Scandi rag rug
This super-chic Scandinavian-inspired rag rug will look great in any room in the house and is the ideal project for beginners or dab hands
Fancy a go at rag rugging? This chic striped rug is ideal for beginners and dab hands
you will n need
Burlap/hessian measuring slightly larger
than 145 x 65cm
Tape measure
Marker pen
Fabric scissors
Sewing machine or needle and thread
Assorted garments/fabrics to rag rug in
your choice of colours
Fabric scissors
Gauge
Latch hook
how to make
1Choose
the fabrics you are going to rag rug. Your first task is to make the strips. If using old clothing, such as t-shirts, turn them inside out so any seams are visible. Cut along one edge of every seam 1cm away from the stitching (except the bottom hem and neckline) to separate the garment into its constituent pieces. Leave the seams on but cut off collars, labels and any ‘lumpy’ bits and discard.
2
Cut the bottom hem into one long strip about 1.5cm wide; make two strips if the hem is really deep. Cut off all the seams to make 1cm-1.5cm wide strips: these are slightly narrower than your other strips will be to allow for the bulk.
3
Now fold the garment or your fabric pieces in half lengthwise, then into quarters in the same direction, and then into eighths so that you have a tube. Remember to fold rather than roll, as thicker fabrics such as fleece become too thick to cut through when rolled.
4
Cut the tube into 2cm wide rolls, which will then unravel into long strips. Repeat this process on all the other fabric pieces, remembering to fold the sleeves lengthwise to get the longest strips possible. 5
As you are shaggy rag rugging, you now need to use a gauge to help you turn these long strips into evenly-sized shorter lengths, following the instructions A to C in the box below.
6
Use a tape measure and marker pen to draw a 145 x 65cm rectangle on a piece of burlap or hessian. Try to keep in line with the weave of the burlap as much as possible. If you have a sewing machine, zig zag stitch around this line to help prevent fraying. Skip this step if not, it’s not essential. Cut out the piece close to the stitched (or drawn) line. Fold a 1cm hem all around the edges, pinning in place. Stitch using a needle and thread or a sewing machine.
7
Choose the fabric strips you would like to use for the first row of your rug, and following steps A-H in the box below, shaggy rag rug one row along the short edge of the rug, keeping close to the edge. You do not need to rag rug through the hem of the rug, as the shaggy fabric pieces will disguise the edging.
8
Once you have reached the end of your first row, miss out one row of holes in the burlap, change fabric colour, and rag rug your second row next to your first. Rag rug all your rows in the same direction so that you can get into a rhythm.
9
Once you reach the end of your second row, repeat step 8 but miss out two or three rows of holes between each row of shaggy rag rugging. Continue until you reach the other end of the rug.