1 rag rug build from old T-shirts, no loom needed

That drawer of worn-out T-shirts is a rug waiting to happen.

One adult tee, cut in a spiral, turns into a single long fabric rope. Braid a few of those together and you've got the start of a rug for the back door or the kitchen sink.

I like this kind of project once the evenings get long. It keeps your hands busy, and the shirts stay out of the trash.

You don't need a loom. Sharp shears and a tapestry needle cover most of the work, and the strips join together without a single stitch.

Here's the catch. The first time you coil the braid into an oval, the curves fight you. Pull them tight and the whole rug cups up like a bowl.

The fix is small, and it's in step 4.

Is making a rag rug worth the time when you could buy one?

Some of you love the slow work. Others would rather buy one and get on with the day.

What the tutorial walks you through

• The spiral cut: one T-shirt, one long strip.

• The no-sew join: strips that connect without a lump.

• The flat rule: where to work so the rug won't curl.

Make your rag rug →

Talk soon,

Clara Hayes
Homesteading