How to Make Toothbrush Braided Rugs
The making of toothbrush rugs is an ancient craft; no one really knows just how old it is. It's also a green craft because it requires the use of lots of things most people already have around their home. You might have to buy or borrow a few simple hand tools, but with a little ingenuity, your toothbrush rug won't cost you very much at all.
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Things You'll Need
- Toothbrush
- Old sheets
- Scissors
- Sandpaper, rough grain
- Pliers (optional)
- Hacksaw (optional)
- Small drill
Instructions
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Gather all of your old sheets of any size and pattern. Tear a sheet in half crosswise and make snippets at 1-inch intervals along the long side of it. Rip each sheet into strips 3 to 6 feet long. These are the pieces you'll use to braid your rug. Start with about 20 to 30 strips and cut small slits in both ends of each one.
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Cut the bristle end off of the toothbrush using pliers or a hacksaw. Shape the end into a dull point using rough sandpaper. This is your modified toothbrush needle. Thread your fabric strips through the hole in the end of the toothbrush. Drill a hole if necessary.
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3
Place one fabric strip with a small slit in the end on top of another fabric strip with the same slit. Bring the bottom strip up through the top strip and the tail end of this bottom strip through the same slit, then pull to form a knot.
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Use a safety pin to secure the two knotted strips to whatever base you'll be using, such as a bed or a pillow. Begin actually braiding your rug by attaching your toothbrush needle to the left strip and bringing it over and then under the right strip, pulling it gently to form a knot. Make four of these knots to form the center of your rug.
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Turn the base with four knots completely around so you can begin the braiding process; be sure to keep your toothbrush needle on the left side. Find the hole in the first knot and push your needle down through it, bringing it up and over the right strip and tightening it to form a knot; do the same with all four knots. Continue in this way until you need to add more strips and your rug is the size you want it to be.
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Tips & Warnings
When you rip your strips, be sure to do it outside as ripping the material produces lots of strings and lint.
References
- Photo Credit handmade rugs image by Earl Robbins from Fotolia.com
