet but found this video tutorial and thought it might help you. Good luck !! https://www.ehow.com/13664144/weave-rugs-using-fabric-scraps-tutorial
I would love to see a video of how to make this. I learn better by seeing it being made. That’s just me.
Did you notch both ends of cardboard or just one with loose hanging tails?
thanks.
Hey! I wanted to thank you for your tut! I knew I wanted to make a rag rug but not a traditional one and yours was the trick!!
I modified the ends by sewing some burlap on in a quilt binding sort of method because I didnt want fringe but I think it will make it sturdier!!
I only used 6 strands per section
I made mine 30×45 inches.
I think what people in this comments section are missing is the distance between horizontal weaves. Dont put them so close together! Just weave and put them somewhat close together then they will have that “diamond” look. I just measured and mine are an average of 1.5 inches apart using 6 strands. I would adjust to wider if more strands are used. Meh, dont stress, let the rug dictate how far apart they are.
I cannot post a picture here but heres one on my facebook hopefully you can see it and I dont get kicked out of here for thinking im spam…LOL : https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1281350705232221&set=a.224689494231686.66459.100000719113895&type=3&theater
Ohhh and I didnt use cardboard because I didnt have any but I had these things I use for blocking my knitting/crochet so I used them like this: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1279710495396242&set=ms.c.eJwFwYENADAIArCPFkCH~_P9jttTsEL2~%3B1mo9KmAgxpFRB3H9Bq4~-.bps.a.842764559090840.1073741852.100000719113895&type=3&theater
Hi there, I really could use some help. I’ve weaved my rug to the end and have no idea how to finish the rug off. I’ve read through the instructions several times and I also read through 2 pages worth of comments but I’m still not able to figure it out. Could you kindly clarify? Thanks so much!
Hi Heather,
After you have weaved your rug till the end, use your weaving strip to “tie” the warp strips, a bunch at a time.
Hope this helps.
how many strips do I need to leave for the weave strip? I’m actually not using sheets b/c I have various pieces of left over material. But, if you could tell me how many king size strips you used for the weave strip, I could figure out the length I need. Thanks!
Hi deedee,
I didn’t calculate how many strips I have used as the weaver strip. Base on this size of the rug, I would estimate that the strip is about 12 yards long. As it is only an estimation, please allow more to be on the safe side.
Happy making!!!
Hello! About to take on this project and wondering what size cardboard I should cut, since I’m hoping to make a rug about 54 x 42?
Thank you for the awesome tutorial!!
Hi Anne,
As you may have read that my cardboard is about 28 x 20″ and the finished rag rug is about 25″ x 14″, thus, if you want to have a finished size of 54″ x 42″, you will need roughly 60″ x 60″ of cardboard. It is huge and I am not sure of you can find this cardboard easily. What I have in mind is that you could probably adapt the method of weaving but instead on the cardboard, you can do it on balcony railing, just a suggestion.
The rug is GORGEOUS, and much easier looking than the braided & sewn ones I’ve seen… but I’m a bit dense, so bear with me.
1. I’m weaving ONE strip of fabric through bunches of 6-12 strips of fabric. Just weaving through the ENTIRE bunch of fabric strips, not individual ones, right?
2. When my weaving strip reaches the end of the row, do I just leave them there and then tie them together (to each other, 2×2?) once ALL the weaving strips are used? Then tuck the ends in?
3. Why does your rug seem to show so many different patterns even within a single row (column?)? It’s so pretty that way, but I can’t figure out how the individual strips that are bunched together flip around to make those pattern changes. Does it just happen of its own accord?
4. Have you tried using mostly plain sheets for the bottom of the 6 or 12-strip bunches, with mostly patterned sheets as the top 2 strips? (Plain are so much easier to find at thrift stores). Does that work as well?
5. Do you think –to make a longer rug– I could knot 2 strips together in the middle, or would it make the rug have a giant lump part way through? (This might be where actual sewing is required… yeuch.)
Thanks – I’m so jazzed to try this as a summer project with my daughter!
Here is the answers for your questions:
When come to the end of a strip and need an extension extension, fold the end of the strip at about 1 -1.5″ from the edge, make a small slit vertically. Do the same to the new strip.
Put the new strip on top of the existing and pass the tail end through the slit holes.
Gently pull the strip until is goes all the way to the other side. The end of the existing strip goes through it as well.
1. Yes, weave through the whole bunch of strips.
2. Keep on weaving to make the next row when you reach the end of the row. Join the weaving strip with a new strip and continue to weave until you have finished the entire rug.
3. I used 3 different patterns of sheets and mixed them up within the bunches, it just came out with this pattern.
4. I haven’t tried it with plain sheets so I am not sure how it will turn out.
5. You will get lumps provided you knot is as the following method (I showed this in Braided Rag Rug tutorial):
Tug it a little to tighten up the joint.
And space out the knots so that they are not all in one spot.
Hope I have explained your questions. If you need further clarification, please feel free to ask again.
Thank you.
I made this rug and I think I followed how to do it correctly but mine came out looking like squares instead of diamond shaped in the weave,, Please tell me what I did wrong because although mine looks ok your is beautiful and I would love for mine to come out like yours 🙁
Hi Karen,
Probably you are pulling the bunch of fabrics too tight or you aren’t pulling the weaving strip tight enough.
Hope this helps.
Video would be awesome!
I know but may be later, thanks for suggesting!!!
would it be possible to do a ‘tutorial’ on this via youtube? I am just having a hard time understanding your instructions….i learn better when someone shows me. Thanks, just an idea.
I am making my second rug following this method. My first one turned out very well.
A couple of helpful hints or suggestions from my experience:
1. My loom was made from the top of a large box…I did not cut the sides off the lid and so my loom sits 6 inches above the floor (or table)..it lends strength to the loom. It was a box for a workbench.
2.Instead of cutting 1 inch strips for the warp (last rug I cut/tore 400 strips!) …. I cut/tore strips that were 8 or 9 inches wide and (only had to use 50) and each strip has bunched together quite nicely to make a cushy rug!….It is easy to weave because there is only one bunch of material to go underneath, so you don’t risk missing any of the warp strips.
love my rug!!
Margie, thanks for the update and the tips, it is very helpful!!!
Is there any way this pattern could be thinned down and enlarged to make a woven quilt? I know currently it would be to think and heavy as a quilt, but it is just beautiful and think if altered could make a beautiful bed cover. LaWannah
Hi LaWannah, I haven’t tried the different sizes of the rag rug but I would think that it should be workable. I would love to get your feed back after you have tested on it. Thank you very much.
These directions are a little confusing. Do you have a video that shows the steps?
Hi, this rug looks great ! How do you get the form checkered ? I got squares. I tried it a million times already.
Did you pull the weaving strip? The warp strips should be a little loose in tension. Hope this helps.
How about toppers for bar stools or seat pads for plastiic chairs
They look soft
That’s a good idea, Claire. You can basically adapt this method for anything you want to cover.
I tear the strips from old bed sheets, sew them together on my serger sewing machine and use a Q size crochet hook and use single crochet and slip stitches. They can be oval, round or rectangular.
Do I tie a knot in each bunch of fabric stria to keep them from sliding through the cardboard slits?
If the slits are not able to grab the strips, you may tie a knot to stop them from coming off the slots.
Wow! What a great idea, can not believe I never thought to use multi-strips to make a woven rug thick, and then weaving with one strip! Wow, total genius!! This will make the project so much better than any that I had imagined to date, thicker, comfy and Way easier, I can hardly wait to try! My kitchen rug is falling apart, perfect timing to find this, now I just got to track down the sheets! Thanks so much for sharing this!
Will the rug be too small if I make it using old queen size bed sheets?
It could be a little thin than this.
Hi! Thanks so much for sharing your creations! I absolutely love this, and can’t wait to make this! However, I’m having trouble understanding the beginning! I understand the cardboard and putting the strips in the slits… But after that… I’m lost! Am I taking a strip, not connected to the strips that are in the cardboard, to weave? Thanks for the help!
Yes, it is another strip to do the weaving, not from the cardboard. It is just like a normal weaving process where you need a weaving string to weave those in the cardboard. Hope this help in clearing up the instruction.
What size rug will 3 king size sheets make?
Hi Alyson, the finished size of this rug which used 3 king size sheets is 25″ x 14″ (as stated in the tutorial).
Boy oh boy I love your site. Everything is so easy to use. You have all the great widgets like email, print, and social networking sites. Thank you for all the time you put into showing us your crafts.
I read on another reliable site that rugs made from sheets shed pretty badly.
Mine still looking very nice and intact even after so many washes for years!!! Perhaps the sheet material that “reliable site” used was not a good one to begin with. The one showing in the picture was from the old bed sheets of more than 30 years ago.
I used plastic core flute (the stuff light weight signs are made out of) a cut a small round hole at the bottom of the slit then clamped it to the table under a light wooden strip. Worked like a million dollars. My mat only took just over an hour to complete.
So I have been trying to do this rug for an entire day….. the cardboard is not a good thing to use with sheets I have restarted this project a million times today because the cardboard won’t hold that much fabric. Soooooooo frustrated.
Perhaps your cardboard is too soft to handle the weaving. In the instruction, you need a “sturdy corrugated cardboard” and not any single thickness cardboard. Hope this helps.
it looks great!
thanks for sharing your tutorial! i set a link and hope you agree.
best wishes, http://handzuhand.blogspot.de/2014/03/rag-rugs-flickenteppich.html
Can someone explain the crisscross row please!
This is a really cute idea for the grandkids.
Hi There! I figured out the crisscross row! All I need to do is tie off…and I already asked that question, so I will be patient! and wait….:)
Perhaps this is the question to ask….does the last weaving row facilitate the tying off of the warp strips? If so, how does the weaving strip interact with the warp strips?
I keep looking at the edge of your rug and I can’t see how you tied it off, but I love how it looks.
I have a lovely rug. It is woven. My question is about the last task.
I’m trying to figure out to do the crisscross … and how to tie off.
What kind of knot did you use to tie off? Square knot…overhand…do I combine strips from side by side warp bunches or just tie one bunch of warp strips.
When I crisscross…do I start on one side of the rug, sew in a zigzag to the other side and then sew back to the original side..to create an x pattern?
thanks!
looking forward to hearing from you!
I love this rug and have really enjoyed the process!
Thank you for the quick response!!! Much appreciated! Can’t wait to start!!!! 🙂
LOVE this rug!! To clarify, you’re putting 6-12 strips of fabric in EACH slot? Do you weave through each separately or as a group? Thanks!
Yes, it is 6-12 strips in a slot depending on the strip size. You will need to weave through them in a group in order to get the thickness of the rug.
This is a beautiful idea, and I am excited about trying to make one of my own. I find myself stuck near the beginning. I am working on marking the cardboard to cut the slots for gripping the fabric strips. I am measuring them 1/2″ apart, as it says in the instructions. However, they seem to be very narrow. In your photograph, it looks like they are closer to 1″ apart. I want to be sure before I actually cut them. Are the slots really only 1/2″ apart?
It is 1/2″ apart. If you feel that they are too narrow, you can always use a slightly wider measurement, but be aware that you will need to pull the weave closer as you go are weaving, otherwise, they are going to be too loose.
Thanks for the info. I made rag rugs alot when I was young without the sewing. This info brought back memories, maybe not quite the same but close enough. I am going to start one this week.
This is great! I have a stock of old linens that I have been holding onto. I HATE to throw things out. The plan was to M-A-Y-B-E do some rag crochet. Now I have yet another option …
Thank you for sharing.
This is a very spiffy rug, but i have to agree – the directions are not terribly clear for anyone who has no experience – a video or even a bigger picture of what’s going on – and more pictures – would be better.
But video would be the best, especially for the last bit, as it’s…utterly confusing.
BRILLIANT idea!
Thank you Craft Passion, I will do just that. Since I posted comment I have re-read your info a few times and each time I get a better grasp 🙂 Will definitely be giving this a try. Thanks, again, and Happy New Year!
Happy New Year and happy crafting too!
I LOVE this rug and want to make one (actually two!) I’m OK until the instructions say “start weaving” and then … what is is a “warp strip”? I, obviously, have never woven before but I want to learn. Where can I get some basic info/instruction so I can make this rug?? Please, someone advise – would REALLY appreciate any help! THAKS!!
I am not a weaver myself. You could google search “warp weaving”, it would give you some better explanations. Hope you can start your woven rag rug soon!
This makes no sense. It doesn’t show HOW you weaved it at all. It basically just says “I simply weaved! And there you go!”
You will need to click to page 2 for the full tutorial and pictures to show you HOW TO weave…..
I Love this rug cannot wait to start it.Thank you for sharing all this How To and your ideas,they are so awesome!!!!!!!!
Added this to a blog post I wrote and cited you: http://longtermcarelink.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/easy-and-inexpensive-christmas-gifts/ Thank you for blogging some great crafts!
Thank you for sharing your ideas, in a world where other people are stealing and using our ideas as their own, thank you and I will try it.
Annie I also wanting to make a 5×7 size.how many slots across and how long are you making yours strips?
I am currently making a 5X7 version of this rug. I absolutely love the texture from the rug. When you layered the fabric into the slots were you extra careful on it being all even or did you let the fabric do its own thing? And how did you keep the fabric from tangling? Thank you!
I love your rug! It looks so great and is a great way to reuse things!
I have a couple questions, just for clarification. Does the difference between 6 and 12 strips just make it thicker or thinner? Do you always weave the set of 6 or 12 strips together as a set?
Also, I don’t want it to have the fringe on the ends. Any suggestions for a different way to finish the edges?
Thanks again for sharing your beautiful rug…can’t wait to go to Goodwill and dig around my house today!
Both gave the same result as the amount of fabrics is the same (6 x 2″ or 12″ x 1″). Of course the more fabrics the thicker the rug will be.
As for your second question, you can join the strips into a continuous length and wind them into the slot, weave the rug as in the tutorial and when you reach to the end, the “ends” becomes loops instead of fringes, continue to weave until you have them all done.
Please, please, please, a video 🙂 This rug looks so fabulous, but I just don’t get it from the pictures.
Your rug is beautiful! I was wondering, what is size of the finished rug? Also, how well do they hold up? Are they machine washable? I’m worried it will be ruined the moment someone steps on it.
Hi Anna, the approximate size of the rug is 25″ x 14″.
It is still hold up very well after 3 years of using it and with regular washing.
I throw the rug into washing machine to wash with other rugs. Just like other rugs, it comes out clean and fluffily soft after the wash.
I can’t wait to try this. I just hope I can do it. I do have a small weaving loom, but it is too small for a rug. I “might” could do a place mat on it. Thank you for sharing with us.
thanks
I really like this rug. Can you do a video recording tutorial for those of us who are slow. lol
how large is your rug since you utilized 3 king size sheets? for a 3′ x 5′ rug, how many strips should i utilize? thanks!
My bed sheets are very torn and thin, the rag rug came out to be about 25″ x 14″.
For your size, I would say double it up what called in the tutorial, but if your bed sheets are pretty new you won’t need that many.
I know this question has been asked a bunch of times, but can’t really find the answer. The last step about weaving the last row in opposite direction – not quite sure what that means. Anyway you could reword for us?
Thanks so much for sharing this great rug and thank you in advance for your help.
Thanks, Kay, to remind this to me. I have rephrased the instruction and hopefully to make it more understandable.
Thanks for your quick response. I have one other question, how close together are your weaving strips? (to each other, do you try to leave a space or get them as close to the strip in a row above it?)
There are about 1/2″ to 1″ in between the weaving strips in each row.
Hey there I love your woven rug! Is there any limit to the size? I would love to create one large enough to use under my medium sized Dining table! Do you think its doable?? 😉 TIA!
I still don’t understand how to “tie” the warp strips at the end. How does the weaving strip hold them in place or does it? Do I actually have to knot the warp strips at the end to keep it from unraveling? “pull the weaving strip and tie the warp strips in place” does not make any sense to me. Can u please explain this further?
Using this amount of fabric how large is the end result?
I LOVE the rug you made and want to try making my own. I’m an experienced crafter and seamstress, but have never made rugs. I’m sorry to say that I did not find the instructions clear in a few places, so it will be a case of trial and error I guess until I get it right.
Here is the part I found most confusing: “Weave the last row in opposite direction by creating a crisscross, pull the weaving strip and tie the warp strips in place. Do the same on the other end of the rag. Join a new strip to sew and tie.”
It seems without some stitching across the ends where the “fringe” is, the woven ends will fall off with use. I wish you could give a clearer explanation. I’ve looked ta the pictures, but they are too small to see much detail. I don’t want to complain. I’m grateful you shared your rug weaving method!
It won’t fall off if they are “tie” properly. In the instruction it says that you need to tie the warp strip to knot. You may do it a little different with some creativity, just to make sure the rug is steady 🙂 Hope this helps.
Thanks so much for this tutorial! We are having our kitchen floor tiled and I want to make a couple of rugs to place in front of our stove and sink so I can minimize spills on the floor. This is a exactly what I was looking for.
The most amazing ideas I’ve seen. Thanks for all the step by step instructions on useful projects!
Thanks for sharing a lovely & useful recycle project. Love that it’s no-sew too.
just wanted to say what a great idea. i am gonna start collecting the things i need straight away.
very clever x
I just wanted to say your rug looks amazing! I have been teaching my self to dc rag rugs, they are fun, however I happened to find your rug, now I want to learn that too! I am confused by a few things, 1) not sure about how to hide the weaving strip by going through the strips, and 2) about the last row being down diagnol! If you have time to discuss this I would appreciate it!
how can You connect the different weavingstripes when the are up/finished (sorry, for my silly English language).
should i knot them together at the end?
Please refer this page for better and clearer photo on how to join the strip.
Thank you for posting the instructions for this rug – it is one of the prettiest I’ve seen and I can’t wait to try it! I have a question about the length of the strips. If you tear the king sheets into 1 or 2″ strips, do you leave the strips the full length of the sheet or do you cut them the size of the cardboard plus your 6″ overhang on each end? Thank you.
Hi Marla, I didn’t cut the length, I just fold them up and it gave about 6″ on each end.
Hey how big is the rug from the 3 king bed sheets?
What a fabulous project!! I’m featuring it on my “Top 10 Awesome Recycled Craft Projects” today at http://www.cheapcraftymama.com, be sure to grab a button if you want. Also I would love for you to share this (and any other creations) at my “Pin It and Win It Wednesday” starting this evening!
This is a great idea! I’ve got a couple of worn-out bedsheets that I’ve saved the material from, though I didn’t have anything in mind that I wanted to turn them into. This will come in really handy, though, as will the braided rug idea.
I love this and thank you so much for the tutorial , really clear instructions.
If I do make one I will be sure to let you know 🙂
Just off to browse the rest of your site x
You could do the same thing with plastic grocery bags.
Certainly!
curious..when you cut your king size sheets into strips, do you leave the full length or cut them a little larger than the cardboard.? thanks!
Cut them larger than the cardboard.
Can this rug be washed??
Yes, it is washable. I have washed mine a few times using washing mashing (cool water) and it still look nice and neat.
I’m curious, has anyone else had troubles fitting 12 strands into the cardboard? I ended up having to tie the strands down because they kept slipping out. Fun project, but I site underestimated how long it would take to prepare my fabric strips. Can’t wait to see the finished product!!!! Thanks for sharing the instructions – I found you via Pinterest.
Oops. Sure, not site. Dang autocorrect!
Hey Karen, I found it difficult to fit 6 into the slots, but found it easy to use clothespins to bunch six strips together, then took painters tape to secure them to the cardboard after they were all in the slots. I am done weaving now and just need to figure out how to tie the warps to secure them. The prepping it the most time consuming. I only worked on the weaving yesterday and this morning, and will definitely take less than a day for those without a little one-year-old running around. 🙂 Hope this helps!
I am a rug fanatic and love this so much. I can’t wait to get busy making one. It doesn’t look that complicated. Thanks for posting instructions.
Hello, what width were your weaving and warp strips for this rug pictured? I am getting ready to make this. I see you said 1″-2″ for the warp strips and saw you said your weaving strip was 6x smaller than your warp, but what was the specific (or close to) width?
Thank you!
I used 1″ for the both warp and weaving strip.
Sorry, I couldn’t understand your second question since I never mention about 6 x smaller.
You might have answered this already, but how long does this take approximately?
Hi can you tell me what camera you use for your photos?
I used Canon 1000D for these photos.
Is there no end to your talent? Oh my goodness! You are a one-girl-wonder! What a wonderful site–
Wow! What a beautiful rug! thank you for sharing : )
Hi Craft Passion.
I really love this rag rug.
Thanks for taking the time to put together this tutorial.
I have included it in a post about great gifts for women and girls.
You can have a look here….
http://allysonadeney.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/17-handmade-gifts-for-women-and-older-girls-with-tutorials/
…. if you like.
Ally of harrysdesk.
Curious to see how big the rug will turn out if I use a King sheet . . . also, how large it will turn out if i use a queen sheet. I am having trouble finding king size sheets in my area. Do you cut the stripes long ways or along the shorter end?
Hi! I am making your rag rugs with a group of girls and they are looking cute! Thanks for sharing the pattern. I have one question. Could you explain how you are finishing the ends? I couldn’t figure that part out. I didn’t want the weaving strand to ravel out. Do you knot the ends?
Thanks!
I sewed and tied the ends with the sewing strip, the same strip that I weave the rag rug.
I didn`t understand..=( I wish u have video on this…
Hello. Thanks for this fun tutorial. I wondered if I could use this to make place mats with denim material (more specifically, the legs I cut off from my daughter’s jeans).
It is possible. The the feeling and touching will different from this as the material is denim, be expected that it is stiffer and more rigid.
Hi! I was actually looking or something else when I stumbled on this website! And just in time too!!! I’m getting married in 5 months and I’ve been wanting to add to my “hope chest” This is a great way to do it, also the braided rag rug!! If you don’t mind I’d like to share this with my blog?? I’d love to show my friends!
Please feel free to refer them to this post by a link.
Hi, Curious if you would be interested or if you already have, made a youtube video to illustrate. My rug is not looking like yours and I dont want to keep going to have it turn out wrong. Yours has the nice bumps of fabric between the weaves, where mine it not and its flat and you can see the weaving.. 🙁 What did I do wrong?
You need to pull the weaving strip to get them closer. The actual size is narrower than the cardboard. Please try and see if you can get it right.
Videoing is a little inconvenient for me as no one helps me to hold the camera while I work on it. I don’t want to place the camera on the tripod because that will make the video too far to see clearly.
No worries! 🙂 Thank you so much for getting back to me still today. I really appreciate it. I was curious how many rows you did across? I have 20 bunches of 12 and was worried that this will not make it large enough for the area I want to put it in. How many did you do?
I have about 37 to 38 bunches to come out to a size of 16″ .
so you put 12 stripes in 37 to 38 rows. . . how large does that make the rug?
What if i wanted to use queen sheets instead .. what do you think about that?
My family used to make these often – it is common for French Canadian heritage I guess. I’ve never made one and I haven’t seen one in a long time. I’ll be giving this a shot! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, I didn’t know that this piece of craft is related to French Canadian heritage!!! It sounds wonderful!!!! Hope to see your rug soon.
Hi. I’m confused about the step below:
Weave the last row in opposite direction by creating a crisscross, pull the weaving strip and tie the warp strips in place.
Do the same on the other end of the rag. Join a new strip to sew and tie
not sure what you mean here…If you have time to respond I’d appreciate it!
me encanto la página hermoso todo lo que haces, te felicito por no ser egoista y enseñar, el unico problema es que no entiendo nada en inglés no se puede encontrar la traducción perdone la molestia pero soy colombiana y no hablo inglés
Translation (by Google):
beautiful page I love everything you do, I congratulate you for not being selfish and teach, the only problem is I do not understand anything in English you can not find the translation forgive the inconvenience but I’m Colombian and I do not speak English
Sorry, I can’t read Spanish either (sigh… languages barrier!!!) I used Google to translate so that I can guess the content.
May be you can try using this translation, hope that it helps.
You are so talented….I’ve spent the whole afternoon looking at all your projects. Beautiful. One day I will try to make this rag rug. I’ve crocheted rag rugs, but your way looks so nice. I would like to attempt a large one. This will take many more sheets…but my husband visit many thrift stores and they have many sheets. First I will check my closets! I will continue to check back on your website. I look forward to your future projects!!!! Thank you!
Sorry, so I see the last row you should tie the warp strips, I think that is what is confusing me. Tie in a knot? to the weaving strip?
I’m a little confused on how to start the weaving process.
Do you weave with a completely seperate piece of scrap? If so, I’m
confused on what to do with the loose ends when you weave a row?
Do you use one very long piece and when you get to the end, turn and
keep going?
Thank you-
This part is also confusing to me 🙁 Do you have a super long weaving piece to go one way, then reverse, then the same way again?? Please explain.
You can always join the weaving strip when it is not long enough.
Beautiful work, well done 🙂 id love to turn this into a double bed cover, how would i do that ?
Tough question!!!! If you are using this method, then you will need to have a very big cardboard to make the “loom”, or may be you will need to combine a few smaller pieces into the size you need by sewing them up.
Thanks, if im succesfull ill send you a picture.
Hi..i too just stumbled upon this..& it definitely seems a great idea for someone like me..who’s not very good with needles..i am planning to try making a small one with strips of old clothes..hope it comes out this good 😀
Hi, Mira, it sure comes out pretty and nice! Just do it 🙂 Hope to see yours soon!
do you think this would work with wool. I have tons of felted wool and am looking for a project to use it.
thanks. Your creation and idea is brilliant!
I am not sure about wool. Please give it a try and let us know how it turns out 🙂
Hey, I was wondering if you needed to cut the silts on both ends of the cardboard? or just one side?
Thanks,
Morgan
Both ends. I took closed-up photo so that you all can view better, that’s why each every photo only show 1 side LOL…
Thank you for this pattern – I was really struggling to figure out whether to cut both ends of the cardboard. So glad someone already asked the same question!
Hey I didnt understand how you secure the tail end in the first slot and I dont understand the steps for the last row
Just tie a knot to secure them 😉
Absolutely fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing this. This will make a great rug for our kitchen/baby’s room/bathroom. I LOVE the way you used an old sheet – we have some of those lying around…and also, our local thrift store always has old sheets on sale. Perfect!
I love the colors of this woven rug!
I have a question. Did you weave the rug diagonally?
If not, how did you get the weave to look that way?
For reference, here’s a link to a picture of how I would expect horizontal/vertical weaving to look.
http://secure.mcc.org/mccstore/images/RUG.jpg
See the difference?
I weaved it horizontally.
The difference is I used different thickness for the weaving and warp strips. My warp strips are very thick, about 6 times thicker than the weaving strip. When I weaved I pull the warp strip together and they became crunch up and formed the diamond shape pattern.
Hello again, this is the comment I was referring to about different thickness for the weaving and warp.
Thank you.
Hi!
Wanted you to know I posted a link to this tutorial on my blog, PaperFriendly.
I don’t understand this statement. Could you explain it?
“Join and new strip to the start end and do the same.”
Thanks!
It is a typo, thanks for pointing it up. I must be too tired when I wrote this post :p
I rephrased it for clearer understanding:” Do the same on the other end of the rag. Join a new strip to sew and tie”.
I would lov eto feature this tutorial on my blog: http://vintagesheets.blogspot.com Please let me know if tat would be all right.
thanks,
jen
Sure!! I would love to be featured 🙂
Bonjour de la France
Bravo pour Tout CE Que Vous FAITES et partagez , Bravo pour AVOIR eu de Bonnes Idées .
JE suis la machine brodeuse , surfais JE verser chercher Fournisseur de feuille face hydrosoluble UNE Adhesif Pour faire technique Avec fibres suis Tombée sur Votre site, au Fournisseur CAS Où Vous connaissez des Nations Unies en Chine Pas trop cher serait super CE de m’aider .
Bonne continuation
Astrid
Translation (by Google):
Hello from France
Congratulations for everything you do and share, Bravo have had good ideas.
I am a machine embroiderer, I was surfing paid search provider soluble sheet face a membership for technical expertise with fibers came across your site, Where the Supplier IF you know the United Nations in China Not too expensive would be great to help me EC.
Bonne continuation
Astrid
This is great! I’m linking to this one too, it would be a great project for kids too! all the best!
Adorei, este tapete pois não sei costura, voce é genial
Translation (by Google):
I loved this rug because I do not know sewing, you’re brilliant
Wonderful ways to use things you already have. My Grandmother and I use a floor loom to make rag rugs out of some material that is also recycled. She has made rugs out of bread bags. Very good to use outside on your porch. Takes a lot of bread bags and keeps the plastic out of the landfills. Right now she is making some rugs using some of my great Grandmothers fabric she had rolled before she passed away years ago. The balls are from old sheets, dresses and shirts. Love to see other people being so crafty………
Thanks for sharing!! Your site/blog is really amazing! I’ll be linking to your rugs tutorials in my next post!!
Thanks, Alessia, I am glad that you share it with your readers.
I LOVE your photography!!! Thanks for creating a ‘no sew’ for me:)
I stumbled your post BTW!!!
Thank you, Alison 🙂 to share this tutorial among your community !!!
Are these rugs suitable as ‘bath mats’? or not really? if not, what would you find is the best place to use it? I’d love to know this so I know what I might think I’ll use it for before I start.
thanks!
This is absolutely suitable to use as a bath mat, since it is super absorbent. I put it just outside my bathroom.
I didn’t completely understand a couple parts, which you may have covered somewhere else, but I’ll ask anyways:
1. You said you had 12 strips of fabric in each slot–so did you weave each of those 12 strips individually, or did you weave around the entire bunch at one time?
2. The warp strips are those that are running up and down–the ones you’re weaving around, right?
3. Did your finished rug turn out the same size as your weaving board, or was it a different size?
Thank you!
Hi Regina,
Thanks for the questions:
1. I weaved the entire whole bunch of 12 strips at one time
2. Warp is the 12 strips, weft is the weaving strip
3. The finished rug is smaller than the weaving board since we pull the warp bunches close to each other during weaving.
Hope this help.
Thanks so much! I’ll be keeping my eye out at thrift stores for some inexpensive sheets so I can try this out. I also love the braided rug idea, I might have to try that, too! 🙂
I love that you created a no-sew version, you rock! Thanks so much, I’ll be linking.
I love this!!! I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for the tutorial. Donna