How to Lace a Braided Rug
Braided rugs of all sizes have covered floors for centuries. Rug makers using this "green" craft have been known for their ingenuity and resourcefulness. In centuries past when fabric was costly and sometimes hard to come by, every scrap was saved and worked into a useful product. Braided rugs continue to be a practical and functional product that recycles old clothing and other fabric items. Lacing a braided rug is an easy process.
Things You'll Need
- Button thread
- Sturdy needle
- Straight pins
- Scissors
- Braided yards of fabric
Instructions
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1
Accumulate the yards of braid required for the size rug you desire. Twenty-three yards of braid will make a circle rug about 22 inches wide. Form a continuous ball of braid by sewing the braids together at the ends.
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2
Find the end of your braid. Working on a flat surface, coil the braid to form a center and pin. Using button thread, hand sew through the center coil. Do this for three or four coils to form a sturdy center about 4 inches in diameter.
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3
Select the side of the coil you want as the underside of your rug. Still on the flat surface, coil your braid around the circle. Use straight pins to hold it together or sew a little as you work your way around, holding it with your hand.
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4
Select a method for lacing. You can sew the braids together along their sides using a loop stitch. For a faster, but less sturdy option, sew secure stitches every inch or so. Continue sewing around the coil until your rug reaches its desired size.
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5
To finish the end, cut the braid and sew the braid ends together securely. Fold under and sew to the braid beside it.
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Tips & Warnings
Braided rugs can be formed in the shape of a heart, square, rectangle or oval. The look of the rug will be determined by the prints and solids used to form your braids.
