It would seem, how can an ordinary small rug change the interior? But it turns out that it can become not only useful, but also a bright, interesting detail in interior design. Of course, you can buy it in a store, fortunately, now there are rugs for every taste and color. But think how nice it will be when you make it yourself, especially since such a rug can be easily made from old things, for example: threads, fabrics, wine corks, belts, and much more. All you need is to know the step-by-step instructions, stock up on the necessary materials and patience.
Rug made from old leather belts
Making a mat from belts is very simple.
For this you will need:
- 10-12 natural or faux leather belts
- awl or leather punch
- twine or string.
First make the belts the same length by cutting off the buckle. Make holes along the edges of the straps at a distance of approximately 2-3 cm from each other and 0.5 cm from the edge. Sew them together using thin hemp rope. The order of pulling the rope is arbitrary; you can sew along the belts, across, crosswise between the holes. Metal staples instead of rope will also look very stylish.
Materials and tools
To make a rug from old T-shirts, you will need simple tools:
- scissors;
- knitting needles or crochet hook;
- thread and needle;
- cardboard for weaving;
- fabric glue or glue gun if using a fabric base.
Crocheted rug
“Yarn” for knitting and weaving rugs is prepared by cutting ribbons 1.5-2.5 cm wide from old T-shirts, T-shirts, tights, sweatshirts. Knitwear is cut in a circle and in a spiral. The strips are sewn together and twisted into balls to make it easier to work. The strips can be connected in another way. Each strip is cut at a distance of 1.5 cm from the edge. Place on top of each other, aligning the slots. The opposite end of the top strip is passed through the holes from below. To make rugs from T-shirts based on a mesh, rectangles measuring 2 * 12 cm are cut, this is not at all difficult to do with your own hands using a cardboard template.
Preparing threads for weaving
Soft rug made from old fabrics
Required material:
- scissors
- pieces of old (unnecessary) fabrics, maybe old clothes
- bath mat (with holes)
1. Cut the fabric into small strips
2. Using tweezers or a hook, begin pushing the strips through the holes.
3. Tie all fabric strips with a simple knot.
Braid rug
We weave three balls of ribbon into one and knit a braid. A substrate is required to continue working. This can be done using a towel or thick piece of fabric. We cut out the base according to the intended pattern and the desired shape of the product. Sew the braids to the fabric in a circle using threads. When the intended length has been sewn, the remaining backing fabric can be cut off or hemmed.
Even a novice craftsman can make a rug from braids.
Everyone knows how to braid hair, so the process will not be difficult.
Make sure that the materials are approximately the same thickness, otherwise it will be difficult to weave identical braids.
Making a rug from old towels
Required material:
- old towels
- scissors
- sewing machine (needle and thread)
1. Cut your towels into several strips. In this example, each strip is about 3 - 4 cm wide.
For convenience, you can fold each towel in half and cut it into 2 halves. Fold each half in half again and cut along the fold line, etc. It is advisable that all towels are approximately the same size.
2. Place 3 strips of different colors together and secure them with thread (stitch the ends). Start braiding these strips. After finishing the weaving, stitch the ends again.
3. Make several of these “braids” and then connect them into one long strip using a needle and thread (or a sewing machine).
4. Start rolling your long strip into a spiral, securing it with a thick thread.
5. Secure the entire structure and turn it over so that the seams are on the bottom.
Your rug is ready!
Wine cork rug
Wine bottle corks are an excellent material for a variety of crafts for the home and garden. One useful option is to make your own cork mat. Cork bark practically does not absorb moisture and bacteria do not multiply in it, which is why cork is excellent for rooms with high humidity, that is, for the bathroom. And walking on a mat of traffic jams is not only very pleasant, but also useful!
To make a small rug, you will need:
- 150-180 wine corks;
- glue;
- a piece of water-repellent material for the base (rubber shower or yoga mat, rubberized fabric, soft thin plastic);
- sharp knife;
- coarse sandpaper;
- cutting board.
1. Assemble and prepare the plugs. If you do not have the required quantity, you can buy plugs in online stores. Wash them thoroughly in warm soapy water. To remove red wine stains, soak the corks in a bleach solution and leave them overnight. Then rinse well and leave to dry.
2. Cut each cork lengthwise into two pieces. Use a cutting board and a sharp knife. If the cuts are very uneven, smooth the edges with sandpaper. For convenience and safety, it is better to cut the cork not on its side, but by placing it in a vertical position.
3. Place the corks with the cuts down on the table as they will be located on the rug, decide on the size of the future rug. Then cut the base of the rubber material to the desired size. You can come up with a pattern yourself, it can be a checkerboard pattern, even rows, zigzags.
4. Start gluing the corks to the base with an adhesive suitable for gluing such surfaces. Glue the corks around the perimeter first, then moving towards the center. Remove excess glue immediately with a cloth.
The cork mat must dry completely. To make it completely waterproof, you can treat the surface with a sealant. If you use a cork mat in the bathroom, it is advisable to dry it in the sun at least once a month for prevention.
Rug woven from shreds
Materials needed for making it yourself:
- thick fabric (carpet base)
- pieces of fabric
- black thread
- needle
- scissors
- fabric glue
- adhesive tape
- spray for protective coating (if desired)
1. Select the size of the carpet and prepare a cloth of the appropriate size.
2. Prepare long strips of fabric. Each strip should be approximately 6-7 cm longer than the main part of the carpet.
3. Prepare several bundles of 3 strips and start braiding. You need several blanks so that you can combine them into one carpet. For convenience, secure the ends of each piece with adhesive tape. Don't weave all the way through - leave some of the fabric unwoven.
4. Apply glue to a thick canvas. No need to skimp on glue.
5. Carefully place the blanks on the canvas so that they stick.
6. Connect all the pieces together using a needle and thread.
7. Remove the duct tape from the ends. Trim the ends so they are even.
The rug is ready!
DIY pompom rug: Option No. 1
Required material:
- wool thread
- scissors
- bath mat (with holes)
1. Wrap the wool thread around your fingers (the more you wrap, the fluffier the pompom will be).
2. Carefully remove the wound thread from your fingers. Prepare another short thread - about 20 cm long - and tie it around the wound thread (in the middle).
3. Cut off the ends with sharp scissors. Also cut off the excess parts with scissors to get a neat round pompom. But don't cut the thread you used to tie the pompom, you'll need it later.
4. Make enough pom poms to cover the bath mat. After this, begin to thread the thread through the holes and tie it to the rug, thereby attaching the pom poms to the rug. The pompoms should be close to each other.
5. When you have tied all the pompoms to the carpet, you can cut off the ends of the threads.
Your DIY pompom rug is ready!
Home rugs made from old T-shirts
There are perhaps the greatest number of manufacturing methods for rugs made from old T-shirts. And they are very popular now.
These rugs are light, soft, wash well, and the yarn is inexpensive compared to expensive cord.
And you can knit rugs not only round, but also of any other shape.
What to do to prevent the rug from slipping on the floor
Crochet rugs
Since yarn from old T-shirts is quite thick, the size of the hook for knitting rugs should be about 8-10.
You can see how to knit a simple round rug from old T-shirts here>>.
I also made a video and a description of the principles of knitting one quite popular rug with openwork hems, follow the link.
And here we also have a large selection of patterns for knitting similar rugs.
The unusual yarn itself gives them a beautiful effect.
And the second option for knitting rugs from T-shirts is the same as when knitting baskets using regular knitting yarn.
What is especially noteworthy is that rugs from old T-shirts without a hook can be made, that is, not by knitting, but by weaving and even embroidering!
Rug made of knitted braids
We connect two ribbons: we sew one in the center of the other (see photo).
We have three ends on which we will weave a long braid.
Then we lay the braid in a spiral in a circle, at the same time sewing it with a zigzag on a machine, or with blind stitches by hand.
Weaving a rectangular rug on a frame
Here we need an additional device - a frame.
We stretch vertical strong threads on it or the same ribbons from old T-shirts.
And then we weave ribbons between them horizontally.
Check out other interesting home and garden decor ideas using the weave method.
Round mat on a hoop
Weaving is similar to making a rug on a frame. But only a round frame is probably problematic. The craftswomen came up with the idea of using a hoop instead.
Additionally, you need to cut out a circle from cardboard, draw diagonals on it closer to each other, cut the circle along the diagonals from the edge of the circle and in the center.
Then place the cardboard circle in the center of the hoop and stretch the threads, pulling them through the cuts and through the center, and attaching them to the hoop.
And then ribbons from old T-shirts are woven between the stretched threads.
In my opinion, it is a labor-intensive process, but for information it is necessary to mention it; someone may need to weave a rug in such a creative way.
Rugs on mesh
You can even make fluffy rugs from old T-shirts.
I have already talked about this method of tying threads using the example of fluffy pillows.
These rugs are usually made on a construction or garden mesh.
The hook in this method of creating rugs is used only as an auxiliary tool for pulling up the yarn.
Simple pompom rug: Option No. 2
To make this blue and white pompom rug, you will need:
- thick woolen threads for knitting;
- mesh base for the rug;
- scissors.
1. Make pom-poms in different colors to create a smooth gradient color transition. You can make a plain rug or lay out a specific pattern. You can also play with the size of the pompoms, using large, smaller and very small ones. To do this, look here for the best way to make pompoms of different sizes.
2. Now tie each pompom to the net, following the color scheme. Try not to see the outline between the pom-poms.
If desired, the back side of the rug with knots can be covered with fabric or knitting so that the pompom rug is beautiful from all sides, even from the inside out. If you couldn’t find a suitable base - a mesh - it doesn’t matter, pompoms can simply be sewn to any fabric.
Knitting carpets from cord
Cord carpets are very textured. They add charm to the interior. Two types of cord are used in this work: cotton and polyester. Carpets made from all-natural cotton cord are more environmentally friendly. They turn out to be heavy, due to this they lie stably on the floor.
Rugs made of polyester cord are popular due to the practicality of their material and its hypoallergenicity. They are easy to clean and do not lose their shape and color even with prolonged use. It is better to choose a simpler scheme for them.
Round foot mat made with a hoop
Old knitted T-shirts are actively used by craftswomen for a variety of crafts; in particular, the idea of making rugs out of them is very popular.
Necessary materials:
- 3-4 T-shirts (other things, ribbons or ropes)
- children's gymnastic hoop or hula hoop for adults scissors
It is recommended to take items made of fabric with a minimal admixture of elastane, tape or just rope.
The size of the mat depends on the size of the chosen hoop; you can take either your daughter’s gymnastics hoop or a large weight loss hoop. The weaving technology is very simple; even a child can do it by making a round rug on a hoop for their room.
Cut T-shirts or other old outerwear into strips of equal width, from one side seam to the other, to form rings. Place each strip on the hoop: first a vertical line, then a horizontal one, and then divide each sector into equal parts with a strip of a T-shirt.
Important! The strips of fabric should not be very stretched, otherwise the finished rug will wrinkle and will not hold its shape. Ideally, the T-shirt strip should fit almost loosely over the hoop, with minimal stretching of the fabric.
It's likely that if the diameter of your hoop is larger than the t-shirt strip, it's too tight or you're using ropes at all. In this case, simply wrap the hoop in fabric or rope and tie a knot.
Try to have all the base lines intersect at the center point. We start weaving the rug from the center. Take a strip of T-shirt, fasten it with a loop to one of the warp lines and pass it under and over the longitudinal lines.
When the strip ends, tie another T-shirt ring to it, hiding the knot under the previous row. Continue weaving in the same way, alternating between pulling the strip under and over the longitudinal lines. Try to keep each circle pressed tightly against the previous one, avoiding large spaces or holes between them. Once you have finished weaving, cut off the ends of the loops with scissors and tie them with a knot.
Rectangular crochet rug
It is laconic, its placement at home or in the country will add uniqueness to the home. Convenient as a floor runner in a country-style room or in a nursery. It is extremely easy to knit; even a beginner in needlework can handle it. The basic model is done in single crochets.
We make a chain of air loops the length of the width of the future product. Then we knit a row. Turn it over. We knit the next row in the same way as the previous one. Turn it over again. Repeat until the desired length is achieved.
For decoration, after completing the main fabric, we make tassels from the same yarn. A rectangular carpet made from square motifs is also quite accessible for beginning craftswomen.
Illuminated rug
Sometimes at night you want to go to the toilet, go to the kitchen to eat, drink a glass of water or prepare a bottle of formula for the baby, so you have to get up and leave the bedroom. In the dark, and even in a half-asleep state, there is a risk of bumping into something, and turning on the overhead light is not always possible so as not to wake up other family members. For such cases, LED floor lighting in a rug will be an interesting and useful solution.
Craftswoman Johanna Hyrkas came up with the great idea of using an LED strip as a lighting sign for the way out of the bedroom. The ribbon is twisted in a spiral, located inside a round rug woven from ordinary rope, and a long tail leads further from the room. Soft, cozy light spreads across the floor without disturbing sleep.
Such a rug with LED lighting can serve as a night light in a child’s room. In addition, a strip of rug can be laid along the walls and lead to the toilet or kitchen. For such purposes, it is better to use a sealed closed LED strip. You can make a rug with your own hands, using a large crochet hook or using your fingers to braid a ribbon with thick yarn or rope. Of course, there are expensive models of LED floor lighting with a light power control. But often the homemade option is an excellent budget solution, as in this case.
Knitting a round rug
Anyone, even a very “green” craftswoman in this matter, can handle knitting a rug for the home.
Everything, of course, comes with experience, but the most important thing that a beginning needlewoman should know and be able to do is the basic elements of knitting, such as an air loop, a connecting stitch, a double crochet and a single crochet.
Rug made from jeans labels
The concept of using clothing items for other purposes after they have been worn out is not new. For decades, women have been making patchwork rugs and quilts from old items. In the same way, you can make a carpet with your own hands from labels from jeans. The only problem is finding enough labels, because even for a small rug you will need at least 50 pieces.
To make such carpets with your own hands, it is better to sew labels onto some kind of fabric, maybe even thin. Labels sewn on each other will give the carpet the necessary density. For work, use a sewing machine, since manually sewing each label is a very labor-intensive task. Make stitches around the perimeter of the label, where it was sewn to the jeans. You can choose the pattern yourself - the correct even mesh, herringbone, spiral for a round carpet, but labels in a slightly irregular order, sewn on top of each other, look most impressive.
How to cut into strips and make yarn from knitted T-shirts
To knit or weave rugs and other products from old T-shirts, we will need to make yarn from them.
Yarn from a T-shirt is essentially ribbons cut from it, the width of which is 10-15 mm and does not have to be even and the same along the entire length, so there is no need to measure or draw anything.
You just need to cut ribbons from the T-shirt, moving in a spiral.
You can see how to do this better and more conveniently in the presented video tutorial from Marina Ryabova:
We carefully wind the cut ribbons loosely into skeins, without tightening the yarn, which already tends to stretch.
We connect short pieces of ribbons together in the following way.
- We make small holes at the ends of the two ribbons.
- We pass one ribbon through the hole on the second ribbon.
- We insert the opposite end (without a hole) of the second ribbon into the hole of the first ribbon and tighten the yarn.
To be honest, I don’t really like this method, because there are still holes left here. When crocheting rugs, such a connection can still be used, but for more elegant products it is better to sew the yarn with a needle and thread to match the yarn. And during the knitting process it will only be possible to sew ribbons of yarn.
The ends of the overlapping ribbons should be sewn carefully along the edges in a straightened form. Then the tape will shrink and the seams will remain inside it.
How to make a rug "French bracelet"
Required material:
- old fabric of 2 colors (you can use old T-shirts). The width of each piece of fabric is 20-25 cm and the length is 3 meters. If you are using old T-shirts, you can join several pieces together with a thread and a needle.
- scissors
- needle and thread
- adhesive tape
1. Arrange 5 strips of different colors in the order in which you want them to look on the future carpet.
2. Next to the 5 laid out strips, place another 5 strips in a mirror image.
3. Take the first strip, in this case the pink one, and tie it as shown in the image. First, fold the fabric to form a number 4.
4. Continue tying the pink strip around the remaining strips until you reach the middle.
5. Start doing the same on the opposite side, tying another pink stripe around the other 4 stripes. Start also with the number 4, but in a mirror image.
6. When the two pink stripes meet in the middle, tie them together.
7. Repeat the same with the subsequent remaining strips. Choose the length of the rug yourself.
8. Start another rug, choosing the same colors. After this, connect both rugs with thread and needle.
Tip: If you wish, you can make one or more similar rugs, which can then be sewn into one large rug.
9. Excess parts can be cut off and the ends secured with thread to prevent them from unraveling.
How can you knit a round rug?
Let's look at the basic knitting steps.
First, let's plan how our rug will end up - thin or thick - and take the necessary yarn and a hook of the appropriate size.
NOTE!
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The first step is to knit a “magic” ring - a chain of air loops - if the yarn is thin, then 2-3 loops are enough, and if thick, then 4 or 6. We tie the first and last loop with a connecting loop.
Next, we decide how we will knit - with or without a crochet (most often round rugs are knitted with double crochets).
To make an even circle and the mat to grow evenly, add a loop in each row. For example, you may end up with 6 columns in the first row, 12 in the second row, 2 times more in the third, and so on until we get a circle of the size we need.
Don't forget to fasten the thread and iron our creation well.
Don’t be afraid to knit rugs in other shapes, including intricate ones. Nowadays there are a huge number of videos on the Internet of knitting a wide variety of rugs, so making them will not be difficult.
