Recycling Old Clothes In A Braided Rug

There are many advantages to making braided rugs from recycled clothing

. Not only will it keep the old clothing out of the landfill, making it an environmentally friendly practice, but it can also be a fun way of adding a beautiful and colorful personal touch to your home. Braided rugs have a certain charm and individuality that makes them a very desirable decorating accent in any home.

Choosing Old Clothes for Rugs

Almost any kind of clothing can be utilized when making a braided rug. Many people find the easiest method of collecting fabric for rug-making is to cut old clothing up over time, saving the large usable pieces, until they have a nice selection of colors. Depending on the rug that you plan to make, you might want to sort the fabrics according to color, or you can use all the colors together for a beautiful and varied look. The seamed sections of clothing can also be utilized in rug making, as fabric strips cut from seams will be especially strong and durable. These strips of fabric can be sewed together to form a long strand that can be used when making a rug.

Preparing Old Clothes for Braiding

In order to braid a rug, you will first need the clothing cut into strips about two to three inches wide. Lightweight fabrics work best at the three inch width, while heavier fabrics work best when the fabric strips are cut two inches wide. These individual strips will need to be sewn together to form longer strips that will be used to braid the rug. When sewing the strips together, use a diagonal seam to make a smoother finished rug. For ease of braiding, the individual fabric strips should be around eight feet long. These long fabric strips can be saved and rolled into balls like yarn, until enough are accumulated to start making a rug.

Braiding Technique

When making a braided rug, the fabric strips must be folded so that the cut edges do not show. To do this, take the fabric and fold both cut edges in towards the center of the strip, then fold the entire strip in half, enclosing the cut edges on the inside. There are also metal braiders you can purchase that can be threaded onto the fabric strip which will automatically fold the strips into the proper form for braiding. These can really speed up the process. To begin a braided rug, take three strips of fabric that have been properly folded, and connect them at one end by sewing them together. Secure the end to something stable then begin to braid the fabric strips together into an even braid. As you run out of fabric on the strips, sew new strips on, using a diagonal seam. Continue braiding until you have about three yards of braid, then you can begin to form the rug.

Forming the Rug

To create a rug from the braids, first decide whether you want an oval or round rug. Round rugs are made by forming a spiral with the braid, while an oval rug is started from a straight center section of braid. Use carpet thread and a strong needle to lace the braids together into the desired shape. Then, continue adding to the braid with new fabric strips, lacing the braids together until you have the size of rug desired. Sew the ends securely to the edge of the rug when finished.

by: Alyssa Davis

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