How to Make a Braided Rug
Simple as they may be, rugs can brighten up and add design to any floor area. Instead of buying one of these, why not make your own? It’s easy as long as you have the right craft materials and the proper instructions.
What You’ll Need:
Scraps of fabric (For a colorful rug, get remnants of old clothes)
Sewing needle
Darning needle
Sturdy string
Scissors
Thread
Chair or post
Procedure:
Get all your materials and lay them out in a flat surface. Make sure everything’s at reach, so you won’t have to get up and fetch items every now and then.
braided rug
Get the scraps of fabric or old clothes and cut them into strips, each one with a width of at least two inches. Although you’re using different kinds of fabric, make sure you get some that have the same thickness, such as thin cottons or t-shirts. Mixing uneven fabrics will give you bulky and uneven braids.
Using the thread and needle, sew the ends of the strips together, to create just three very long strips. These should be at least a few feet long each, depending on how big you want your rug to be. Separate them from each other in three piles so they won’t become entangled.
Take the three ends of the strips and tie them together into a loop. When you’ve done that, secure this looped end into a post or at a chair’s leg, for better anchorage. This makes it easier for you to work with them. Find a comfortable seated position in front of the strips.
Start braiding. It’s the same procedure when you’re braiding hair. Hold the materials in your hand, the three strips away from each other. Begin with the strip on the right, passing it over the center strip. Next, pass the left one over the current center strip (the one which was on the right before). Keep alternating, going right to left, as you braid one strip over the other, making a three piece braid. Keep it taut as you braid, since you’ll need this when you make the braid for a tighter rug.
Continue braiding until you have a consistent and long braid. If it seems like your strips are still not long enough, just sew on more strips to the ends.
Once you reach the end of the braid, you’ll need to coil it in a rug. Find a flat surface, then start with the braid’s end. Wrap a flat circle around it, then curl two or more circles to start.
Lace your rug. Use the sturdy string and darling needle, lacing back and forth across the braided circles. Position the needle over a braid, and under the next. After you’ve laced these first three circles, make the rug bigger.
Wrap another circle all over the outside of the one before it, then lace it to secure it. Continue this routine of wrapping and lacing. Keep circling and holding the rug tightly until you make it as big as you want.
When you get to the braid’s end, taper the fabric, making a thinner braid. Trim the edges then sew to the previous loop’s end.
A braided rug will be a lovely addition to any home space. Try this easy craft project if you ever find some spare time. You’ll be pleased with the results!