How to Crochet a Rag Rug From T-Shirts
A great way to recycle old T-shirts is to use them to make rag rugs. Such rugs are pretty and useful. You can make them in any size and colors you choose, and make them round, oval or rectangle with ease. In addition, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you are avoiding filling up the landfill with old T-shirts and are making something from them instead.
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Instructions
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Making the T-shirt Yarn
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1
Wash and dry the T-shirts. Lay one of them on a flat surface and smooth it out. Cut the upper part of the T-shirt away, beginning just beneath one sleeve and cutting straight across to the other side. Cut off the hem.
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2
Fold the T-shirt by lifting it up from one side and bringing it to the other side, leaving 1 inch all along the opposite side free. Smooth it carefully and make sure that the 1-inch allowance is straight. Use the ruler and the fabric marker to mark ¾ -inch increments all along the folded edge.
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3
Cut the T-shirt into strips, beginning at the folded edge. Leave 1 inch of the opposite side uncut. Unfold the uncut edge and use the fabric marker to make a slanted line from the outside edge of the first strip to the inside edge of the second. Make the first cut, and then continue cutting on the slant until you have cut through all of the strips except the first one. Cut through that one; this will leave you one long continuous strip.
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4
Begin to wind the strip into a ball, stretching it as you wind. Stretching it will cause it to curl in on itself, forming yarn as you go.
Making the Rugs
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5
Make a round rug by beginning with a chain 2, and then making 6 single crochets in the second chain from the hook for the first round. Make 2 single crochets in each stitch for the second round, and for the third round, make 2 single crochets in the first stitch and 1 single crochet stitch in the second, increasing every other stitch. Continue increasing by adding one more single crochet stitch between the 2 increase stitches on each round. (For example, round 4 would have 24 stitches.) When your rug is the desired size, finish with a slipstitch border, end off and weave in any loose ends.
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6
Make an oval rug by beginning with a chain 16. Work 3 single crochet stitches into the second chain from the hook, then work 1 single crochet stitch into 13 chain stitches. Make 3 single crochet stitches in the last stitch. Continue along the bottom of the foundation chain by making 1 single crochet in the bottom of each chain until you reach the beginning. Join with a slipstitch. Make 2 single crochet stitches in each of the first 3 stitches, and 1 single crochet to the other end. Make 2 stitches in each of the 3 stitches at that end, continue single crocheting into each stitch to the end and join as before. Continue making evenly spaced increases at the curved ends and single crochet along the side. When your rug is the desired size, finish with a slipstitch border, end off and weave in any loose ends.
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7
Make a rectangular rug by beginning with a chain 12. Work 2 single crochet stitched in the second chain from the hook. Chain 1 and make 2 more single crochets in the same stitch. Single crochet into the next 9 stitches. In the last stitch, make 2 single crochets, chain 1 and 2 more single crochets. Continue making 1 single crochet in the bottom of each chain until you reach the beginning. Make 2 more single crochets in the first stitch, chain 1 and join with a slipstitch.
Turn the work. In the chain 1 space, make 2 single crochets, chain 1 and make 2 more single crochets; repeat this in each round until the rug has reached the desired size. Finish with a slipstitch border, end off and weave in any loose ends.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are making a large rug, you may need to join more strips of yarn. Do this by either tying or sewing the ends together.
You may need to stop every so often and pull the rug into shape, especially round or oval ones.
Do not use T-shirts that have stiff designs on the front, because they will not curl up well when you pull on the strips. Soft designs will work, however.
Resources
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