Braided Rugs

Braided rugs originated in colonial America by settlers who used scraps of clothing and other materials to create floor coverings that would provide warmth and protection in their homes. Braided rugs have stood the test of time and are still very popular to this day. These rugs are perfect for adding color, texture and style to any room in your home. Now you can learn to make your own braided rugs in any color and shape you desire.

Materials

Fabric ( any colors you choose)
upholstery needle
clear nylon thread

Directions

Start by cutting all of the fabric into two inch wide strips. The length of the fabric should be cut to approx 3 feet. If the fabric is too long it has a tendency to tangle, making the braiding process much more difficult. Next, tie three strips of fabric together. Place something heavy on the tied end to make braiding easier. Now you can begin braiding. If you are concerned about the frays you can tuck them in as you are braiding or just leave them to add a country flair to the braided rug. When you have all of your strips braided, sew the loose ends together.

Now you are ready to form your braided rug. Lay the braid on the floor and begin wrapping into a coil, starting from the center and working your way outward. For a circular rug, simply coil in a circle. If you prefer an oval shape, lay approximately one foot of braided strips along the floor. Holding the strip down firmly, begin the coil around the one foot braid. You can shape your braided rug into any shape you desire, so go ahead and experiment with different shapes. Once you have shaped the braided rug into the pattern you desire, start sewing the rows of coil to each other. Be sure to keep all of the stitches on the top side of the rug.

Hint: If you plan to make a large braided rug, braid all of the strips first. Shape into a small rug and sew together, leaving a one foot section of the last braid. Sew a new braid to the one foot section and wrap and sew, continuing this procedure until you have reached your desired size.

If you wish to add a non-slip surface to your finished rug, you can purchase rubber backing and simply cut it to the size of your braided rug and use fabric glue to adhere the rubber to the back side. Just remember if you do add backing the rug will no longer be reversible.