| Making a braided rug the old fashioned way is much | | | | size you are wanting.After you have braided a piece |
| cheaper than buying a ready made rug and provides | | | | that is around six to eight feet in length, you will |
| you with a wonderful craft project for stay-at-home | | | | want to decide whether you want a round rug or an |
| evenings. The rug I am describing for you in this | | | | oval rug. The only equipment you need for this step |
| article is a "patchwork" sort of a rug, colorful and | | | | is a large five or six inch long straight "doll" needle |
| without a particular pattern.The easiest and the | | | | (this has a slightly "duller" point and is a sturdy non |
| cheapest way is to go through your old clothing first | | | | bendable needle) and waxed beading cord. Simply |
| and save back all of the knitted and jersey articles to | | | | take the long braided piece and lay it around into a |
| use for your rug. These types of fabrics do not | | | | circle or an oval shape and sew this braid together |
| "shred" when scissored and also tend to have a | | | | by taking each of the inside loops and weaving your |
| "give" to the fabric that allows for easy braiding.The | | | | beading cord in and out of the loops. Pull each loop |
| first step is to cut all of the fabric into one and a half | | | | together snugly and shape the rug as you go. It is |
| inch wide strips. Pick out the three strips you want | | | | easier to start this first part of the rug by laying it |
| for the first "braiding strip" and pin them together at | | | | out onto a large table top to begin stitching the |
| the top with a large safety pin. (It doesn't matter if | | | | braiding around itself, once you build it up a bit, you |
| they are of different lengths.) Then just begin to | | | | no longer need to use the table. Just sit with it in |
| braid. You may want to tie the beginning braid to the | | | | your lap and you can work on it.All you do to |
| back of a chair or some other sort of anchor to | | | | complete your rug is continue to braid your |
| start with but you don't have to. Once you have | | | | continuous braid and continue to stitch it around itself |
| gotten to within three inches of the end of any of | | | | until you get to the desire size and shape. At the |
| the strips you are braiding, simply add in a new strip | | | | end, sew your last pieces of the braid back into the |
| by placing it neatly inside of the remaining piece, | | | | rug individually with your waxed beading cord for |
| rolling the two pieces together, and simply continuing | | | | about 10 inches. You will be proud of the colorful area |
| on the braid. Note: the "end" of the rug braid is NOT | | | | rug and of the work you yourself have put into it, |
| DONE yet, simply use a safety pin at the end of the | | | | and best of all, you haven't spent anything and yet |
| braid you are working on and leave the braiding strips | | | | you have a easy to wash area rug! |
| hanging out so that you can continue the rug to the | | | | |