Rugs, rugs and more rugs

Well, well, look what we have here! We girls have been wanting a rug for our room for some time but never found the perfect thing until.....we saw a picture of a braided rug in an old decorating book.

Here are the strips (about 1 1/2"wide...the wider the cut strip, the fatter the braid) that we cut from all of our scrap fabric..notice all the bright colors!

The strips were sewn together (length-wise) and are now in the midst of being braided... I love this part!  Since we're braiding our strips, we made three separate, VERY long runs...then we braided them together.

(someone had to get a picture of our cute pincushion.... find more like this on our Etsy shop! )          

Once you have all the strips braided and have one long braid, you start wrapping your braid around itself and sewing it together in whatever size and shape that you want.  We didn't want a huge rug and since this was our first attempt at braided rug making, we started our center about 6"in length.  You need to keep your rug laying down when you're working on it, or it will have a tendency to curl up (we found this out the hard way... thanks to Nanny for helping us with that little problem) into a bowl shape.  We also found that a curved needle and clear quilting thread (easily available at some place like JoAnn Fabrics) work great for this job.  Once you've used up almost all of the braid that you have made, but your rug isn't big enough,  stop with some fabric hanging free, and sew on more fabric scraps, braid, and then start your hand sewing again.  Continue until the rug is just the size that you're wanting.

The finished product! This was a lot of fun for us girls and we're sure that you'll enjoy doing it as much as we did.

We'll try to post about our other rug that we made real soon.... so stay tuned!

Comments

[Katie]

Adorable - as always!! Great job!

[Kailey B.]

You girls are just way too AMAZING! That is an adorable rug- I've never seen a braided rug in such bright colors... leave it to the Long girls to add new style to an ordinary thing :) How long do you think it took you to make this?
Love you girls!

[Abigail]

Dear Kailey~
In answer to your question, this rug probably took about 10 days or so to make.... we were working especially hard to finish it in a short time! We love and miss you girls so much and are looking forward to seeing you!
With love from the Long Girls,
Abigail

[randi]

Beautiful! So many colors--just like a rainbow!

[Marie]

This rug looks fantastic!

Thank you for sharing the instructions. I would love to make such a rug for our bedroom.

[Michelle in middle Tennessee]

I'm wondering when you say that you sewed the rug together, could you explain this a bit more?

I'm totally inexperienced with anything to do with sewing, but I really think this might be doable, even for me.

I LOVE your blog & all of your great pictures.

[Antoinette K.]

Oh, this is sooooooo neat! My mom and I have wanted to make one of these for a while and have quite a few scraps to do so, but have not had the time yet! I cannot wait till we can make some of these! Very nice!

Blessings in Christ,

Miss Antoinette

[Jenny]

How did you sew the rug together? I'm trying to picture it in my head, and I can't figure it out.

Thanks ♥
Jenny

[Christy B.]

Do you think this would work with old T-shirts cut up? It wouldn't be as colorful, but the rug would be soft and warm on our cold floors.

[Jenny Fish]

Love this!!! What a great way to use up scraps left over from sewing projects. Hmmm I wonder if Kelsey can braid???? Time she learned right??? Giant grin. I love how you all work together, I cannot wait for that day.

[Lucy]

♥

[Martha Joy]

Your rug is SO beautiful!!!!!!!! I love the colors!
Much love to y'all!
In Jesus,
Martha Joy

[Dexter]

Thanks for this wonderful post. I am wanting to make some christian rugs with my family. I really appreciate this. Thanks.

[Amy Hamilton]

Thanks so much for sharing! I love all these photos! These would make the best christian rugs! I am trying to find the perfect one for my sister-in-law!

[Tela]

You could also start with one strip and a large crochet hook - do a chain as a base then wrap it around with a single crochet till you are done. Be sure you do 3 single crochet's in every end and corner or it will be more like a bowl.

[Shelly]

sewing the braids together with fishing line works really well and does not break apart. Hard on the hands to sew but lasts forever

[idalina]

my grandmother use to make them but i had no idea how to make one. I am doing other projects but will start the rug once i am finished. thank you

[Tricia]

Great instructions, thank you! Please advise how do you keep the edges of the fabric from fraying? Do you sew all around each individual piece? or do you sew them into tubes and turn them? I want to make this, but haven't figured out how to keep all the edges from fraying if I wash the rug.

[the Long ladies]

Hi Tricia!

Thanks for commenting! Actually, we didn’t do anything special to the edges of the fabric strips for our rug... no turning or anything. Once you sew it all together the fraying really isn’t all that noticeable (it may have a bit more of 'lived in’ feel). We washed our rugs and didn’t have any trouble with them. We’d definitely recommend making sure that the rug is hand-sewn very securely to prevent any unwanted fraying.
We hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions! xox the Long ladies

[Kate Snave]

I did this but sewed the braids together on my machine with a zig-zag stitch. The trick was keeping it flat and ending up with a cup shaped rug, so take your time. My grandson loves it, it was also made out of jeans cut into strips.

[Karen B.]

The pictures and instructions for sewing the strips together are totally lacking. I have been sewing for over 55 years, and wanted to see pictures, and some sort of explanation as to how to hand sew these strips together. Your lack of pictures, and instructions leaves a lot to the imagination. i cannot see how everyone will know how to construct the actual rug. Very disappointed. this is not a how to pattern.

[Sunny]

To the previous poster. I understand your comment about lack of photos for a beginning sewer. But if you have been sewing for 55 years you should be able to figure out how to sew strips of fabric together to form one continuos strip. I do agree also for the less experienced sewer pictures of the rug braid being sewn together (perhaps using a dark contrasting thread) would be helpful.

[Jenny]

can you give more pictures on sewing the fabric strips together

[Hattie]

How long are the sewn strips before you start braiding?

[Karen]

To avoid the sewing use 4 strands for the braid...always start with the right side go over under over etc...once the center length is finished make the last over under actually in the center braid so the braid as you make it always connects to the body of the braid. So for example, braid a 6 inch strip, then as you take the right hand strand over under over under actually go into the 6inch braid at the left. Then take the next right hand strand and go over under over and connect as you turn the corner attach several weavings to the same section of braid so it lays flat. It is like a type of macrame from the 196o's...but no sewing is needed. I use old T shirts as they don't fray and they stretch. Good luck.

[Diane Sue Davis]

I have a very old book called rag rugs, will have to try and find it and start. I am seventy and hope my arthritis will withstand the sewing. Thank you for the new idea from and old source. They never outgrow their usefulness. God Bless Diane Davis

[Deirdre]

What a great way to clean out my basement from the drawers and drawers of scrap fabric!! :-)

[Nancy]

DENIM STRIPS..... Next Project!!!!! Thanks!

[Pamela]

I was wondering if old denim jeans could be used to make a braided rug?

[Carolyn Champion]

I have been collecting the paper tops and skirts they use in doctors offices...I grab mine as I leave and often there are others from other people. I may mix them in with real fabric in making some braided rugs. Just thought I'd share my hint for others to try and they are clean and free!!

[Deanna]

I can hardly wait to go cut up a bunch of my old throw-away jeans and make rugs instead! Thank You!

[Chaitra]

This had next to no instructions.

[Sue Denaker]

Looks great. I've never done anything like this. Just signed up to this site. You mentioned how wide but just said very long for length. And sewn together length wise. I'm new to this and confused.

[Mary Brammer]

Nice to see this post on rag rugs as this used to be something all young women were taught when they were learning how to sew (back in the good old days). I would like to answer some of the questions that have been posted: 1) to keep the material from fraying you can either use a stretchy material that won't fray (old t-shirts), or you can make your strips wider (2" min) then fold both outside edges 1/4" to center, then fold the strip again so the edges are enclosed to the inside. To keep them folded I usually pull the strips back and forth over the edge of a table or counter top as I work (you can also iron them if you are using thick material that won't crease easily). This makes your strips neater and you can easily make them into a roll while braiding if you want. 2) it helps to have 2 people working when braiding - 1 to hold and 1 to braid. An alternative is to tie the braid to a door knob, braid for a bit while walking backwards (keep tension on the braid), then reattach the braid farther up to the door knob when you run out of room to walk backwards. 3) To make long strips without sewing them together you will overlap the strips about 2" (if you are doing the no-fray bit be sure to fold in the top edge of the outside strip before overlapping), fold the strip and pin it, then when braiding you will go right up tight to the pin, remove the pin and keep going (the braid keeps the strips together). If you want to sew the strips together you put the two ends of strips right side together, and do a quick basting type stich 1/4" from the edge either by hand or by machine, then flatten out and fold into shape with the right sides showing on the outside, crease by pulling the material back and forth over the edge of your work table, then move on. 4) If you want to do a practice rug before using your good material, cut plastic grocery bags into long strips (cut off the handles, cut down the sides but leave the bottom attached then smooth the bag out flat and trim as needed to make straight sides and 3 curved corners, cut your 2" wide strips in a circular type fashion starting on the outside corner that is still square, then continue cutting up the outside edge and curve around the corners and continue on towards the center in the same fashion to make one long strip from a single bag). Attach the strips together by overlapping 2", fold and pin. When you are ready to braid you will braid right up tight to the pin, remove the pin and continue braiding. You can sew the plastic braids together into a rug using any cheap leftover thread you have on hand and then use the finished rug outside to sit on the ground or to kneel on when working in the garden (a church group in Phoenix makes braided ground pads to sleep on out of grocery bags in this fashion to give to homeless people living on the street). 5) To sew your braids into a rug shape be sure to use a curved needle as it makes it so much easier. To make your first rug the easiest one to make is a circular one. Lay your braids flat on a table or counter top surface and shape your rug by laying it out and coiling the flat braid in a flat circle starting with the center "eye" and working outward, then begin sewing from the inner center "eye" of your formed rug outward by sewing the outer edge to outer edge (think "whip stiching two fabric edges together" - use a doubled thread and put in a minimum of one stitch per braid)- don't pull the thread too tight so the rug can relax into a flat shape as you move on. It helps to work at a table where you can sit comfortably (I like to sit in a desk chair that can be adjusted up or down as needed), and keep the area you are stitching at the edge of the table once you get the first couple of circles stitched together, fold the outer braid up so it almost lays on top of the rug so you can access both of the braid edges easily, put in your whip stitch(s) and lay the braid back down as you move on, rotate your rug as needed as you continue stitching around the circle so the area you are working on always stays at the edge of the table in front of where you are sitting - this helps reduce fatigue. Wish I could post some pic's so everyone could see each step, but this comment section doesn't have that capability. If anyone needs additional help you can email me at marybrammer1 at yahoo.com.

[Gina]

My Aunt used to make rag rugs and my mother (who made some of our clothes) used to sew the scraps she had into long strips to give to her sister for the rugs. I got to help sew some of the strips together and if I remember correctly, my mother had us sew with right sides together on an angle so that the joining seam in the strip did not cause a "bulk" in the rug for my aunt. Of course this was years ago so I can not give you a picture of it. I just remember having to put the angles together carefully so that it did not form a right angle when opened up.

[Kay Luker]

Where are the pictures?? Look at how many people are asking you how to sew it together? What does that tell you? A 3 page instruction sheet does not cut it. Sew the strips together, how? The people who are raving about this must be family and friends, too many people complaining. Any tutorial I have ever purchased show how to make it, this does not. totally lacking A very experienced sewer,
Kay

[Angela Asbury]

I agree, not enough instructions. I'll find another pattern somewhere else.

[Susan Williams]

One thing you can do to make the strips so that they will not fray is to use a bias binding maker. I have a little hand tool that you can put bias strips of fabric in and it folds them into bias binding. This will turn the raw edges into the center where you can then fold them again and proceed with the braiding. I learned how to make braided rugs when I was about 8, and made a lot of them with my mother and a friend of hers who called them "rag rugs". Keep in mind that if you use clear quilting thread (plastic) or fishing line, you HAVE to preshrink every bit of the fabric you are using. When you wash this rug, and the fabric is not pre-shrunk, the fabric will shrink but the thread will not and you'll end up with something that resembles a ball of fabric, and not even a pretty ball either. :-) I agree with the previous posters, however, on the instructions. It took them 10 days working hurriedly to make this rug, and there are obviously more steps than listed. I would suggest searching online for a rag rug tutorial (or braided rug tutorial). If I were to follow these instructions, I would have to call on my previous experience before I could complete the rug.

[Emilie]

I don't understand the posts that say you gave no instructions. You told how wide to make the strips,
and most people know how to braid, and you keep braiding,
until it's the length you want, and then lay it down on
a flat surface and wrap it wound itself, and stitch it
together, preferably using invisible thread, unless
you know how to hide stitches with any color thread. What
other instruction would you need? I think you made it very
clear - if one can read. I love it !!

[Lin]

Ditto Emillie...Im a novice and even I understood the instructions...some folk have no initiative or common sense it seems. Sorry if I appear rude, but honestly, this is free information and very kind of the girls to take the time and effort to post...Rant over..scrap material hunt is on lol

[Emma]

Not to be rude BUT, all of you complainers should go to eBay and but a book ! I made my first 5x7 foot Oval rug with no instruction and it's beautiful. Man, I learned allot along the way. A couple of things that might help: 1)"braid aids" that's the name of it. 3 bell shaped objects that you feed your material through that miraculously folds raw ends in and rolls the fabric into perfect rolls as you braid. (average cost 15$ ...watch the shipping charges) 2) Don't sew - LACE. Lacing your braids together is far more sturdy than sewing. There are "lacing needles" on the same site you find the braid aids. In a pinch you can use a large darning needle so that you don't mess up your braid with the sharp needle tips. 3)I used cotton backing torn into 1/8 strips to lace with, then I discovered "waxed cotton thread/cord" It glides smoothly through one braid to another without allot of effort or wrist strain. Hope this fills in some blanks for some of you. .... just do it ! ((I ripped my rug apart and started again when it was 3X5))

[h]

Honestly, Kay Luker, if you are that experienced a sewer, you should be able to take a good look at any rag rug and figure out a general idea of how to make one without needing a billion pictures-it's not rocket science! There really was no need for such a rude post. This is a very nice tutorial that answered any questions someone might have regarding details that are not immediately apparent in a clear and straightforward fashion. I have no idea what anyone would need to know that wasn't covered here.

[Trudi]

As an alternative to fabric scraps and old t-shirts, you could also use old pantyhose. Just cut the top and foot part off.

[LaRae Allridge]

Thank you one and all, I certainly agree with the last few comments, it sounds very easy to me. Think! Think! Think! Ladies, and do not complain. Make it a fun project, if, you cannot do this then do not make it. Thank you Trudi for sharing, I keep thinking about making a rug, I going to try to do it this time. I've been making cards, lots of them. I will then do the rug. I was thinking maybe this summer would be a great time, sit out on the lawn, or on my deck. Sounds fun, try the front lawn and see you get some neighbors to help.

[Cloudy10]

I do agree that it is slightly confusing but I think it is a lovely tutorial so thank you

[Sydney Silva]

If you're hesitant about doing the full project, make some mug rugs, coasters, or placemats first, get "the hang of it," then on to the main event.
I work a lot with several yards or a bolt of fleece at a time so I can get long pieces of selvage. Right now I braid them into pull toys for dogs, but I think I can also make them into area rugs. Anybody tried it yet?
Oh, yeah, BTW, the fleece is for Project Linus, great fun charity. Happy crafting!

[Joyce]

How do I keep the strip ends from tangling while braiding? Glad to read your posts! Thanks

[kay]

I do sew and as I read all these post which were worded so nicely on how to...why be a witch to the youngsters and belittle them. Love the detail and can't wait to try. If you sew and can't picture this then sorry for you grumbles.

[Kathryn]

This brought back memories of when I was a kid and was always trying to make something out of nothing. Rag rugs were great but I never had the patience to make anything larger than a postage stamp. (Remember those?) Ok, 3 foot round was my average. I think the raw edges add to the rugs character and once it's together it doesn't fray too much. The suggestion to " lace " it, not sew it is sheer brilliance. A bodkin will work well for that. It does have a natural tendency to curl as you form the round but less so as you get further from the centre. Another idea to experiment or practice for those who are having trouble visualizing is to use a length of heavy yarn, piping or rope and form a tiny ring shape first into a tiny circle,place it flat on a table, then continue a second row around the outside rim of the first , .then a third row around the outside rim of the second circle. Each circle requires slightly more length than the last. You are forming concentric circles in a continuous line.

[Pam]

After braiding, can the rug be sewn together on the sewing machine using a zig zag stitch w/a large needle rather than by hand w/a curved needle?