Braided Rag Rug
I decided to make a braided rag rug out of two bundles of old bedsheets my mother found during spring cleaning, and I will spend the entire month of March making handmade and turning off my lights for one hour on March 27 in support of Earth Hour.
Recycle Tutorial: Braided Rag Rug
My mother’s old bedsheets are quite tattered in the center, so I only used the area 1 to 1.5 feet from the edge. I made three from different bedsheets so that I would get some pattern when braiding the strips. A scenic base with zigzags goes around an oval makes the reversible rug reversible.
How do I keep my braided rug from curling?
When sewing your braid together, leave enough extra braid around any curves in the rug to prevent it from curling up like a bowl.
How much fabric do I need for braided rug?
For flannel weight material, the general rule of thumb is that you’ll need about 1 yard for every square foot of braided area; for example, if you’re braiding a 2×3 rectangular rug, multiply the length (3) by the width (2) to get 6 square feet.
How do you sew a braided rug by hand?
Sewing by hand
- Stitch the edges of the coiled braid together with a backstitch or whip stitch, making another stitch approximately every inch.
- Coil one end of the braid in on itself on a flat surface, making a flat disc similar to a drink coaster.
How many yards of fabric do I need to make a rag rug?
A 24 x 36 inch rug requires approximately 10 yards of fabric, of which 1/3 is not visible, so an old sheet or other scrap fabric is ideal.