How to Make a Rag Rug Loom

Don't throw out your old clothes when you can recycle them into beautiful and practical rugs. But you won't find a loom to weave them in a typical department stores. If you want to make your own rag rug loom and have a bit of woodworking in you, then give it a go. A loom makes for a nice weekend project and should only take a couple of hours to complete.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 - 52-inch boards (2-x-4) 2 - 78-inch boards (2-x-4) 4 - 2-inch L brackets 16 - 3-inch #5 wood screws 16 - 1-inch #5 wood screws 64 - 2-inch #9 wood screws 3/16 drill bit

1. Lay out your boards with the two long ones on either side and the shorter ones at the ends. Square them off and screw the end ones into the side ones using the 3-inch wood screws and an electric drill. Pre-drill pilot holes if using hardwood. This is the framework of your rag rug loom.

2. Reinforce the loom by adding the four L brackets to each inside corner. Before you start to screw them in, measure diagonally from corner to corner and make sure that the measurements are the same by pushing the frame into place. This will keep your frame square. Screw the brackets in place with the 1-inch wood screws.

3. Mark the top and bottom of the loom with a pencil, every 1.5 inches for a total of 32 marks, starting with the center and working outward in both directions on either end of the frame. These are the placement marks for the screws that will hold the string on your loom. There will be extra room at the outer edges.

4. Drill pilot holes with the 3/16 drill bit on each of the pencil marks. This will prevent the wood from cracking when you insert the screws, especially since you have so many screws close together in a straight line. Drill in about 1-inch deep.

5. Screw in the 2-inch screws in each of the pilot holes. They should be placed about 1 1/2-inches deep, leaving 1/2 inch above the surface of the wood. These will be what you weave your string onto for the rag rug framework and need to be sturdy for the tight string.

Tips & Warnings

• Use hardwood like oak or maple for a stronger frame.

[joni04]

on 2/23/2009 My grandparents had a loom they made rugs on. Thanks for bringing back fond memories. ***** and recommended