How to Weave a Rag Rug

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Cut strips of fabric 1–3 inches (2.5–7.6 cm) wide and remove seams.

   The length only matters for how often you want to be taking the time to join new strips. , You'll be trying to shove fabric through this later, so if you make it too tight, you might get aggravated.
   
   Also, notice that the pieces in the picture are uneven.
   
   At the end of every strand, you'll have to join a new one, and it looks better if that's staggered. , Then take the one on the right side and go under, over, under. , Notice that it's not a tight braid.
   
   It's just snug enough to lay flat and hold its shape. , Go under, over, under with that strip on the right (a gray one in this picture) and then turn the entire braid to the right so you can tuck the strip in the edge of the original braid.
   
   Depending on your material, your rug may not want to lie flat if you turn it too quickly, so you may not get to tuck every strand into the original braid.
   
   Sometimes you might have to skip tucking a couple so you can turn the corner smoothly. , (If you want the stripes, tuck it in its own color as you come around and down.) , To maintain the stripes, join one of each color together and stick it through the starting knot in a way that keeps the pattern.
   
   Then continue braiding the same way you have been all along, but now it's under, over, under, over, under-->TUCK! , Add another strip where ever you can sneak it in to make eight strips. ,,, As shown in the picture, go under, over, under, over, under-->TUCK-->TUCK AGAIN under two more blues horizontally--->snip off the excess.
   
   Continue until you run out of strands. ,
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   Step 2: Tie two strips in a simple loose knot.

   ,
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   Step 3: If you want stripes in your rug

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   Step 4: arrange your strips so that they alternate A

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   Step 5: B when you lay them flat.

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   Step 6: Continue taking each right-hand strand and going under

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   Step 7: under.

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   Step 8: When you get a braid about half the length of the rug you want

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   Step 9: it's time to turn.

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    Step 10: Work your way back down to the starting knot following the exact same pattern as you used to make the original braid

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    Step 11: just tucking the end through each time.

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    Step 12: Once you get back down to the original knot

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    Step 13: and work your way around the curve

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    Step 14: skipping and tucking as necessary to lay flat

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    Step 15: it's time to add a strip!

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    Step 16: Braid all of the way down to the end and back up the other side to the original knot.

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    Step 17: Pick up that right-hand gray one

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    Step 18: and go under

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    Step 19: under-->TUCK!

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    Step 20: Every time you work yourself back to the beginning knot

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    Step 21: add another set of strips until you get the size rug you're looking for.

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    Step 22: Once the rug is the width you want it across the middle

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    Step 23: it's time to work yourself back down to 8 strips

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    Step 24: then 6

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    Step 25: and finally none in a way that doesn't throw off your overall shape.

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    Step 26: Cut a hole in the ends of both strips you want to join.

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    Step 27: Shove the new one through the old one.

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    Step 28: Then push the tail end of the new strip through its own hole and tug until snug.

Detailed Guide

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