How to Make Your Own Braided Rugs

If you can braid hair you can braid a rug. We used to make them from old panty hose but you can use any material even plastic bread bags if it is for outside use.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Enough material for the size rug you want.
• large needle and thick thread like button cord.(or double thread.
• scissors
• latex backing (optional)

1. Tear or cut the material into 2 inch strips, thick material into 1 inch strips. Sew the ends of 3 strips together and braid hand over hand. Sew strips to the ends of each of the next strips and braid. Continue until you have about 6 or 8 feet of braided material.

2. On a flat surface lay out the braids in a snail style touching in a circle or a square on oval or rectangle and sew side to side in a spiral. Sew more strips to the ends of last strips. Continue sewing the braids to the last braids in a continuous manner. When you have reached the size rug you want sew the end of the last braided strip closed and tuck it into the rug and sew it firmly to the finished rug.

3. Small rugs should be finished by spreading latex rug backing and curing for 24 hours. It will help make them skid resistant. Small rugs can be machine washed and hung to dry or laid flat to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose either matching colors to your decor or direct opposites depending on the effect you want.
• Use the small ones for outside the door, if they get too dirty, you can make another one.
• Good project for kids and to do while watching tv or just talking.
• Do not make your rug so big you can not handle it to clean it.

[jenecequa]

on 10/16/2009 Good idea! You never have too many plastic bags to use - and old shirts and rags work too!