Instructions for Children to Make a Rag Rug?

Hi there, I recently saw an episode on HGTV that showed a rag rug made of strips of jeans knotted together into a fishnet. You decide how big or small by cutting it to size. Hope this helps! :)

I make them out of old bed sheets and a jumbo crochet hook I picked up for about a $1 at Wallmart. Rip sheets into strips about an inch wide and then crochet. Start with a single chain about five inches long (or longer if you want it more oval rather than round) and then crochet around and around, adjusting a bit (adding stitches, I think it's called) as you go around so that the rug lays flat and doesn't curl. To join the strips easily, just snip a hole about an inch from the end of the strip and then thread a new piece through.

I use old T shirts that the local thrift store throws out. They do not ravel, are free, and come in lots of colors. Don't use the front or backs that have stiff pictures on them but cut the long stips round and round up to the sleaves.

Well, it looks like you have some great suggestions already. I would add to those that you can google rag rug and get lots of ideas and how-tos. Also, I have recently seen that you can make one out of plastic bags. It sounds crazy, but I saw a utube video on it that made it look really do-able. Good luck, and kudos for helping kids learn to make things.

Harriet Schipper

August 13, 20080 found this helpful

You can make rag-rugs by making material strips about 2"" wide and as long as possible (sew ends together to extend). Then fold in the edges of both sides of the length and then fold this in half making a thick 1/2" piece. (this can be ironed in place or pins can be used to hold it.) This is not necessary but just gives a more finished look and makes it easier to handle. Make three of these and braid in standard braid. Extend it by sewing on more strips . Then the braid is coiled in a circle or oval, stitching it to the coil as you go to hold it in place.

With the c lass you can have different groups at different centers: Cutting into long strips, Sewing strip ends together, Folding edges in and then in half and pinning or ironing, Braiding, Coiling and sewing into rug. You can rotate the students through the centers so each gets to do

I would suggest that you ask the children to ask any sewers in their family for remnants from projects they have made or old colored sheets they no longer want before I purchased anything. You can supply extra if necessary. Thrift shops may have colored sheets or T's you can get inexpensively.

I thought about the T-shirts and if you used them, the edges would almost roll in by itself. You can also crochet the long strips into a circle. The folding is not needed it just leaves some edges showing. The single stitch is quite easy to learn especially with the great big hooks. I made a basket out of rags this way.

Hope the project goes well. Send in a picture to thrifty fun with your class so we all can see the creation.
Harriet

All the above are great ideas. It would be best to use the same kind of fabric thruout the whole rug. All cotton, all wool, all cotton knit, etc. It will be lumpy and pull apart when it is washed otherwise.

This is same method I use to crochet walmart blue bags into purses.