DIY BRAIDED RUG | make a rug from old clothing + fabric scraps!

[@peterdienstmann2498]

I'm a teacher, and I'm going to share this with my class as they are learning about pioneers of North America. PS. The 2-slit method of joining is brilliant!

[@AcornHillHomestead]

Bravo! Great idea.

[@tinkagain]

That was the best, simple instructions I have ever seen. Everything you need to know without the idle chatter! Thank you!

[@ingrid6752]

absolutely! Very concise!

[@KBlobby732]

I agree, exactly what I was looking for and without any prattling on - even the tv show reference was useful.

[@cindybeach150]

I totally agree!!!! Best ever!

[@kerriebailey8459]

Great tutorial - concise and to the point.

[@JCM-mi5re]

Completely agree! I’ve been looking for this video for a month! Thank you for being concise!

[@moonmagnolia7]

I LOVE this! Not only does it remind me of the rugs my grandma used to make out of old clothes, it keeps old clothes that are not fit for donation out of the landfill.

[@bluegirl2902]

That is absolutely amazing, the most amazing thing I've seen in my 69 years of sewing and crafting. I do not at all know how in the world to ever thank you!! You are so clever!!

[@julie3601]

YES! Teaching without the ego and superstar stuff. Thank you so much.

[@janirwin1]

Brilliant. Thank you for not wasting my time by immediately showing me how to do this.

[@BalladofJanine]

Finally someone teaches you without gaps in this process.

[@MeganNielsenPatterns]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the tutorial! Good luck with your rug! xo

[@BalladofJanine]

Megan Nielsen I have done three!!

[@MeganNielsenPatterns]

Oh my gosh Jane this makes me so happy to hear!!

[@lindseyveroneau2215]

We love a thorough tutorial ❤️ !

[@lynnpowers6741]

I too REALLY appreciated your use of time, you provided all the instructions clearly and concisely, managed to throw in personal tips and tricks and WHY, spared us any extra or repetitive info and kept a perfect pace. All this sounds as if you were "all Business " but yet you came across very personable even letting us know about a possible obsession for GILMORE GILRS which also exposed your sarcastic side when bashing the Netflix remake. Anyway, sounds super easy, gunna start mine now. Thank you for taking the time to share this

[@julesfairfax5623]

Thank you. I've been doing( sewy- Knitty, make-y) things for years-- This IS the best, clearest, shortest set of directions-- I am now a fan. Thanks SO MUCH!

[@autumnnfell]

Thank you so much for this Megan, I have been collecting worn out favourite clothes and old clothes from my mothers forgotten sewing projects for years and just have them under my bed. Finally I know a worthy cause and just in time because this winter floor is making my feet cold!! Such a straight forward instructional video without all the distracting rambly bits. You're awesome! Beauuuutiful colour palette.

[@ericab1302]

Looove this - want to do it with my baby girl's clothes and keep adding to it as she grows out of things 😍

[@holsann]

Omg I love this idea! TTC right now and hope I'll be able to remember this for my future kiddos

[@dawn7612]

Very nice job. Grandma would be so very proud of you... Your instructions were simple to understand. Thanks!

[@devidaughter7782]

this was just perfect for what I was looking for; thank you! after 4 min I feel inspired and equipped to get started!

[@Jibbie49]

In 1958, my mother started to let me sew on her new Brother sewing machine. She was firm about having to have the strips sewn and then turned inside-out. She only used old coat and blankets that were wool, so we made a "wool rug." She'd ask people for old wool coats or men's suits, etc. and it seemed they all had them left back in the closets. Once they knew she planned to make a rug, they had no problem passing them on to her.

[@nunyabiznez6381]

I remember my grandfather teaching me how to make rag rugs over fifty years ago. He used 2" wide strips unless it was something thick like denim and he rolled the strips in to them selves and then he made a stitch every few inches to hold them together. He sewed the strips together end to end. He had a braiding bench he used and tacked the beginning to the top of the bench with a small nail. Then he braided until he had probably over a hundred feet of braid. When he got to that point he began making the rug. He first calculated the desired dimensions. We had a living room that was 12 feet by 16 feet so he measured the furniture and concluded that would leave a bare space in the middle that would be 7 feet by 11 feet. He subtracted the 7 from the 11 and that left 4 and so he began with a four foot strip of braid then bent the braid and folded it back on itself and sewed the folded braid by hand then just continued coiling the braid around forming an oval. It looks like you could make a fair size rug in a few hours. His method took days but the braid was extremely tight and neat and the rug was very stiff and thick which made a nice cushion to sit on as a kid. I never learned to use a sewing machine and I will be making a run similar in size to the one above. I have about fifty pairs of old jeans ranging from dark indigo Levis to well faded and bleached Wranglers. Some are over 30 years old and none fit me. The color palate of my living room is cobalt blue, pale blue, white and wood tones. So I'm making a blue jean rug. I have about equal amounts of dark indigo, faded almost white and medium faded so I will be braiding them in three colors with some variation from jean to jean but it should come out as a coherent color scheme coordinating well with what is already in the room. The furniture is all painted white. The upholstery is wide white and cobalt stripes. Curtains, walls and trim are white. I have antique Spode blue and white pottery in a curio cabinet and the floor is light natural oak. I have more material than I need so I'll be making matching pads for my antique rocking chairs and then probably some small area rugs. I have other colors of other fabric from my old clothes that I will be using for other rooms but I'm starting in the living room. I know this will be a long process due to my methods but I'm stuck in this house with multiple underlying conditions alone and a lot of time to myself.

[@ModernMoonBean]

Thank you so much!! Lovely story and helpful. I was also wondering about making an oval rug and here it is. :)

[@dawn7612]

Good luck completing that project...

[@augustadanner3937]

thank you for making this easy to understand and easy to do. I love these old rugs and since I no longer have any older family crafters alive to teach this craft you are a blessing to find.

[@jilljones1502]

I know you did this 3 years ago but it really helped me so much. I just ordered leather needles to make handbags but I typed in braided rugs and I have no idea why and you popped up. So now I can use my leather needles you made this understandable and quick. Bless you.!

[@glxpassat]

You absolutely are amazing at making the process so much easier. I'm very dyslexic, and have been experiencing a hard time understanding the concept, as everyone is a mirrored effect. This was an excellent tutorial.

[@cynthiaamitrano8915]

Thank you so much. My grandmother used to make these all the time. I buy them at bazaars now and again, but they really aren't as well made as yours. I don't think my grandmother sewed her rugs together. I think she may have used a crochet technique. I'll never know. She passed away when I was 10.

[@princezzpuffypants6287]

Simple. Straightforward. Complete. Perfect tutorial. Thank you!

[@rissaarei5336]

Super easy, uses up scraps which I just HATE to throw away and looks great. My new favorite! Also, great, simple and clear explanations. Now excuse me, I'll go hoard some more scraps, I want that rug!

[@sharondavis6121]

Wow this is so easy. Thank you for the straightforward way you gave directions. I like the fact can keep adding as new scraps are available.

[@Melora.s]

Thank you, this is just the tutorial I was after. I love the colour palette, it's really pretty.

[@msmorningstar2116]

The best video on braiding rugs yet.

[@naomizacharias8767]

I love this. My aunt had made a rug like this when I was little. So nostalgic!

[@dianemosley4503]

Totally agree with you about Gilmore Girls

[@user-fx1zc6jb9j]

This is the best video I have ever seen yet for a SIMPLE way to make a braided RUG! THANK YOU!

[@carefreedelight2355]

Brilliant! I feel I can actually do it - bar the machine sewing which looks tricky. I can see my self hand sewing it I. Desperation!!!

[@Velehna]

Did you ever try this? I don’t have a sewing machine but I do want to make this with all my scraps.

[@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork]

Nice. I made an oval rug like this 19 years ago and sewed it all by hand. Didn't own a sewing machine back then. I do now. Still, it's good to know how to make this by hand as well without a sewing machine. You just never know. 😉

[@wakeupseattle1997]

Megan, this is great! Thanks so much for sharing this. I just made my first toothbrush rug that actually turned out to be a bowl. :-) Please make some more videos. I love your voice and your videos are clear and easy to follow. You are clearly very gifted and should share more of your crafting ideas.

[@wendyseddon6029]

Excellent tutorial. Love your very easy instructions and looking forward to trying out the technique. Thanks for sharing your skills.

[@missmatti]

I cannot believe I even learnt a new joining method watching this video. I used to only cut through at one piece but it looks more secure doing it your way! :)

[@elisabethquarto7091]

So concise and helpful! Thanks for a great tutorial!

[@bonobonowan1596]

omg! this is the best tutorial in youtube! tucking it in is genius! i watched other tuts and i was hesitant to do it because of the sewing and looming and sewing it by hand. this vid inspired me! thank you

[@SMartypAntsPants]

I've been sewing these by hand, thinking it would be too fiddly on the machine, doh. Thank you for showing us how easy it is. You've saved me so much time. Time to be able to make more, yippee

[@hayleymarie6013]

How have you sewn it by hand?

[@breefisher4370]

How do you hand sew it?

[@taradufour2187]

Love the constantly growing aspect. Great color pallet also. Beautiful!

[@kerrycrouch3896]

I’ve been looking for a material project , that I can create .... and I’ve just found your tutorial , your enthusiasm and joy in what you create leaps out of the screen .... I love crafting but have had to give up most of it due to fibromyalgia .... but this I can do 💕Thankyou , found my home at last Xx

[@sariannya]

omgosh, thank you for making this task so much easier. i was sewing each piece together. ugh. long hard way not always the best lol.

[@juliettewalker3770]

Very well shown and I agree no ideal chatter I sure enjoy seeing your rug grow. Thank you for sharing it looks very lovely 👍

[@pennylane2304]

Hello Megan - from Tassie! Wonderful tutorial - I am so happy, and now enjoying being a subscriber to your channel. So well done, down to earth and natural. Thank you.

[@52Mirza]

I seen others do the same type rug but yours is the best most simple to do. The others are two complicated. I like your version the best.

[@cheryls4526]

wow. that is a lot easier than the ones that use rope. no measuring strips or sewing diagonal in the corners. fantastic. where has this been all my life. ?

[@pietavoipio5552]

Absolutely brilliant! My son made a round rug at school by some sort of frame weaving thing but unfortunately it wasn't tight enough and the whole rug came apart. 😬 I had no idea how to reweave it but your tutorial solved the problem. Thanks! 👍

[@muthwer]

This is the best tutorial I have seen on braided rugs. Thank you for sharing.

[@mimimakes5427]

Can’t believe I only just found this! Definitely now on my to do list. Thank you Megan!

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Love this rug so much I can’t wait to have a go myself. Such a pretty way to use up scraps xx

[@duckyday1099]

This was the best how to video I've seen. To the precise and to the point . Thank you.

[@debc7741]

Thank you, I love braided rugs and your tutorial was great! I especially love the colors you put in this one!

[@brittanyspendlove7578]

Thank you so much! I hate creating waste with old clothing, so this has been incredibly helpful as I plan to make a rug very soon. I'm so eager to get started!

[@arnna715]

exactly what I needed to find thank you. I'm embarking on my first project, a 4.8m rug so will need all the help I can get.

[@bowerbirdstyle7661]

Thank you for that! I've always wanted to know how to do this. I'm happy that I can use a sewing machine to do it instead of hand sewing.

[@sarahtrusty6717]

Fantastic tutorial. So easy to follow. Thank you.

[@korab.23]

thank you for covering the size of strips and how to join! I haven't decided yet if I want to braid a rug or crochet but this helped so much💛

[@15minoflame]

I like the way this looks so much more than a crochet rug it looks so put together

[@108miriam]

For me as well, this was the best and simplest method and instruction......thank you

[@eternalfizzer]

Thanks for showing a comparison of different joining methods. Usually a crafter shows one method (their fave) like it's the best, but that's their opinion and may not be everyone's fave. Love your time estimate :-D

[@walaashershabi1583]

Lovely, thank u for make it easy for everyone who love this type of art❤

[@farahjamaldin5323]

Wow thank you. This is by far the most usrgul wsy to use good scraps! You've chabged my life, no lie

[@cindybeach150]

Thank you so much for making this tutorial! It is the easiest video to understand and follow that I have seen on the web!

[@carefreedelight2355]

A brilliant tutorial, no fuss , no mystery just go do it...like it's easier thing to do! Makes me want to just DO IT!

[@janlloyd7605]

Thank you, I have made scrap rugs by knotting them, which works, but your ideas make something you can be much more sure of the end result.

[@patriciasweet9102]

My mo made rugs like this when I was little. All by hand. She made a few when my kids were little. They loved to play with her rag balls.

[@CANDYZANE69]

My Granny made these as a past time to keep her busy. She always had a bag of scrap clothing at her feet and a braided rug on her kitchen table. I think she used the second method of joining the scraps for the braid, as I noticed she always had the scissors at the table, and she never sewed the pieces together. I thought she tied them! Also, she did not have sewing machine, so she hand sewed the rug together. Like I said she had lots of time on her hands. It was her favorite thing to do and yes watch T.V. doing it.!

[@Mashkoor110]

wow. great, no nonsense and no faffing about advice. LOVE it. thank you, you have a new confirmed fan.

[@sarahdiana8934]

Thank you for the simple, clear instructions. Great tutorial!

[@ambrosemclaren145]

How I appreciate a time trimmer! Congrats. Concise, to the point and a breeze at that. Saved an old houserobe for this project and really appreciate the tip on different textured and weight fabrics. Subscribed! Thanks.

[@ArtsyLadyCrafter]

TFS this easy and quick process for making a rag rug.

[@suzielavictor3150]

I have looked at many toterials and this one is the best one..... Thank you

[@lindapierce2328]

beautiful. reminds me of my grandmother's rugs. (She would be 130 now) I thought oh boy, I can do the cutting and braiding but daring. I never earned to sew, no access to a sewing machine so I guess I won't be making one after all.

[@monikahash1652]

This was incredibly clear and informative and so fun to watch! Thanks so much for inspiring my next quarantine project!

[@lindamorgan2678]

Excellent your way of joining is the best for sure the other ones just take time and the third one would make a slight lump.. A Growing rug how cool !!!

[@barbaraboyd6022]

Thank you for the braided rug tutorial. It is great. I’m gonna start one with all my stash. I’ve looking for a good idea and it was. Thanks again

[@ashrafsarrami512]

Hi,many thanks for sharing your new idea with us,by the way ,Did you use different kind of material?I mean one is stretch the other two were cotton?

[@cek7940]

I love that and want to go make one. Those were great color choices too, very beautiful! Good job!

[@dougalexander7204]

Megan, thank you. I didn’t know about the first tip about adding a new strip. I’ll try it. Also, never tried to sew together with a machine. Seen one by hand. Took forever. Made many by crochet. I’ll try braiding another and use the machine, Thanks again.

[@peachesfireside178]

I really like how your rug will keep growing as you get more scraps! I also like your first way of joining the material together it looks so smooth. I am going to check out what else you are showing. This is my first video of yours. Happy New Year.

[@098believe]

Awesome idea, so simple and beautiful and it makes use of all my scraps of cloth and old clothing. Thank you for sharing this tutorial.

[@goodinthewood2304]

Wow, when I saw this was such a short video I was wondering if it would really show me what to do. I’m fired up now to make a braided rug for my new house! I’ve downsized all my old stuff away, but I sure don’t mind a trip to the fabric store to dig through the sale bins for some fun fabric. Thanks!

[@SprinkleTwinkle007]

Love this! Thank you so much for the tutorial!

[@debwingert7439]

Thanks! Clear concise instructions. Perfect

[@elijahessentials9064]

I love that it’s constantly growing!! 😁

[@aprilvasquez6400]

I hand sew mine. Haven't made one in years. Might this summer

[@krishnaskitchen6904]

Can you explain how you hand sew one? My email address is [e-mail]. I would much appreciate if some one can tell me how to hand sew one.

[@franceswitham8214]

You are a marvelous teacher. I will make this. Love it.💥💥💥💥💥

[@angies3057]

Love it!!! But I don't have a sewing machine so I guess I'm going to hand sew lol. Thank you. I'll try this for my little dinning room floor.

[@jenniferdorsey4374]

Thank you for your video, short and sweet, to the point!

[@jb-vt3rq]

Great video, exactly what I needed to know. Quick and to the point and a little humor ;) who doesn't like Gilmore girls!?!. Thank you and I cant wait to make my rug!

[@serendipitymoments4684]

Easy and fast, simple instructions! Thank you!!!

[@mandybell7884]

Thank you so much for this lovely video ! ❤ I totally love this rug ! Thanks for giving easy to follow instructions - ❤

[@rosiejenkins6571]

In love with your technique, both sewing AND filmmaking 😻😻 keep going! Can’t wait to learn more from you

[@judichristopher4604]

OH My Gosh... You have no idea how much this video made me HAPPY. Years ago my grandmother was going to show me how to do this... but she passed away before she could. I have seen other videos on KZbin but they crochet it... Judi doesn't do that... LOL... THANK YOU so much for sharing this great video. question: do you do a zig zag stitch? It was a little hard to SEE what you where doing...

[@2doodledo]

Best vid ever!! No idiotic background music!! YAY!!!

[@vanessamcallister4235]

Yes

[@olivemood6469]

Whoohoo! Simple and can be done ✅ w/ a little 📺 time! Thanks!

[@habsahabdulrahman4126]

U make it look easy. Nice n smooth

[@joanspeechley8184]

everything goes around comes around. this was so popular 40 odd yrs ago. I never made one but my sister did

[@theresayockim3750]

Love 💕 this tutorial! I shared it on Facebook 🎉 I've always loved these beautiful rugs but they're pricey to buy. Now I can make my own! 🎉 THANKS ❤

[@annadavis814]

Brilliant. Best video I have seen on braided rugs. Thank you so much.

[@sameenastillinge2262]

I love how easy you make this look! Mine is now about two feet in diameter and looks more like a sombrero, so I fear some seam ripping and a do-over are in my future 😂

[@sheiladann3696]

I first saw this technique done by an old lady with panty hose cut into strips as yours she used them in her bedroom by side of bed in oval shape and of course they went in the washing machine too .i enjoyed that I'm looking forward to watching more of your techniques

[@glynisreynolds446]

Excellent video 🤩 What a great idea 👏👏🇬🇧

[@akshgoelcrafts1343]

Wow So beautiful

[@CatalinaPapadia]

very nice idea for the times coming ...