How to Make a Rag Rug Frame

Rag rug frames are useful when creating handmade rag rugs. However, these frames can be expensive and difficult to find. A large rag rug frame can cost hundreds of dollars and that may be too much of an investment for people who are trying a new hobby. There is an alternative though. You can create a simple frame using supplies available at any home improvement store.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1-by-4 boards
• Miter saw
• Staple gun
• Staples
• Burlap

1. Decide how large you want the frame to be so that you will know what length of 1-by-2 board to purchase. You will be cutting the pieces at an angle, so plan to buy at least 10 inches more than the actual perimeter of the frame. For instance, if you are making a 12 inch square frame, then you will need at least 58 inches of 1-by-2 board.

2. Cut four pieces of the 1-by-2 board at a 45-degree angle with the miter saw. Cut at a 45-degree angle on both ends. These four pieces will make up the sides of the rag rug frame.

3. Place two pieces of wood together to form a 90-degree angle. Use a staple gun to join the pieces together with as many staples as it takes to hold them together securely. Repeat this process with the remaining two pieces of wood. Now you will have two L-shaped pieces of wood; join these together with staples to form a square.

4. Stretch the burlap, which will be the base of the rag rug, over the wooden frame. Pull the burlap taunt and staple it to the wooden frame. As you create the rag rug, you can remove the staples and reposition the burlap to work on other areas of the rug.

References

• Rag Rugs; Juju Vail; 1999