How to Make Braided Rugs

Making braided rugs is a fun hobby―something you can do to kill time, decorate your home, and perhaps use it as a way to make extra cash. It helps in elevating the entire room's décor, and making it look more comfy. However, purchasing new rugs can be an expensive deal. To beat that dilemma, why not make one at home with inexpensive items?

• First, we will cut the wool fabric. Depending on thin or thick you wish to keep the braids, cut the fabric into 1―3" wide strips.
• We need a long strip. For that, you need to sew two ends of the fabric with one another using needle and thread. You can use a sewing machine as well.

• Make long strips that are at least 8 feet in length. Depending on how big you want the rug to be, we will need many such strips.
• Take the first strip and take both ends of it and fold it towards the center. Again make a fold that will minimize its length in half.

• To keep these folds in their place, we will sew them with needle and thread again. Follow the same steps for all the 8 feet long strips.
• Now take 3 such strips and sew just one end of them with each other. When you do this, it will be easier for us to begin braiding.

• Place a heavy book on the end so that while braiding, the strips won't move from their place.
• Similar to how we braid hair or a ribbon, we will take these 3 strips. Hold the left braid in left hand, right braid in right hand, and keep the center strip in right or left hand.

• Now begin braiding. Use pins in the middle of the braids to keep them lined and in place. As you braid, all the 3 strips will become the part of your braid.
• When you are about to reach the end of the strips, use the lacing to tie the other 3 strips. Again begin braiding and keep going till you reach the end of the final strips.

• Here, you will have a long, slightly thick strip ready for you. All you have to do is swirl it into a round or oval shape and sew with needle and thread to keep it in place.
• In the end, take the damp cloth and wipe the area rug properly. Iron it immediately to flatten the rug. Place the rug in your living room or bedroom.

• While using old cotton sheets, you can use this rug as a washable rug.
• Similar to what we did with the woolen rug, we need to cut strips of fabric; at least 2―3" wide. Make sure that the strips are straight so that we get an even looking rug.

• Follow the similar folding technique. Once the strips are folded in half, we will sew them together, lengthwise.
• Sew 3 strips with one another (from top) so we can begin braiding. Just as we braid hair or a ribbon, we will begin braiding these strips.
• Make sure each braid is similar to the first one. Don't make big and small braids in the entire strips.

• Once you reach the end of the braid, attach the other 3 strips to continue. Braid all the way down and use all the strips. Sew the ends.
• To make a square rug, once you finish with the first 3 strips, hold the second set of 3 strips at 90º angle and begin braiding. This will give your rug a square corner.

• Keep braiding the strips in the pattern you want them to take. Whether you want a rectangle, square, oval, or circle shape of the rug, just change the pattern on your braids.

• Use different colored sheets so that the rug comes out looking unique. Once the braiding is finished, all there's left to is stitch the folds with one another so that the rug stays in place.
• Iron the rug before placing it in your living room or bedroom.

You can pretty much use any old cotton bed sheets, scraps left after quilting, and old clothes to make the rugs. Using various colors and making different lengths of rugs, you can use the old fabric. That's a really neat way of decorating your home and keeping expenses to a minimum.