3 Simple Ways to Make Your Own Rugs

Okay, so making your own rug seems like an epic task. I suppose it all depends on the size of the rug. But, even a dog mat or a hearth rug can be pretty sizeable and might seem like something best left to the professionals.

However, if you are a bit crafty, or just wish you were, and have some time on your hands, there are some pretty cool ways to make your rugs at home.

What is even cooler is that you can often make them from recycled or upcycled materials. Check out these great online tutorials that teach you how to make a rug from scratch.

T-shirt Yarn Crochet Rugs

One cool way to use up t-shirts that aren’t really in good enough share to Donate is to cut them into strips and make T-shirt yarn. Again, depending on the size of the rug you want to make will depend on how many t-shirts you will have to cut up.

Here is a great tutorial that teaches you how to make T-shirt yarn:

Source: Needlepointers/YouTube

Now, unless you already know how, you will have to learn to do a single crochet! Again, this isn’t too taxing, and there are a bunch of tutorials online.

Since you are making a rug here, not a dainty little hat, you are going to need a sizable crochet hook. Size Q or bigger should do the trick.

You can crochet a circular rug or a rectangular rug with this simple stitch. Your rug will be super soft, durable and so importantly, washable!

Source: Meladora’s Creations for Crochet/YouTube

There are lots of patterns for crochet T-shirt rugs online, some readable patterns and others that you can follow along with on YouTube. Take your pick.

Pom Pom Rug

Source: HGTV Handmade/YouTube

This a great idea if you have a bunch of leftover yarn from knitting or crocheting projects. All you have to do to make this super cozy rug is to whip up a whole bunch of pom poms. The number you make will determine the size of your rug. Make sure you leave the tails in the pom poms as you will use this to sew your pom pom onto the rug.

Another fun thing is that you can the whole family involved in the pom-pom-making effort. Forgotten how to make a pom pom? Don’t worry. Check out this quick tutorial, here:

Source: Sheep & Stitch/YouTube

Once you have a pile of pom poms, you can start compiling your rug. You will need a piece of rug pad (the stuff that goes underneath rugs to stop them from slipping). Cut this to the size that you want your rug to be.

Next, use the tails of pom poms to sew the pom poms onto the rug pad. Keep them quite close together so that there are no gaps.

Rag Rug

Source: Remodelaholic/YouTube

This rag rug project is super easy and uses up all kinds of leftover fabrics, old clothes, ribbons- whatever you have around the house that is ready for upcycling.

You will also need a piece of rug pad again, just like in the previous rug tutorial. First of all, you will need to cut your fabric strips. Cut these about an inch and a half wide and about five inches long. You will need A LOT!

Next, find a tool such as tweezers, a pen, or a crochet hook that will help you thread the ends of the fabric strips through the holes in the rug pad.

Thread one piece of fabric through one hole and back through the adjacent hole. Make sure that the ends are even. Now do that hundreds more times!

When you have turned the rug the right way round, if you see uneven bits sticking up, you can always trim them with some sharp scissors.

Now you have yourself a cozy rug that will feel lovely under your feet.

Related Content:

• 25 Creative and Useful Things to Do With Old Socks
• 9 Fun Things to Do with Old Pairs of Jeans
• 6 Upcycling Uses for Old Sheets
• 12 Ways to Repurpose Old Blankets and Bedding
• 8 DIY Personal Hygiene Products to Make at Home

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