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Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Crocheted Rag Rug

Sheets are a great value when it comes to material yard by yard. Especially when you buy them at a Thrift Store at 50% off. I got mine for a whopping 50 cents each! I wanted to make a rug for my bathroom and I had a few balls of fabric yarn but needed one more sheet to cut to make sure I had enough to finish the job. Of course when I found out there was a sale, I picked up a few more sheets. Single unmatched sheets at my favorite Thrift store are $1, so after spending $2 I went home with 4 sheets; a lot of fabric to reuse.


I am not at all an expert at crocheting, I only know a few stitches, so I am afraid you will not get a good tutorial here about crocheting rugs. I will tell you how I made it from the old sheets. I washed and dried them and folded them into quarters. 



Laying them onto my cutting mat I cut them with my rotary cutter at about 1/2 inch strips. Most people cut them wider, more about 1 inch. First I would cut as far as I could on my mat then go to the next row over. After I reached the edge on that side I would carefully pull the sheet over and position it to finish each cut. You can tear them instead of cutting if you prefer but they make fuzzy lint all over so I suggest tearing them outside. 



Sometimes I would miss a section and need to cut through with my scissors.  Then the sections of strips were wound into balls. I usually join the ends by sewing with my machine or by hand but this time I felt lazy and looked forward to just getting to the crocheting. I would need to knot my strips on the back of the rug. 

My finished rug needed to be about 20 inches by 38 inches oval. Using an H-8 size crochet hook and 1/2 inch strips of fabric yarn, each finished row is about 3/4 inch tall. So, doing the math I needed to chain stitch 17 inches and double crochet 14 rows to end up with my target size. Test your own stitches by making a square about 6 inches or larger to see what size rows yours are to determine your finished size. My finished rug is 39 inches by 20 1/2 inches, slightly larger than planned. Make sense? OK. 



After the chain stitch I then double crochet into each chain down one side. At the end I add an extra stitch in each loop end on each side making sure the rug will lay flat and not curl or be loose. As I go around the end each time I check repeatedly to make it is not cupping or becoming wavy. I really don't follow a pattern at all, I just add extra stitches to the ends when I feel it needs it. Again, a lot of rug making has taught me when and where to add these extra stitches.  




When I finish a row and change color or just run out of my fabric strip I tie a new strip on keeping the knot to the back. Here is what the back looks like. When I am finished I weave the loose ends into the stitches and they don't show. 



But truly, I wished later I would have taken the time to sew those ends together instead of tying them! 




Here it is finished, my joining seam looks a little messy but it usually relaxes a bit after some use. These rugs last years and years if you use sheets that are not to fragile from age. They wash very well too. 

I link at these parties






Copyright © 2013 by Hill House Homestead ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

44 comments:

  1. Your rug is so pretty - lovely, gentle colors! And what a thrifty project too!
    I LOVE this new blog! Your design is outstanding and the content has something for everybody! I am so happy to be here as a new subscriber!

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  2. Connie it is BEAUTIFUL!!! :) Now a word about tearing sheets for the next time. You just take those grandkids outside where the fuzzy lint can blow away in the wind and get an end started and let them tear. I had kids help tear a sheet here and since destruction is built into little kids anyway they thought this was the best thing since sliced bread, lol! :)

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  3. Your rug is beautiful! I would think crocheting with fabric would really make your hand hurt after a while! It is pretty! Love you new blog, too! Much success!

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  4. Great job on your new blog Connie! I so understand what you are talking about. I want to enjoy blogging not make it another thing I have to do. And of course I am a new follower :) I will spread the word!!! Come link up at the Let's Get Social Sunday linky party today.

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  5. Love your new blog! And what a gorgeous rug. And Deb, what a terrific idea for the grandkids. I may just give this a try in a couple of months when things are warmer and our home homes are more settled from moving. Thank you :)

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  6. How do you cut the sheets so evenly? Great idea for a frugal rug!

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  7. Love your rug and the blog is already looking 100%

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  8. Love your new blog! And thanks for posting this, I have so been wanting to make a rug from shirts or sheets lately! Followed you :-)

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  9. This is awesome I love it! Thanks for the tutorial :)

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  10. Hi your rug came out beautiful! It's just like to old days with the rag rugs! My aunt used to make those rugs too! I love it and you did a great job. I saw it at the shady porch party!
    Julie @ julieslifestyle.blogspot.com

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  11. This is gorgeous! I am absolutely amazed you made this yourself...beautiful! This would be a great post to link up to Create It Thursday #24…it's live now! Hope to see you there!

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  12. I want to make one of these. Do you think a beginner could do it? Yours is very lovely and just what I have been looking for to cover a blanket chest.

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  13. Hi Connie. Thanks for linking up this post Crocheted Rag Rug to my Sweet Wednesday Link Party, great job!

    Have a Sweet Day!
    Heather
    MySweetMission.net

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  14. Hi. You are being featured! Go check it out and brag about it on your blog! Here is our bragging badge: I'm featured'. http://www.finecraftguild.com/party/ You deserve the qdos, and we love the link juice back. Congrads. Your rug is SPLENDID!

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  15. Hi there! This is my first time here and I came via Share your cup!
    Your rug turned out wonderful!
    I've been saving up sheets for years- just for this purpose but now I need to learn how to crochet! :)
    I think it scares me because when people write about it, I see all sorts of numbers and numbers and I don't do well together! Wish me luck! ♥

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  16. I can't wait to try this! It will be so much fun - a great winter project. Thanks for the tutorial

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  17. It's so pretty, I would hate to have anyone step on it. I love the colors too! Thanks for sharing at this weeks Creative Muster. Now that you found our party I hope that you'll continue to join us every Tuesday evening. Pinned and following on G+

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  18. Great Job! This is on my bucket list! Love it~Trisha (another new blogger!)

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  19. Your rug looks great! What a good idea to use bargain sheets. Thanks for the idea and instructions.

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  20. What a beautiful rug!! I remember trying to make them years ago and mine were way too wavy.

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  21. Im that old i can remember making these and braided rugs from old sheets back in the 70s , they lasted years and my gran made one from vile brushed nylon sheets that was practically immortal

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  22. Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic project on The Inspiration Board at homework. I featured you today! Have a great weekend.

    carolyn
    homework &
    DETAILS

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  23. Visiting from the Farm Blog Hop,
    LOVE your rug! I think I may have to start looking at Thrift shops for some sheets so I can make one too!

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  24. Beautiful job well done on your rug! Thank you for sharing the instructions and your finished work of art!
    Stopping by from "Dare To Share Saturday". Now following you on G+, Pinterest, and Facebook.
    Have a great weekend :)
    Bismah @
    http://simplemamaathome.blogspot.com/

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  25. Wow! Great project, love it! Thanks for sharing!
    Enjoy your day!
    Hugs and love from Portugal,

    Ana Love Craft
    www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

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  26. You did a fantastic job! It looks beautiful, I would love to have this in my home. I'm so glad you linked up at Sewlicious Home Decor!

    Have a great week!

    Marti

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  27. I love your rug! The sheets are perfect for wonderful time worn colors. I haven't crocheted in years. Would like to try learning again. This would be such a fun project. Even the rag balls are sweet! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  28. Love it - so simple, I pinned it straight away :D

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  29. Beautiful! Now I want to try making one! Thanks so much for the tutorial!

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  30. What a fantastic way to recycle old sheets. I just threw one out that had a big hole. It could have become a rug.

    Thanks for linking up at Motivation Monday. FYI - we changed the format of the party to have 4 separate categories - Inspirational Writing, Healthy Recipes, Crafts, and Home Decor/Organizing. Our hope is by organizing the posts by categories, our readers can find what they're interested in faster.

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  31. Beautiful job! Thanks for linking up to The DIY'ers!

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  32. Such a cute idea!
    I have a giveaway going on, would love for you to check it out! http://thediaryofarealhousewife.blogspot.com

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  33. I'm completely in love with your rug. It's so cute, homey, and classic all rolled into one. I love that you gave us the idea to go to thrift stores to buy sheets. That makes a rug like this so inexpensive to make. I'm going to have my crocheting mom teach me how to do the stitches so I can make this. Thanks for the great idea and tutorial. Would you be willing to share this rug post and any of your other great posts at our Making Monday link party? We would love it and I think our readers would, too. Thanks. Have a fabulous day. http://www.abrightandbeautifullife.com/making-monday-10/

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  34. Just wanted to stop by and let you know that you are my featured post at the HomeAcre Hop this Thursday!
    Thanks for sharing
    Sandra
    http://www.mittenstatesheepandwool.com

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  35. Hi, I am just hopping back to let you know that I will be featuring you at SYC this week.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  36. What a wonderful tutorial, I've braided rugs but this is a wonderful way to use up old sheets! Your rug is beautiful!
    Thanks for sharing on the HomeAcre Hop. Hope to see you again tomorrow! Nancy HomeAcre Hop

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  37. Your rug is lovely! This is pretty awesome. Thanks for sharing at DearCreatives party! I hope to see you again soon. Theresa

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  38. This is such a neat idea! Thanks for sharing at Mix it up Monday :)

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  39. Wow--that's impressive! Thank you for sharing this at Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop!

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  40. PINNING. Thanks for linking, too. Linda

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  41. Hi Connie. I'm popping on over again to let you know that I've featured this rug post at our Making Monday link party this week. Come take a look. Also, we would love it if you shared some of your other great projects. http://www.abrightandbeautifullife.com/making-monday-11/

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