How to Make a Braided Rag Rug

How to make a 4-strand braided rug.

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by AdobeStock/Artful Panoply

Try out these tips for how to make a 4 strand braided rug with leftover fabric scraps. Follow these step-by-step illustrations for how to make a braided rag rug.

Here’s an attractive, old-fashioned floor cover that barely requires sewing! Handmade braided rugs, braided the way your grandmother did it, can save you money and make your house cozy.

The familiar braided wool rug has certainly stood the test of time, but my grandmother taught me — years ago — how to put together a handmade braided rug, one that eliminates the whole process of sewing the rug together, and gives the rug maker greater control over his or her colors.

Best of all, since my grandmother’s rugs are made from inexpensive cotton, synthetic or blended fabric scraps, they don’t cost much to make, and they’re washable!

To begin, gather a pile of fabric scraps. Cut these scraps and rags — on either the lengthwise or crosswise grain — into the longest strips possible. These bands should be 2 inches wide and (ideally) 3 to 5-feet long (tear the strips — when you can — to save time, and sew short pieces together to get the right lengths).

  • Updated on Nov 26, 2022
  • Originally Published on Jul 1, 1986
Tagged with: braiding, Braiding Process, rug
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