Rag rug making..

[Hooch]

I buy old sheets from thrift stores usually for under one dollar.
If they are white you can use fabric dry to dye the color you want.
Prep is the biggest time consuming part I think.
Take your sheet, we will assume it's the color we want, otherwise dyeing it is the first step. Dyeing fabric instructions are on the dye bottle.
1. Cut out the seams. You can de-seam them if you really want another inch.. maybe..of fabric. I now just cut it out unless it's obvious big loss of a few inches..
* fitted sheets are pretty easy to cut out the elastic and corners, so dont stop a purchase of nice color because it's a fitted sheet..rip that stuff out n you have lots of fabric.
2. Cut/ rip fabric into longest length strips about a 1.5 wide or so. It doesnt have to be perfect wodth..cust kinda close.
3. Roll strips into small bundles to work with n lay out your rug colors n pattern.

 

[LadyLocust]

I buy old sheets from thrift stores usually for under one dollar.
If they are white you can use fabric dry to dye the color you want.
Prep is the biggest time consuming part I think.
Take your sheet, we will assume it's the color we want, otherwise dyeing it is the first step. Dyeing fabric instructions are on the dye bottle.
1. Cut out the seams. You can de-seam them if you really want another inch.. maybe..of fabric. I now just cut it out unless it's obvious big loss of a few inches..
* fitted sheets are pretty easy to cut out the elastic and corners, so dont stop a purchase of nice color because it's a fitted sheet..rip that stuff out n you have lots of fabric.
2. Cut/ rip fabric into longest length strips about a 1.5 wide or so. It doesnt have to be perfect wodth..cust kinda close.
3. Roll strips into small bundles to work with n lay out your rug colors n pattern.

Want to see the rugs

 

[Hooch]

Grab your first color, make a good knot at one end with a loop in it, leaving a small tail about 2 inches. There is probably a name for this but I cant recall..but just a nice knot that has peice you can access to start a chain on will work. Your going to sew both ends very well so it doesnt come apart on you so..whatever knot you do along with sewing the crap outta the ends has worked well for mine.
Anyways..chain to desired length.
When your ready to turn ..skip the first hole, select the second hole and just start chaining back down adding width to your rug.
When your ready to add a new color..
Select color
Put one end ( purple) into end hole of chain (see on grey)
Put other purple end through first purple end that is connected to grey end. Pull through n make ends tight n clean.
I'm realizing I forgot to mention end of strip process..

 

[Hooch]

I forgot to mention when your done cutting strips of fabric..each end needs a slit hole in it so you can add fabric together..
So take a strip , put ends together , fold end n cut little slit hole at end.

 

[Hooch]

Ok..here is adding purple to grey..sorry I'm jumping around a tad

 

[Hooch]

Ok..
So..you do your first row of chain, you want to turn n go back down..this very first turn..you do not add a extra chain.
Every row after the first one..you have to add a extra chain ..then turn it around, skipping the first hole..otherwise , it wont have level sides..
See first picive done a few rows of grey, I added purple color and I'm at the end of this row..so I add a extra chain which happens to be the first purple chain.
See the first grey peice above my finger? Skip it..select second hole, push hook through, grab purple pull up n through, add a loop n pull fabric through n repeat. Each end of rug add a extra chain.

 

[Hooch]

See..ta da! Just keep repeating the process . Stop n check often to make sure your rug ends are level.
You can pull it all out n fix rows that get funky easy enough. Try to keep fabric tension consistent..it all takes practice.
I've made some pretty funky looking rugs so dont give up.
When your done..knot n sew the end like you did to the beginning. Sew it good so you can wash it often n not worry it will unravel.

 

[Hooch]

Ta da...nice new rug for the homestead. Washable, durable , dryer safe or air dry.
Try to use only cotton or not less than 60 % cotton. Other fabrics wont last long once made to strips.
Although stretchy cotton, like tee shirt weave doesnt work well at all. And heavy weave like flannel would be too hard to work.
A silky cotton sheet like Egyptian cotton has a silky texture and super nice to work.

 

[Frodo]

Well ****
That’s how she did it
My grandma made those rugs

 

[Hooch]

Ovals can be made too..but I'm not that great with ovals..

 

[Weedygarden]

Thank you for this! When I lived in North Dakota and belonged to a fiber arts group, one of the older women had balls and balls of wool fabric made up for rug making.

What size hook do you use? I was looking and couldn't see it.

 

[Hooch]

Oh yah! I use N.

 

[LadyLocust]

Ta da...nice new rug for the homestead. Washable, durable , dryer safe or air dry.
Try to use only cotton or not less than 60 % cotton. Other fabrics wont last long once made to strips.
Although stretchy cotton, like tee shirt weave doesnt work well at all. And heavy weave like flannel would be too hard to work.
A silky cotton sheet like Egyptian cotton has a silky texture and super nice to work.

I love these Hooch! I beg my mom when I want one made I don't crochet and she doesn't knit so she begs be when she wants a new wash cloth for her face. The last one (which is in front of my sink) is made of wool because I was given a bunch of wool strips. I like both cotton and wool. They are durable.

 

[Hooch]

N/15 -10.00MM. Is what it says

 

[Hooch]

I love these Hooch! I beg my mom when I want one made I don't crochet and she doesn't knit so she begs be when she wants a new wash cloth for her face. The last one (which is in front of my sink) is made of wool because I was given a bunch of wool strips. I like both cotton and wool. They are durable.

Well..if we ever get to meet up you, you got the pick of the litter..

 

[jazzy]

i love rag rugs, this is great. i used to make them years ago.. also table mats and even baskets. i used one of the super big fat crochet hooks and strips of fabric i tore into 1 inch strips.---most were old sheets i got at yard sales or bolts of fabric on sale. mine were on the rustic side and not fancy but they hold up well, mine are over 20 yrs now. . i had alot of fun doing that.. had to stop when they eyeballs started getting worse but ive thought bout trying it again to see if i can still do it.
thanks for the great reminder, i think ill get my stuff out this weekend and see how it goes. you can turn just about anything into a rag rug, ive seen people use old blastic bread bags for a kitchen floor mat. came out suprisingly well.

 

[LadyLocust]

How many sheets does it take to make a rug that size (2X3ish???)

 

[Hooch]

That's what I do..I pick up old sheets at the thrift store or quilting fabric that folks dont want. If I want color than white I dye it.
It's a nice relaxing hobbie n make great rugs!

 

[Hooch]

How many sheets does it take to make a rug that size (2X3ish???)

Well..I'm not certain since I never made a rug from just one color..but that size ..one color so one sheet. So maybe 2 rugs??

 

[Hooch]

The more colors you use, it kinda spreads out your material..

 

[LadyLocust]

Well..I'm not certain since I never made a rug from just one color..but that size ..one color so one sheet. So maybe 2 rugs??

That's pretty good from 1 or 2 sheets quite a bit of floor covering.

 

[Dani]

I tried to do a rag rug years ago. Braided and then sewn together with thread. It did not last though. I did save all those fabric strips though. Think doing it your way would hold together way better so after I finish up with newest grandbaby's cross stitch announcement, I may start doing this to see how it goes. Love the concept!!

 

[Tommyice]

I love rag rugs. Great way to use up old fabric.

I don’t know how to crochet but I do weave so my rag rugs are made on Big Bjorn--my Swedish loom. In fact I have one on it right now. The fabric strips are microfiber sheets, they’re super soft and almost flannel like.

 

[Neb]

I love rag rugs. Great way to use up old fabric.

I don’t know how to crochet but I do weave so my rag rugs are made on Big Bjorn--my Swedish loom. In fact I have one on it right now. The fabric strips are microfiber sheets, they’re super soft and almost flannel likeView attachment 105001View attachment 105002

That is nice!

It took me a bit to understand how you are making that. Your stips are the width of your shuttle?

Would @Hooch 's method for starting a new strip be helpful? I think it is clever...

Ben

 

[Tommyice]

The strips are roughly the width of the shuttle. I sew my strips together. I tried the "slit" method and found it doesn't hold up to me winding the shuttle and throwing the pick. Plus, I frequently drop my shuttle and the weight puts some stress on the join.

The crocheted ones look like they feel very lofty. The ones I make are "flatter" and aren't very plush. This soft fabric I'm using will make it feel plush but it really won't be.

I think a lot of how it feels is in the width. Mine are about 1 1/2 to 2". If the strips are cut thin enough (1/2" to 1") and are of cotton fabric, you can make them into a catalogne blanket.

If you're interested in woven rugs, here's a link to a Handwoven magazine article on the topic. In the BBC series, The Edwardian Farm, a rag rug was made by hooking and tying loops of fabric into a burlap backing. The series is available on Amazon Prime for free.

 

[Weedygarden]

I know I cannot be the only person who has sheets and other things that wear out. I have to keep purging to not be over run by stuff, but I would think that it would be helpful to plan in advance when purchasing sheets for beds that they are cotton and then could eventually be used for rugs. I have some pieces from sheet sets that are missing parts. I always try to think about how they might be helpful, even without all of the pieces. The fitted bottoms tend to wear out first and are the first that I try to repurpose, mostly for rags used in cleaning purposes.

 

[Magpie]

They are fabulous, especially the loom- how lucky are you to have one. I began a denim rug years ago in a different way, hooking strips of old jeans into a mesh. Must finish it. I think I was doing it wrong lol

 

[Tommyice]

They are fabulous, especially the loom- how lucky are you to have one. I began a denim rug years ago in a different way, hooking strips of old jeans into a mesh. Must finish it. I think I was doing it wrong lol

The denim rug you're describing sounds just like what they did on that BBC series (The Edwardian Farm) only she used a burlap sackcloth rather than a hook-rug mesh.

I'm really lucky in the loom department: 3 floor looms, 2 rigid heddle and 1 inkle. I'm surprised no one in my family has performed an intervention yet. LOL

 

[DodgesMamMaw]

Rag Rugs are all I have in my house. I crochet mine round. Lovely relaxing and useful.

 

[Weedygarden]

The denim rug you're describing sounds just like what they did on that BBC series (The Edwardian Farm) only she used a burlap sackcloth rather than a hook-rug mesh.

I'm really lucky in the loom department: 3 floor looms, 2 rigid heddle and 1 inkle. I'm surprised no one in my family has performed an intervention yet. LOL

I have a floor loom. It is in the basement. I have never set it up. I have spare heddles for it. I need to find someone who can help me to know what I need for threads to set it up.