Things You'll Need:
- Fabric
- Sewing machine
- Quilting thread
- Needle
- Large safety pin
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Step 1
Select your fabric. Wool, cotton, fleece or any other fabric can be used for a braided rug. It is suggested that you use the same type of fabric throughout a braided rug. Purchase fabric or use old clothing. Use one color or many, as you desire.
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Step 2
Prepare the fabric. Cut your fabric into strips of 1 to 3 inches. The heavier the fabric you've chosen, the narrower the strip should be cut. As you come to the end of a strip, sew the next section onto the end using a ½-inch diagonal seam. Wind the strips into balls.
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Step 3
Stack the ends of three fabric strips, one atop the other. Sew across. If your fabric is very thick, you may sew the strips side-by-side as an alternate.
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Step 4
Attach the sewn end of your fabric strips to a stationary point, so you can braid. A door knob works well for this purpose. Simply, loop a piece of fabric or ribbon and pin it to the strips of fabric at the sewn end. Then, loop the piece of fabric around the door knob.
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Step 5
Braid 9 feet. Remove the piece of fabric and safety pin. With a threaded needle, using a strong matching thread such as quilting thread, coil the sewn end of the strips and sew it into place. Do this with a "lacing stitch," which is like lacing your shoes, except work the thread between the braids so the stitching will not show.
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Step 6
Sit on the floor with the sewn part of the braided rug under you to keep it secure. You may also work at a table with your arm holding the rug down. Braid a foot or two and then stitch. Continue in this pattern until the braided rug is the size you desire.
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Step 7
Cut the final ends of your rug to be even. Fold them under and stacking them as you did at the beginning of the rug. Hand sew the ends into place on the under side of the rug.
