Crocheted Rag Rugs

Tigerseye0420 · 10-11-2002, 04:31 PM

Crocheted Rag Rugs

Some basic crochet knowledge is needed for this one. Round up all the cotton and cotton/poly fabrics you have. Old sheets, old clothes, fabric scraps from the sewing room. If you don't have enough, check yard sales, thrift shops, goodwill shops and ask your relatives...they'll probably be thrilled to get rid of their "rags".

The idea is to cut the fabric into strips and then sew the ends together to create balls of "yarn". Begin by cutting one fabric into 2" wide strips. I strongly recommend cutting as opposed to ripping, since ripping the fabric creates a lot of fine lint dust that can bother breathing and be downright nasty to vacuum up. Unless of course you can do this outside, but also consider that ripped pieces aren't uniform, tending to "pull" in various spots. For the sake of the finished product, cut rather than rip.

When the first fabric is cut into strips, use one of the strips (or a scrap end) to tie them together in a bundle. Put them aside and proceed the same way for each fabric. When all the fabric has been reduced to strips, take one bundle, open it and begin to sew the ends of each strip together to form a long continuous strip. The strips are joined by placing them, right sides facing, at a 90 degree angle to each other (see illus above for bias seam) and then they are sewn from corner to corner. Open it out and trim the excess fabric leaving a 1/4" seam. This method reduces any bulk and creates a smooth single piece. When the first bundle is done, place it aside and work on the next bundle.

When all the bundles have been turned into long "strands of yarn", begin to roll them individually into balls. Fold the outside edges toward the center and then fold the strip in the center (like single fold bias tape). This is done at the same time you're rolling it into a ball. By rolling it into a ball, you effectively press the fabric into place by the time you get ready to actually crochet with it. Do this for each individual bundle. When you have all your balls of fabric ready, you can begin to crochet.

You will need a size J or K metal afghan hook. I've found that this is the easiest tool to crochet this project with due to the length of the handle. It allows a good firm grip and makes it easier to pull the fabric through the loops. You will also need a needle, thread and a pair of scissors. As you're working, when one ball of "yarn" is finished, join the next color by placing the ends together at a 90 degree angle as before and hand-stitching from corner to corner. Trim seam and your ready to begin with the next color.

Begin by making a chain for the foundation. For large rugs (36x24-inches and larger) begin with a 10 to 12 inch chain. For small to medium sized rugs (18" to 24" long), begin with a 6 to 8-inch chain. (Leave about a 10-inch tail of fabric and as you work, crochet over this so it's hidden). The entire rug is worked in single crochet (sc).

Skip one chain and make 3 sc in next st (one end started). Working in one loop only of foundation chain, make 1 sc in each st down one side; make 3 sc in other end and work 1 sc in each st back to the 1st sc. Rounds are not joined and it's not necessary to mark them either.

On Rnd 2, make 2 sc in each of the 3 end sc's of previous rnd on each end and 1 sc in each sc along the sides. It's safe to say you can make 2 sc in each end sc on rnds 3 and 4, but after that you have to "feel" your way along for the increases. Each fabric responds differently and the only thing to deal with is to make enough increases (evenly spaced) at each end to keep the rug lying flat and not too many so that the rug doesn't sit flat enough. As the rug increases in size try to keep from making increases directly over those of the previous row...stagger them a bit. On the final round, try to make it around without any increases...more often than not this works and makes a nice finished edge. When the rug is at the size you desire, finish off by slip stitching in the next stitch (you can do 2 of these if you like over the next 2 sts). Then use your hook to pull the tail end through some of the stitches on the back of the rug. I like to make sure about 8" of tail is securely entwined this way. Then I use a needle and thread to tack down the very last bit.

These rugs will last many years and can be machine washed. Because of their weight when wet, I suggest putting them outside to dry. I'm just now replacing rugs I made 10 years ago and only because a puppy thought they were just the thing to chew on when we were gone. I found that protest of our absence a bit much, but luckily he grew out of that phase before I lost patience. Otherwise...those rugs would still be in use.

http://earthnotes.tripod.com/hhcrafts.htm#rugs

Tigerseye0420 · 03-04-2004, 08:19 PM

kikidawn · 03-08-2004, 11:05 AM

I LOVE MAKING THESE, I AM RUNNING OUT OF PEOPLE TO MAKE THESE FOR THOUGH.

jlong1 · 03-11-2004, 06:27 PM

Tigerseye0420-
could I use just strips of fabric? I do not have a sewing machine. I know I could use the stop-fray stuff so that it would not ravel.
Thanks!

10-11-2002, 04:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tigerseye0420 BiG BiG pHoToGrApHeR Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 4,023 iTrader: (1) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Crocheted Rag Rugs Crocheted Rag Rugs Some basic crochet knowledge is needed for this one. Round up all the cotton and cotton/poly fabrics you have. Old sheets, old clothes, fabric scraps from the sewing room. If you don't have enough, check yard sales, thrift shops, goodwill shops and ask your relatives...they'll probably be thrilled to get rid of their "rags". The idea is to cut the fabric into strips and then sew the ends together to create balls of "yarn". Begin by cutting one fabric into 2" wide strips. I strongly recommend cutting as opposed to ripping, since ripping the fabric creates a lot of fine lint dust that can bother breathing and be downright nasty to vacuum up. Unless of course you can do this outside, but also consider that ripped pieces aren't uniform, tending to "pull" in various spots. For the sake of the finished product, cut rather than rip. When the first fabric is cut into strips, use one of the strips (or a scrap end) to tie them together in a bundle. Put them aside and proceed the same way for each fabric. When all the fabric has been reduced to strips, take one bundle, open it and begin to sew the ends of each strip together to form a long continuous strip. The strips are joined by placing them, right sides facing, at a 90 degree angle to each other (see illus above for bias seam) and then they are sewn from corner to corner. Open it out and trim the excess fabric leaving a 1/4" seam. This method reduces any bulk and creates a smooth single piece. When the first bundle is done, place it aside and work on the next bundle. When all the bundles have been turned into long "strands of yarn", begin to roll them individually into balls. Fold the outside edges toward the center and then fold the strip in the center (like single fold bias tape). This is done at the same time you're rolling it into a ball. By rolling it into a ball, you effectively press the fabric into place by the time you get ready to actually crochet with it. Do this for each individual bundle. When you have all your balls of fabric ready, you can begin to crochet. You will need a size J or K metal afghan hook. I've found that this is the easiest tool to crochet this project with due to the length of the handle. It allows a good firm grip and makes it easier to pull the fabric through the loops. You will also need a needle, thread and a pair of scissors. As you're working, when one ball of "yarn" is finished, join the next color by placing the ends together at a 90 degree angle as before and hand-stitching from corner to corner. Trim seam and your ready to begin with the next color. Begin by making a chain for the foundation. For large rugs (36x24-inches and larger) begin with a 10 to 12 inch chain. For small to medium sized rugs (18" to 24" long), begin with a 6 to 8-inch chain. (Leave about a 10-inch tail of fabric and as you work, crochet over this so it's hidden). The entire rug is worked in single crochet (sc). Skip one chain and make 3 sc in next st (one end started). Working in one loop only of foundation chain, make 1 sc in each st down one side; make 3 sc in other end and work 1 sc in each st back to the 1st sc. Rounds are not joined and it's not necessary to mark them either. On Rnd 2, make 2 sc in each of the 3 end sc's of previous rnd on each end and 1 sc in each sc along the sides. It's safe to say you can make 2 sc in each end sc on rnds 3 and 4, but after that you have to "feel" your way along for the increases. Each fabric responds differently and the only thing to deal with is to make enough increases (evenly spaced) at each end to keep the rug lying flat and not too many so that the rug doesn't sit flat enough. As the rug increases in size try to keep from making increases directly over those of the previous row...stagger them a bit. On the final round, try to make it around without any increases...more often than not this works and makes a nice finished edge. When the rug is at the size you desire, finish off by slip stitching in the next stitch (you can do 2 of these if you like over the next 2 sts). Then use your hook to pull the tail end through some of the stitches on the back of the rug. I like to make sure about 8" of tail is securely entwined this way. Then I use a needle and thread to tack down the very last bit. These rugs will last many years and can be machine washed. Because of their weight when wet, I suggest putting them outside to dry. I'm just now replacing rugs I made 10 years ago and only because a puppy thought they were just the thing to chew on when we were gone. I found that protest of our absence a bit much, but luckily he grew out of that phase before I lost patience. Otherwise...those rugs would still be in use. http://earthnotes.tripod.com/hhcrafts.htm#rugs __________________ jessicamarie42081@yahoo.com Last edited by Tigerseye0420 : 10-12-2002 at 01:39 AM.

03-04-2004, 08:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tigerseye0420 BiG BiG pHoToGrApHeR Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 4,023 iTrader: (1) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	bump __________________ jessicamarie42081@yahoo.com

03-08-2004, 11:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
kikidawn Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Anderson Missouri Posts: 262 iTrader: (0) Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I LOVE MAKING THESE, I AM RUNNING OUT OF PEOPLE TO MAKE THESE FOR THOUGH. __________________ kikidawn

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03-11-2004, 06:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
jlong1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 202 iTrader: (0) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Tigerseye0420- could I use just strips of fabric? I do not have a sewing machine. I know I could use the stop-fray stuff so that it would not ravel. Thanks!