This is a durable rug you can make yourself. Alter the directions to go from a small floor mat to a room-size rug.
We are going to make a denim rug, but you can use any material you choose that is durable and will withstand wear and tear. The directions are for a three-foot by six-foot rug. You can alter the size by simply adding or subtracting fabric and altering the size of the initial frame. For this size the measurements are given. Each slat of our woven rug will be three inches in width.
Materials Needed:
- Four yards of denim with a 45" width or greater
- Sewing machine
- Needle and Thread
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Hammer
- 2 pieces of 2" x 4" lumber measuring three feet long
- 2 pieces of 2" x 4" lumber measuring 5 feet 7.5 inches long
- Staple gun and staples
- 8 Nails (3" wood)
- Iron
- Staple remover
- Pins
Making the Frame
(Note-wooden frame is optional. It makes the work easier and if you are making more than one rug it is worth your while. It is not essential.) In creating the frame place one short board as a floor on its narrow side. This is our base. Now place the two long pieces so they are standing on each end of the base as they lay on the floor in a "U" shape. All three of the boards should be on their narrow side on the floor. Draw the long boards even with the end of the short board and nail two nails into each end of the short board so they penetrate into the long board. If you are going to reuse the frame multiple times it is preferable to use screws. Now place the top on our box and nail the same as the base.
Prepping the Fabric
Out of the fabric cut 26 pieces measuring 2'7" x 6 1/2", 12 pieces measuring 5'7" x 6 1/2", 2 pieces measuring 6' x 7", and 2 pieces measuring 3' x 7".
Prep Sewing
Allowing a quarter-inch seam allowance, sew each of the 26 pieces with right sides together to make 2' 7" strips three inches in width. Turn right side out. Repeat with the 12 pieces to have 5'7" x 3" pieces. Turn these right side out also. Using an iron press all of the 3" strips.
Staple Gun
Taking the 12 long strips, staple them across the short top and bottom of your frame. You don't have a lot of extra fabric so you will want them right near the inside edge. Staple the strips one right next to each other all the way across the top and then repeat for the bottom.
Weaving
Using a short strip, weave the strip over and under the stapled long strips. Nudge it toward the top without it folding. Now with the next strip weave under and over the opposite stapled strips you did with the first short piece. Nudge this piece close to the first piece. Repeat with all of the 26 pieces until you get to the bottom of the frame.
Basting
Using your needle and thread, baste all around the edge of the last pieces on all four sides. If you remove the pieces from the frame first you risk them sliding out the edges.
Finishing our Rug
Remove the staples all the way around the frame. We are making the rug with a frayed denim accent but you can hem it in a clean finished manner if you choose. Take one of your two six-foot pieces of fabric and fold it in half so that it is 6' x 3.5". Press. Open the fabric and pin the piece so that it overlaps the short fabric pieces by 3/4". Pin into place. Stitch the length of the rug with a 1/2" seam allowance. Turn rug over and repeat for the back side of the rug. Now do the same for the opposite side.
All that remains are our two short ends. These are done in the same manner as the sides. We are not sewing the corners as we want them and our salvage edges to fray. As it is cleaned it the washing machine over time it will fray and take on a worn look. Embellish with anything you might use on your favorite pair of jeans.
