Things You'll Need:
- Frame loom
- Assorted yarns or rags (materials)
- Weaving needles
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Step 1
Gather your supplies. You can purchase a frame loom at a weaving store, or you can build one on your own with a few simple boards and nails. You will also need to get weaving needles. They come in many different sizes; the size you want will be determined by the size of the rug you are weaving. You will also need either yarn or rags.
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Step 2
Warp your frame loom. To do this, you will need material to warp the loom with. This material will not be seen as much as your main material, but it is still important to pick something that matches. Most people use something like yarn, or even hemp or natural rope. Whatever you decide to use, it needs to be strong. If you want to make a more authentic-looking rag rug, you may want to use rope.
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Step 3
Choosing the weft will determine the entire look of your rug. For this, you can use just about anything that you wish. Yarn is a popular choice in weaving, but for a rug, you will want to choose bigger yarns that can stand up to a lot of foot traffic. You will be surprised at the large selection of yarns on display at specialty stores. You can also make a traditional rag rug: In this case, you can use whatever material you have available. You can choose any colors you desire, or even a variety of colors all at the same time.
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Step 4
When the warp is in place and you have made sure it is tight, you can begin to weave your weft into it. This is when you choose the style of your pattern. The most simple rug pattern is the over/under pattern. This will give your rug a very tight appearance. If you are going for more of a checkerboard look, you can lengthen your over/under technique by going over two or three warps and then under the same amount. Just remember that if you choose to do this, your warp will show a lot more, so its color and appearance will matter more.
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Step 5
Take your time when weaving so your rug ends up looking just as you first envisioned it. When you are finished, you will have to tie off the ends. Take a sharp pair of scissors and cut each warp from the loom as evenly as you can. You can get creative with the tie-offs or simply knot them, giving your rug a very casual look.
