How do you crochet a rag rug from old sheets? I'm so excited about the great response we had to our denim picnic blanket invitation ! I used this same pattern effect when making an upcycled denim fabric pinboard. You can totally just make an eclectic version with every colour of the rainbow too, so dont worry about your shirts all matching if you cant. It would also be fun with a mix of fabrics. These denim rugs featured in the alphabet of denim upcycles under the letter R. Categories Denim, DIY Upcycling, Round Ups, Home Denim How To Make A Blue Jean Rug -16 Unique Ways. Recently I have made some gorgeous upcycled fabric placemats using denim and felt scraps. What a fantastic DIY project to make a beautiful braided rug from old fabric. Are there other types of fabric that would also work for this project? There are rug tutorials that use the entire jeans, some just the waistbands, legs, or even just the seams. I think even I could do this! Youll do this continuously to create the entire rug! I took on this project over a weekend; and while it does take a decent amount of time, Im so happy with the result! However, because the fabric strip edges are unfinished, you will get some fraying, but that adds to the interest of the piece. A look at the privy's history, such as outhouse designs, including the two-story outhouse, as well as outhouse construction. Also, the woven denim coasters could be upscaled to rugs, but that would require the seams from lots and lots of pairs of jeans. Claudia Mitchell (author) on July 23, 2020: Many thanks for your kind words. Thats why its such a great fabric to use for repurposing and upcycling. Purchased Social Media Followers Will Never Be Your Friends. Denim rugs are so stylish and add a unique look to your home decor, but most patterns require some sewing skills. With a piece of mesh and a pile of old clothes, you can create a beautiful accent piece for any room in your house! It is also very topical at a time when recycling is being encouraged a lot. It would also make a nice housewarming gift for someone. via, An easy rag rug DIY project that works up very quickly. This post contains affiliate links for product recommendations. Durable backing fabric like canvas. I have also made a beautiful felt rug out of recycled sweaters my mum gave me. Finally, a way to use all those old t-shirts. Do the same with your new strand. Hope you have fun making this rug! You can compost the discarded cotton fabric if you have a compost bin or pile, or you can use it to stuff other home projects, such as cat and dog toys. How To Sew A Pot Scrubber Out Of Mesh Produce Bags, DIY One Shoulder Ruffle T Shirt Refashion, 12 Helpful Tips For A Stress Free Sewing Hobby. Ive also used denim waistbands before to make a planter for a repurposed felt succulent garden. Work 4 stitches into the slip knot, then continue down the other side of the chain, ending with 2 stitches in the final chain. This gorgeous denim rug is made by cutting the legs of old jeans into fabric strips. One of the things I like about this project is that it is very forgiving when it comes to the sewing. Any purchases made through these links help support the blog with a small commission. Make one of these extremely easy DIY no-sew rugs in your spare time. Hello Ms Claire..as usual, I get lost looking at your beautiful creations..thank you for sharing..take care, Brenda J. Check out the article to find out how to do it. To minimize the bunching, try to keep your joins loose. Recently she covered a mirror frame and that result was also great. Step 4 Once youve braided about 4 of the strips, coil the braid into a circle as shown above, with the knot in the center. At least eight of the strips should be 26" long. Only basic crochet skills are required to make this handy mat. There are so many other ways you can repurpose jeans in your home decor. This rug is huge and soft. Step 4: Wind the strip into a ball. Do this around all four sides before sewing. Follow the article to see how its done. Without the non-slip backing, this rug will slip. Its going to depend on what size of rug youre making if youre using the whole pair of jeans or only portions of it, and so on. What a fantastic, easy no-sew rag rug as an easy project idea. Copyright 2022 Upcycle My Stuff | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine. Using the ruler and the board, mark your cross hatch lines, 2" apart at a 45 angle. Easy-to-follow free pattern for using recycled denim blue jeans to make a woven throw rug. From time to time I might need to buy some a particular item, but I'm really trying to stick to my rule. You can get free tutorials sent straight to your inbox! The significant factor behind it is its durability. Step 2 Line up the two slits you cut on both strands as shown in photo 2. It does take some time, and a few pairs of jeans, but I think that the result is worth the effort. This denim rug would look great in a hallway. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. And if youre not sure where to start when it comes to using old denim for upcycled projects, check out my post on how to cut up old jeans for sewing and upcycling projects. What a terrific technique to crochet a giant circular rug (no-sew) as a simple project. You can get free tutorials sent straight to your inbox! There is a clever way to cut up jeans to make long continuous strips of fabric yarn. This woven throw rug is one of those projects. Sewing denim can be difficult, especially with the thick parts such as the seams and waistbands. Its so well deserved and you always come up with beautiful creations. If crocheting is your creative method of choice, this rectangular rug made out of upcycled old jeans is perfect for you. You will also need to adjust pins as you go, so have lots of extra pins on hand. A braided rug seemed like an awesome idea and one that could actually give new life to the worn out old shirts. Learn the no-sew rag rug technique to make any rag rug you want. The idea is to use waistbands of old jeans. How about putting those old t-shirts to good use and upcycling them into a DIY braided rag rug? There are some tricks when sewing with denim. I use a sharp pencil, a quilter's ruler and a quilter's cutting board. What a terrific idea to make durable braided rugs. Claudia has been writing about crafts online for many years. But no one is going to get down on the floor and look that closely, and the overall look lovely. I wanted to recycle my old t-shirts somehow because they werent all suitable for charity and Im sometimes sentimental about clothing which makes it hard to just throw it out! This has to be the easiest denim rug to make. Start with one direction before you start weaving. I used a total of fifteen different sized t-shirts for a rug approximately 30 in size. 3a: Cut diagonally up from the bottom edge to meet the first cut on the left. Pick any of the following DIY rug ideas (choose the style you like best). Weve picked some of the best ideas available. It would probably be tough to sew through though. I have not made this yet so I cannot rate it. It is one of my favourite things Ive made from old jeans and looks great on my wooden floors in the lounge. This tutorial gets around this by showing you how to make a no-sew blue jean rug. Looking for even more rag rug ideas? Try these posts: Categories Upcycled Home Decor Ideas, Upcycling Denim and Old jeans. Follow the video tutorial to find out how its done. Claudia Mitchell (author) on February 20, 2019: So glad you like the project Chris. Claudia Mitchell (author) on February 25, 2019: That's great Grammers. This is an easy craft to do. Thanks. Perhaps you have some special memories from some of your old t-shirts and just cant bring yourself to get rid of them, but you know youre never going to wear them again. It helps to lay your rug on the floor every now and then to make sure that it is lying flat. Don't worry about the uneven edges. Braid and attach, braid and attach. How do you make a no sew braided rag rug? Each Rug is one of a kind and is made on a frame. Just take a look at this last picture versus the top photo. 15 Ways to Turn an Old Door into a Table DIY Tutorials. The video photos help tremendously, and the directions are the most concise I found. It looks like a large ray of indigo sunshine! Heres what you can read next: 260 Easy DIY Home Decorating Ideas (Craft Project Tutorials), 64 Easy Ways to Make DIY Paper Flowers for Gorgeous Decor, 76 Creative DIY Wall Hangings to Decorate Your Walls in Style, 24 Amazing Easy Ways to DIY Curtains from Simple Bed Sheets, 65 Stunningly Easy DIY Abstract Art Ideas Even Beginners Can Make. Indestructible braided rugs using fabric and scissors, How to Keep Your House Warm in the Winter. There is even a tutorial that uses the pockets from old jeans which will require a lot of old pairs. A denim rag rug made the traditional way. While youll need a lot of denim seams (approximately 50 pairs of jeans!) Step 2: Start cutting straight across the bottom of one of the cut-off legs, about 1 inch from the edge, and stop between and 1 inch from the far edge. Make this cool denim rug without sewing for an easy craft project. It is extremely important that you feed the braid loosely around the corners (so that there is excess braid around any curves) or the rug will curl up. Junk Journals: What are they and how to make them! Denim is a great fabric to upholster furniture with. Step 3 Take the other end of the new strand and pull it through the back of the slits towards the front. Thank you, Brenda, I'm glad you enjoy them. Vicky has very cleverly used the pockets of old jeans to make this unique denim door mat. Do this step on a hard, flat surface. There was an issue signing you up. for a simple project. If you find you dont have enough jeans to create the rug you want, you can always head to the thrift store or ask a family member or a friend if they have any theyd like to get rid of! For this project, dont use jeans that are more hole than fabric, or those with stubborn stains or grease spots that wont wash out. And hey, we can all use some fun new home decor DIYs. You can make this larger or smaller, but remember to adjust the lengths, and amounts, needed of the denim strips. via, The general rule of thumb for flannel weight material is you need about 1 yard for every square foot of braided area. Use all those old t-shirts and jeans to create a colorful crocheted rag rug like this one. Im trying to maximize the use of the denim for a large play mat and it would be all directions. One great way to give them a new purpose is to turn them into denim rag rugs. Whatever the reason, I don't mind it too much because I get to add them to my stack of blue jeans that I use in projects. With this project, you can forget about sewing. This is a terrific woven rag rug as a simple recycle craft project. 2022 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. We are sorry. For my rug, I decided to grab a bunch of blue-toned shirts and some neutrals so my rug had some sort of a colour scheme. via, Continue sewing the braid together in a clockwise direction. I'm glad you liked the project. I am moving and now I am taking my old jeans with me as I am going to make this lovely rug. How To Make A Cool Denim Rug Without Sewing. Step 3: Rotate the leg so the uncut strip is on top. One of the best things about denim besides the wonderful shades of indigo is that it is hard-wearing. She wanted to pick up, with furniture. The circular pattern is lovely. The smoky flavor of grilled corn combined with fresh vegetables such as corn and tomatoes and a twist of lime makes for a tasty salad. Check out the Youtube video tutorial for the complete details and instructions. It's not like other fabrics. Working with denim is nothing short of delightful, especially when it's recycled. Step 1: Lay out a pair of jeans flat, and cut off each leg just below the crotch. I can't emphasize enough that you should pin while doing this. If you are using the legs of old jeans to make your upcycled denim rug, then youll just need a few pairs of jeans. They just need to be long enough to get strips that adequately cover the backing. Step 5: When you reach the end of a strip, turn the next jean leg into a spiral strip, and position the strips right sides together. If you would like one in your home, use this giant one as inspiration. See the link to find out how to do it. These placemats could easily be made into rugs by adding to them. I hope you give the project a try. Start weaving the remaining strips in. (video), How do you rip sheets for a rag rug? I love the diamond checkerboard effect of this blue jean rug. Step 9: The circular rug will continue in a spiral; youll start out working several stitches into each stitch below. Then repeat on the other diagonal. See the link to get the full details. I use old jeans to make quilt tops that our American Legion auxiliary ties and donates to Veteran's homes in our area. (video). The hexagons give this jeans rug a beautiful shape. What a fantastic way to make a large-scale rug from scratch from soft and sturdy cotton as an easy home project. This video may help guide you along. Thank you, I have a couple myself and love them. Rag rugs are such a great way of upcycling fabric strips and old fabric and give all those pieces of discarded fabric a longer life. You will need an extra-large crochet hook though. Another great tutorial that shows you how to easily transform old jeans into denim yarn. Upcycling Stretch Denim Face your Fears! Click here to join the newsletter for updates! How many sheets do I need to make a rag rug? No sewing required! Even the hexagon denim placemats I made could also be upscaled into a fabulous rug. What a fabulous DIY no-sew rug as a straightforward home project. (video). If you want to make a braided rug from t-shirts too, here is how to do it: Step 1 Cut your t-shirts into 1.5 strips along the width of the body. Besides, cotton is another right fabric to craft these floorings. Sally Gulbrandsen from Norfolk on July 22, 2020: Congratulations on winning the 'crafty' prize Claudia. How do you attach fabric strips to a rag rug? I particularly like the way the different hues of the jeans creates a unique woven pattern. The nice thing about the canvas is that no one will see it once the denim strips are sewn on, so go ahead and mark it up. Click here to Subscribe for blog updates! If this is too large for your space, you can always adjust to make a smaller version. This post may contain affiliate links. Get free craft projects, exclusive partner offers, and more. To flatten it, spritz it with a spray water bottle and use your hands to push it back into shape. The core threads are a thick cotton and 1 inch thick strips of jeans are twisted around each core thread. Don't forget to share! Thank you for taking the time to improve the content on our site. Thanks for sharing this well presented article. Braided rugs can take a long time but they do turn out beautifully. Create this great no-sew DIY rag rug for an easy home project. (video). Don't worry too much about the backing that is showing. Welcome to the Wonder Forest blog -- a place of inspiring creativity of all types. Grilled Corn & Cherry Tomato Salad Recipe. I thank Ineke Berger for her cooperation Would you like to more about Ineke Berger? Another fantastic DIY no-sew rag rug for a simple project. Of course, the larger the rug, the more pairs of jeans youll need. Then by using a large hook this denim yarn is crocheted into a large jeans rug. Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on October 13, 2018: I love the fact that you recycle so many things in your sewing projects. 1 piece cut 17" x 23". Cut at least 28 strips for this size rug. And denim rag rugs are another super fun way to use those scraps! I sew down both the sides of every strip, using a quarter inch seam. For an oval rug, work 2 single crochet stitches into the second chain from the hook, then 1 stitch per chain to the end. I love the neatness, creativity and most important, re-using things. You even get a free pattern to download. Tutorial for this unique throw rug made out of recycled denim blue jeans. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. how to cut up old jeans for sewing and upcycling projects, Quick Denim Quilt (Improv Quilt with Instructions), Easy No Sew Denim Dog Toy (Braided Tug Toy). Either the hems are frayed, there is paint splattered all over them, or there is a big slash in them that didn't come from the designer. How to make Jeans Have a Second Life Ineke Berger did earlier a lot with fabrics. The exact pattern of increases will vary depending on your tension and the width of the denim strips you cut. Some of these area rugs require a sewing machine and others are no-sew ideas. Founder of the Wonder Forest blog and brand and bestselling author of the Watercolor With Me book series. Flip the rug over and trim off the excess to a 3/4" overlap. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Keep in mind that the center of the ball will become the outer edge of the rug. Create a no-sew rope rug for a straightforward craft project and add a splash of color to your home decor. You will need a lot of denim seams from old jeans to make this gorgeous woven jeans rug. The yarn adds another dimension to the rug, by adding some lovely colours. This denim rug also happens to be an IKEA hack. Fold over the overlapping denim fabric to the back side of the rug, and pin in place. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your email address will not be published. Watch that you don't sew over the pins and break your machine or needle. There are lots of DIY posts about rag rugs out therebut most of them just left me confused. Tech Tuesday: New Case Designs Released!!! While doing this, make sure the strips are still lining up with the markings. What a wonderful idea to recycle jeans. I found that a full size sheet is about the same as 4 yards of fabric. Read the full disclosure here. Looking for even more ways to use your old denim? Adjust the increases at the ends as necessary to keep the rug lying flat; as it gets bigger, youll need more increases spaced around the ends. How do you make a rag rug step by step? Begin at one end and pin as you go, catching the denim and the canvas backing. I assume heavy duty canvas would work, but what about corduroy or upholstery fabric? Copyright 2022 Pillar Box Blue | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, How To Make A Blue Jean Rug -16 Unique Ways, planter for a repurposed felt succulent garden, Blue jean woven rug liljanlumo.blogspot.co.uk, denim hexagons before to make denim patchwork chairs, Woven diagonal blue jean rug Feltmagnet, 15. Are you crazy for crafting? It is not that easy to sew through layers of denim and canvas. Step 6 Continue your braid another few inches. Gradually change to only 1 stitch per stitch below. Be careful using the rotary cutter. Youll occasionally need to work twice into a stitch below to keep the rug lying flat. When you reach the end of the strip, youll want to attach another. 1/3 of this fabric is not even seen so an old sheet or other scrap fabric is great. I chose contrasting colours for my rug. I have rounded up some of the cleverest and unique ways to make an upcycled denim rug. No sewing required it only takes fabric, scissors and time. Its fine if the strip has sharp angles or lumps, because they wont be noticeable in the finished rug. The others can vary, as long as you have enough to cover the canvas backing. 3b: Continue cutting from lower right to upper left of each pair of cuts, turning the leg into a single spiral strip of denim. What a terrific no-sew rabbit-shaped rug for a fun and straightforward project idea. These are long strips that are hard to cut and the cutter blade is really sharp. The best bit is that's no sew. I hope to copy your idea and that it turns out as nicely. Im sure you can relate so many old clothes are either sitting in your closet or packed away in a box somewhere gathering dust. Of course, you can place any spot in your house you want and make it as small or as large as you wish! Denim Pocket Doormat Vickymyerscreations. See the tutorial to see how to do it. Thanks for your comment. Here are some rag rug tutorials for all different kinds of fabric, not just denim. Im currently in the process of making one of the woven rugs below to add to my collection. I love her work, its cool and very creative. Cut at least 28 strips at 2" wide for this runner, although you may need more or less if you decide to use a different size. We love this rug and I hope you like yours too. You will need to play around a bit at this stage. If you look closely, you can see where I made a couple of marking mistakes, but they were easy to fix. The different shades of denim really make an interesting collage of color. This is a fascinating step by step guide. There was an error tyring to post your rating and review. She also make pilows and poufs of jeans. Donna Herron from USA on October 14, 2018: Wow, this throw rug is really beautiful. Thanks for sharing this tutorial, with pictures and step by step instructions. Thanks for sharing. Step 7: For a circular rug, make a slip knot with the end of your ball of denim, leaving a short tail, and chain 2. (See last Picture) On average it takes 6 pairs of jeans to make one rug. I also recommend using a pencil so any mistakes can be erased. DIY Denim Handbag with an Upcycled Leather Belt Strap, DIY Denim Quilt from Old Jeans (Reversible Picnic Blanket). Making rugs out of old denim is one of my favourite ways to upcycle fabrics. Liz Westwood from UK on October 14, 2018: Wow! Once you have everything lined up the way you like it, add more pins before sewing. Enter your email address and we will send your password. Claudia Mitchell (author) on October 13, 2018: Thanks Peggy. Step 2 Gather three strips of fabric and stack them. Discard the top section. Using a 1/4" seam, sew around the entire border of the rug. At the HMC Amsterdam she completed this training and started her own furniture upholsterer. The short answer is that it really depends! Are you interested in weaving your own rag rug? It's definitely easy to make. The blues in the denim really change depending on what room it is in. This method is very similar to the way recycled cotton rag rugs are made. Donna Rae creates and tests two styles of handmade dishcloths. Turn all your old jeans into yarn and then simply crochet your rug. The last two tutorials for denim rugs (numbers 13 and 14 in this list) show how to make denim yarn from the legs of old jeans.