rag rugs anyone?

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  • August 27, 2010 at 4:58 pm
    Linabean
    Participant

    Hello, I am wanting to learn how to make a rag rug.  I think that this is also something my oldest daughter would love to learn how to do after I have taught myself and so I am going to go for it this year!  I have learned the basics for beginning etc.  but I don’t know how to calculate how much fabric I will need to gather for the size of rug I want to make.  Does anyone here make rugs?  Do you know how to calculate the fabric to rug ratio?  Thanks in advance for any help. 

    September 1, 2010 at 11:02 pm
    blue j
    Participant

    I did a quick search and didn’t find anything overly helpful.  However, that may be due to the variability of the stretch of the fabrics which will occur to some degree whether you choose the braided method or the woven method of making rag rugs.  My grandmother made rag balls (strips of material which had been sewn together and then rolled into a ball – ala “yarn balls”).  Each yarn ball needed to measure a *minimum* of 15″ around to get a decent sized rug using the woven method.  If you intend to braid yours, you will need a larger amount given the difference in the method – joining 3 strands to make one as opposed to a regular loom weave.

    Some of her rag balls ended up being about 20″ or more around and often weighed in at 10 – 15 pounds – especially when she made them from old blue jeans – which I can HIGHLY recommend as a very durable rug material.

    HTH,

    ~jacqleene/ blue j

    December 10, 2010 at 9:45 pm
    thehauserfamily
    Member

    Did you make any?  I grew up making them.  They were so fun.  We just used fabric we got for free. It was just regular fabric.  They were used in the kitchen. The only problem we ever had with them is washing them. They are very heavy and the washer always got off balance.

    December 11, 2010 at 2:32 am
    Linabean
    Participant

    Hi!

    blue j : I didn’t even see your response until today!  I can’t believe I missed it!  Sorry.  But thank you for the answer.  It does answer the question to some degree, and was helpful.

    thehauserfamily:  I did start to make one, however, I did something wrong and it turned into something of a bowl!  My daughter says that she thinks we should use it for a “kitten basket bed”.   Only problem is that we don’t have any kittens! Tongue out    I’m not exactly sure what I did wrong.  I am not doing a braided rug yet, I am starting with the kind that is often called a “toothbrush rug”.   I think I did something wrong in the amount of loops I put into each hole as I turned the corners or something.  I think I may have needed to double the loops per hole when going around the curves?  I’m still trying to figure it out exactly.  It was looking good for a little while, though!  I’m not giving up.  Going to try again after Christmas, I think.  If you have any advice, I would love to have it!  I wish I knew someone who could come over and give me and my dd a lesson.  Wouldn’t that be handy!?

     

    -Miranda

    December 11, 2010 at 3:50 am
    Esby
    Member

    It’s been awhile since I’ve done this, but I’ve made braided rugs out of old bathroom towels. They work nice for a mat to step on out of the shower.

    December 11, 2010 at 9:50 am
    thehauserfamily
    Member

    Growing up we typically made wagon wheel rugs.  I know we made the others too, but mostly the wagon wheel ones.  They are so easy.  You really just need something large and round or even pieces of wood in an octagon shape work.  Old sheets, fabric, clothes anything works well.  You can add more fabric as you go so you don’t have to have large balls made out.

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