Sew a Faux Braid Rug

Home Decor Craft Project

Apr 17, 2009 Mary Welling-Bonney

Here is a quick and easy project that will give you the look and feel of a braid rug without the expense.

Besides the expense, if you have ever tried to purchase a braid rug you will find only about four or five colors available. The best part of any craft project, but especially with making a rug, is the ability to customize it to your decor.

The example rug will be approximately 5.5 feet by 2.5 feet. You can use the same directions for any size rug. Simply alter the directions to fit the dimensions you need.

Materials Needed:

  • Fabric- 4' X 1'
  • Sewing Machine
  • Thread
  • Scissors
  • Needle
  • Batting-2' X 1'
  • Pins
  • Optional-Beaded Trim

Purchasing Fabric

  1. When buying fabric for this project make sure you are using a heavy wieght upholstery fabric.
  2. Besides the weight, consider the texture of the fabric. Using fabric with a prominent texture will make all the difference.

Preparation

  1. Cut the 4' piece of fabric in half so you have two pieces measuring 2' X 1'.
  2. Lay out one piece of fabric right side up.
  3. Lay the other piece of fabric right side down on top of the first piece.
  4. Lay the piece of batting on top of the two fabric pieces.
  5. Using your scissors, round each of the four corners to create an oval.
  6. Pin the three layers together all the way around.

Sewing

  1. Sew your fabric and batting almost all the way around leaving approximately a half inch seam allowance.
  2. Leave a four inch opening to turn the fabric.
  3. Turn the fabric right side out with the fabric on the top and bottom and batting in the middle.
  4. Hand sew the opening closed.

Creating the Braid Look

  1. With your sewing machine, begin on outside edge and sew from the edge taper into the fabric until you get to about an inch and a half in from the edge.
  2. Continue sewing around at the inch and a half measure.
  3. When you begin nearing the area where you began tapering in, use that as your outside mark and gradually continue sewing in a circular motion with the previous seam as your mark to measure in an inch and a half.
  4. You will be creating a swirl that will go around and around until you get to the center.

Finishing off the rug

  1. You can use your rug as is or add trim.
  2. To add trim, measure the outside edge of your rug.
  3. Begin sewing the trim on where you initiated the swirl.
  4. When you get all the way around, over lap the trim about an inch.

Optional Method

  1. If you are concerned about stitching evenly in a swirling pattern, you can use an alternate method.
  2. Begin the same as with the swirl where you taper in about an inch and a half.
  3. Work your way around using the outside edge as your inch and a half mark.
  4. When you get to your starting place, ignore the taper and run your stitch righ into the beginning at the one and a half inch mark from the edge.
  5. Lift the needle and measure in an inch and a half from your seam.
  6. Sew a circular ring an inch and a half from the seam you previously created.
  7. After each ring, take the needle in another inch and a half and continue sewing rings inside of rings until you run out of room in the center of the rug.

The copyright of the article Sew a Faux Braid Rug in Sewing/Needlework is owned by Mary Welling-Bonney. Permission to republish Sew a Faux Braid Rug in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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