Has anyone ever made a rag rug?

[WigWamBam]

Had a go with dd during a visit to a folk museum over the holidays and I quite fancy giving it a try, but don't really know where to start.

The guy who was demonstrating was using half a dolly-peg as a tool and was just shoving the scraps through with that, but my mum (who remembers making them when she was little) says you have to secure the scraps with a loop. Is this the best way? What about the edges of the hessian - do I bind them, or just double them over and work the rows of scraps through two layers? What about the corners?

Have looked on the internet for techniques but didn't really have much joy, and I'm not sure of the best place to get the base material from (sacking not being something we get much of!).

Sly little bump

I have a rag rug kit somewhere that a local lady put together,, would you like me to photocopy the instructions for you?

Oh, yes please - that would be great.

I'm not quite sure why I have this burning desire to turn all my old t-shirts into a doormat, but there you go

Best sort of crafting!!

I started off just helping dd to do hers, then ended up making a little picture myself - and it was really, really relaxing.

Dh raised an eyebrow in a "Not something else that will cost money" sort of way, but as I told him it's recycling and (unless hessian is squillions of pounds per metre) not hugely expensive.

Have you ever tried it with strips of carrier bags, my MIL has made several things either by making a doormat and a hand bag!

That's inventive

I haven't even tried it properly with fabric yet ...

Well you can always keep that idea for next time!!!! And its free! Have to admit, the bag was really good!

I would imagine they would be really hard-wearing as well.

And green!

The hook they use is called a latch hook, I google latch hook and came up with loads of hits such as this.
I've got a guardian mini book with instructions in it someone but, I do really want to keep the book. When I get my scanner back, I could scan the relevant pages and email them to you but, won't be for a couple of weeks.

There is a how to page on that site as well here

Ah - I thought latch hooks were more for use with wool rather than strips of fabric. Perhaps I have been googling the wrong thing!

Thank you for the offer of scanning your book, that would be great if it's not too much trouble.

I am going to make DD one (when I get the time) but it just involved plaiting/braiding together strips of material then wrapping them round each other and sewing in place.

I have some instructions if you want them

Thank you for the offer, but it's the technique where you poke the strips of fabric through holes in your backing material and then bring them back out through the next hole that I was interested in.

Wigwam, when I get my scanner back (IL's borrowed it, they're on hols at mo) will post on here to let you know and I'll email you the pages. Hope this ok!
Btw the one in the booklet is made out of t shirt strips.

Fabulous - thank you