How to Make a Braided Rug From Bread Bags
Braided rugs of all sizes have long been popular floor coverings. 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 practical and functional, utilizing recycled old clothing and other fabric items. Today, recycling crafters have expanded on the braided rug theme to include braiding with plastic bread bags. The concept is the same, the material utilized slightly different.
Things You'll Need
- Braided yards of plastic bread bags (23 yards of braid = approximately 22 inch wide circle rug)
- Button thread
- Sturdy needle
- Straight pins
- Scissors
Instructions
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Split bread bags up each side, not cutting the closed end, to create a long length of plastic.
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2
Cut the bag in half forming 2 strands of plastic bag.
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Braid the bag strands together, using button thread to join ends, until you have accumulated the yards of braid required.
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Connect your braids by sewing the ends together (if you haven't already done so) to form a continuous ball of braid, much like a ball of yarn.
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5
Begin the rug construction by finding the end of your braid.
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Working on a flat surface, coil the braid to form a center and pin.
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Using button thread, hand sew through the center coil. Do this for three or four coils to form a sturdy center.
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You now have a circle about 4 inches in diameter. Select the side of the coil you want as the underside of your rug.
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One of two methods can be used to stitch together the coils. Sew the braids together along the side/bottom of the braids using a loop stitch.
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Still on the flat surface, coil your braid around the circle. You can use straight pins to hold together, or you can sew a little as you work your way around, holding it with your hand.
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A faster, but less sturdy option, is to sew secure stitches every inch or so. Continue sewing around the coil until your rug reaches its desired size.
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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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Non-slip rubber can be purchased at craft stores; cut to fit and sew underneath to prevent the rug from slipping.
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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 colors of the bags used to form your braids.
