I am wanting to make a braided rug. I have done a lot of research and have patterns, know how to do a few different braids, etc. The trouble I am having is deciding what kind of material to use. I know most people use scraps. I have some old clothes I can cut up, but what material is best? I have mostly old cotton t-shirts. Would that work? Do jeans work? Or should I just buy some sort of material at the store? Any recommendations??
So far as I know, any fabric will do and I have seen all kinds used. However, my grandmother would go to an upholstery shop where she'd get scraps for free or near free. It is very tough fabric and those rugs lasted for many years.
You will need long strips of materials and a large crochet hook. There are stores that carry sheets, pillows, place mats and they also sell bags of cotton strips that are just the right width in all different color. They sell it by the pound. I weave rugs and have used this material before. Don't use jeans the material does not give and therefore the rug will not have a good shape. The place that I bought this material is Bluegrass Bedding. Now, get started but there are different methods of braiding a rug. Get the easy and fast way. Jo Ann
choose anything you want, but make sure its the same throughout
just make sure it is about the same weight and texture, and my grandmother used empty bread bags and weaved a beautiful one for the front door porch, it was durable and weathered well.
I once bought an instruction book about this, although never made a rug. They recommend good quality cotton, and ripped, or cut on the bias to allow a bit of stretch. I've also seen them made from old nylon stockings. I'd suggest that jeans would work, if cut on the bias as recommended in the book. Durable, cheap, although not very long pieces if cut bias.
