How to Crochet Old T-Shirts Into Rag Rugs
Making your own rugs is more economical than purchasing new ones, especially if they are made using recycled materials. Crochet old T-shirts into rag rugs as a cozy addition to any room in your home. Even old T-shirts with logos on them can be made into usable T-shirt yarn. The logo will not be identifiable and will blend into the color and stitches of the rug. To crochet this rug, you must be comfortable with crocheting the chain, double crochet and slip stitches. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Preparing the T-Shirt Yarn
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1
Cut off the hem from an old T-shirt and discard. Cut into the bottom edge of the T-shirt at a slant. Cut the slant 1-inch deep. From the slant, cut a continuous 1-inch wide strip around the body of the T-shirt. Do not cut off the strip after one round. Adjust the slant after each round, and continue to cut the strip 1-inch wide. Cut off the strip under the arms of the T-shirt.
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2
Repeat with additional T-shirts. The amount of T-shirt yarn needed will depend on the size of your rug and can be added as you go.
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3
Pull the length of the cut strip slightly. The stretch will cause the length of the strip to curl into a cord.
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4
Overlap a 1/2 inch on one end of a strip with an end of another strip. Machine-sew across the overlap to connect. Roll the strips into a ball.
Crocheting Round T-Shirt Rugs
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5
Crochet four chain stitches using a size Q crochet hook. Slip stitch into the fourth chain from the hook to form a ring.
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6
Chain three. This counts as the first double crochet of each round, now and throughout the pattern. Crochet 11 double crochet stitches in the ring. Slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain three for a total of 12 double crochet stitches around the ring.
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7
Chain three and double crochet in the base of the chain. This counts as two double crochet stitches. Crochet two double crochet stitches in each stitch of the round. Slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain three for a total of 24 double crochet stitches.
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8
Chain three and double crochet twice in the first stitch. Repeat the pattern of one double crochet in the next stitch and two double crochet stitches in the next, all the way around the rug. Slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain three for a total of 36 double crochet stitches.
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9
Chain three, double crochet in the next stitch and double crochet twice in the next stitch. Repeat the pattern of one double crochet stitch in the next two stitches and two double crochet stitches in the next, all the way around the rug. Slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain three for a total of 48 double crochet stitches.
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10
Crochet additional rounds, increasing one double crochet in the first set of double crochet stitches of each pattern sequence for each round. Continue until the rug is the desired size.
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11
Knot the T-shirt yarn after the last slip stitch. Cut the yarn leaving a 4-inch tail. Weave the tail into the stitches on the back of the rug.
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Tips & Warnings
The pattern sequence for each round increases by one double crochet in a single stitch, before the last two double crochet stitches crocheted together in a single stitch. Each round will end with 12 more stitches than the previous round.
