The first rag rugs were made by homesteaders over two centuries ago who couldn’t afford to waste a scrap of fabric. Torn garments or scraps of leftover material could easily be turned into a sturdy rug to cover dirt floors or stave off the cold of a bare wooden floor in winter. Any material can be used for these rugs, but cotton or wool fabrics are traditional.

Materials

Rags or strips of fabric

Darning needle

Heavy thread

1.  Cut long strips of material about 1 inch wide. Sew strips two pieces together at right angles to form a square corner. Sew diagonally across the square and trim off excess fabric.

2.  Braid the three strips together tightly, just as you would braid hair.

3.  Start with one end of the braid and begin coiling it around itself, sewing each coil to the one before it with  circular stitches. Keep the coil flat on the floor or on a later table to keep it from bunching up.

4.  When the rug is as large as you want it to be, tack the end of the braid firmly to the edge of the rug.

Tip

Cut strips along the bias to keep them from unraveling.

Tip

Use thinner strips of fabric toward the end of your rug to make it easier to tack to the edge of the rug.