Make a rag rug

I recently attended a workshop on how to rag rug and I was 'hooked'. Rag rugs are the ultimate in upcycling. All you need to get going is the traditional 'hook', a piece of hessian and lots and lots of rags,
 
Traditional rag rugs were used in poor homes as a practical means of decorating the home whilst using up old clothing.  Clothing would be bought as Sunday best (not always new though) then it would be passed on and down until it was no longer serviceable as clothing.  At this point, it would become rags and one of the best ways to get more use out of it was to make it into a rug, using hessian from an old sack and strips of cloth.  The rugs would be used on beds to keep you warm and in the 'best' room for decoration.  Very few original rag rugs survive because they would then be moved through the house as they deteriorated going from the parlour to the scullery until they fell apart.
 
My first rag rug was a small rug to put beside my bed.  To match the colour scheme, I decided to recycle some old bedding, lots of cotton fabric in just the right shades.  Here's how it was done:
 

 

 
Step 1: Cut your hessian backing to size and draw on the design ( if you are using one). 

 
 

 

Step 2:  Select your fabric and rip it into strips about 2-3 cm wide,  Cut the strips into pieces about 5-6cm long.
 

Step 3:  Fold over a hem of 2cm around the raw edges of your hessian,  You can secure it with a tacking stitch but the hem will be secured with your strips of rag.

 
Step 4:  Take your tool and insert it through the backing fabric, under 2 -3 strands of the hessian and back up.  As you push the tool right through, the 'latch' will open.
 

Step 5:  Take a strip of fabric and hook one end through the eye of your tool.  As you draw the tool back through the latch will close, gripping your fabric, allowing you to pull the fabric through the hessian, creating  a 'tuft'.
 
 

 

Step 6:  Repeat the process, inserting the tool through the hole that you came back though so you don't leave gaps.  Use this process to hem your rug, making a  single row of tufts all round your backing first.  You will find it more difficult to pull the strips through the doubled hem but it will be easier when you start to fill in.

 

 

 
Step 7:  Repeat the process until your backing is completely filled with tufts.  Space the rows of tufts about 2 cm apart or closer if you need.   

The amount of tufts will be determined by your fabric to a certain extent, finer fabrics will need to be closer together.  Use you judgements as you go.
 
Cotton or poly cotton fabrics are best , they are the right thickness to make pulling them through easier.  You can use thicker fabrics but they are harder to work with. Cotton jersey such as you find T-shirts made of are ideal too.  They don't fray and the strips roll up, giving a nice finish. 
 

 

This spot design is a smaller piece for a wall hanging.  This is made from old t-shirts.