How to Make a T-Shirt Shag Rug

T-shirts and rug canvas are all you need to make a shag rug.

T-shirt shag rugs are quite easy to make. Their long, soft pile feels good underfoot. An all-white rug adds a spa feel to your bathroom. A colorful rug made from out-gown or cast-off souvenirs brightens up a bedroom or spot by the door. All you need to purchase is some rug canvas from a craft store or even a thrift store latch hook kit (just for the canvas).

Things You'll Need

• Hooked rug canvas
• Scissors
• Rotary cutter and mat (optional)
• T-Shirts

Instructions

Make Your Shag Rug

1. Determine the size rug you want to make. Cut the rug canvas to the correct size. Rug canvas is available at fabric and craft stores.

2. Cut T-shirts into 1-by-4 inch strips using a scissors or rotary cutter and mat. Cut across shirt just under the arms. Then cut the body into 1-inch wide tubes. Snip tubes into 4-inch long pieces. Some pieces may also be cut from the top and sleeves of shirts. The number of pieces you need will be determined by the size rug you are making and how thick you want your shag to be.

3. 

   Starting at one corner of rug canvas, tie strips to form shag. Fold a strip in half and hold ends together in one hand. With the other hand, slip loop end down through one square hole and up through the next hole. Pass ends of strip through loop and pull to tighten. This is called a lark's head knot.

4. You can tie a knot in every hole, or every other hole, in a checkerboard fashion, depending on how dense you want your finished rug to be.

Tips & Warnings

• To launder your rug, shake out excess dirt. Wash by hand or on delicate cycle and lay flat to dry. Tighten any knots that may have loosened.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• How to Make a Lark's Head Knot