A Simple Rag Rug Tutorial

Greetings dear friends & readers

This lock down is teaching us all to use up what we have on hand  . . . after all,  we have little other choice

Last week after I washed my kitchen floor I noticed how tatty the rag rug was that sits directly below my sink.

In fact it was getting to the stage where - every time you walked over it - another piece of red fabric came off !!

I like a small mat beside my sink but as you can appreciate, it gets grubby - so is frequently in the wash.

I decided to make myself a new one using an old method that I used to teach many years ago

Work out what size you would like your rag rug to be & then gather together your supplies dear readers . . . 

- A selection of fabrics - any scraps will do - in fact you can use old clothing, t-shirts, upholstery or curtaining fabrics for these rag mats

- A piece of calico or hessian  - I used calico as I knew this rug would be in the wash a great deal

- Pencil & ruler, sewing machine & thread, scissors etc

- A piece of wadding the size of your mat

- One Ginger Cat - this is entirely optional although in my case .... it was not optional at all !! 😐

(here on in the ginger cat shall be referred to as "my assistant")

I worked out I wanted my mat to be 25 inches long x 18 inches wide (64 cms x 46 cms)

Cut your piece of calico to the size you wish your rag rug to be.

Draw lines along the width of it approx 1.5 inches (4 cms) apart

Your assistant can help with this (!!)

Draw right to the end of your calico piece

The most tedious part is cutting your pieces of chosen fabric.

I cut mine approximately 5.5 inches x 1.5 inches (14 cms x 4 cms)

If you are slick with a rotary cutter you will be fast at this - I am rather slow.

Toss all your cut pieces into a container & mix them up as you go.

Cut more than you think you will need !

Do not be exact with each piece as some variation doesn't matter

Begin sewing them on your lines starting at one end

I kept my basket of pieces right next to my machine & picked out one each at a time

Try Not to sew two pieces the same side by side if you can

This pic shows how I just move them all to one side to begin my next row - it's not difficult

Three quarters of the way through  -  taking a breather 

The finished rag rug top - you can now snip off any longer lengths if you notice any (I did have some)

Cut a piece of calico the same measurement as your top

Your assistant can help with this task

Then cut a piece of wadding the same size as this - get your assistant to lay on the wadding to stop it moving 

around as you cut 😉

Pin back your fabric strips roughly with pins - this will save the pieces getting caught in your seam as you sew - pin all the way around your mat

Then make a sandwich with the two calico pieces facing, & the wadding on the bottom, & pin really well right around

Sew around 3 sides - the 2 long sides & then 1 shorter end & then turn your rug through.

I use a long needle to pull my corners out neatly - then I iron right around the whole mat & iron the open end together before sewing it closed.

Take your rug outside & give it a really really good hard shake

Stand back as lots of threads will fly off it.

Lay your rug in your chosen place & then get your assistant to test it for "comfort & snugability"  💕

Stand back & pat your back & tell yourself how absolutely clever you really are !!!

Give your assistant the rest of the day off as she will be fairly exhausted after helping you so much today.  😉

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial dear friends,

Thanks so much for stopping by here today

Do let me know if any of you make yourself a rag rug - I can lend you the assistant for no cost whatsoever! 

With much love & friendship to you all,

Julie & the furry ones x0x0x