Rug weaving is fun, and it is a great way to use up your fabric stash. And weaved rugs are coming back in style. They are old school and retro.
And since people are becoming more environmentally conscious, they love finding ways to upcycle old items.
How to Weave a Rug
Rugs can be woven using a wide variety of fibres. For this tutorial, we are going to use scrap fabric. This is a great way to recycle old clothing and use up fabric scraps from sewing projects.
Before you begin rug weaving, gather your supplies. You will need:
- Scrap fabric
- Scissors and/or Rotary Cutter
- Loom
- Crochet Hook
How to weave a rug:
1. Cut your fabric strips. They should be approximately 1 ½” wide and as long as possible. Precision is not important.
2. The warp will need to be one continuous piece of fabric. To connect the individual pieces, take two pieces and lay them lengthwise on top of each other.
Fold over one end (both pieces together) about ¾”. On the fold, halfway between the edges, make a small slit.
Now lay the fabric pieces end to end with the slits on top of each other. Hold the fabric together so it doesn’t move. Push your finger through both slits and take the tail of the bottom piece and push it down through the top of the holes. Pull it out the bottom and tug on the pieces to create a small knot.
Continue this process until you have one large piece of warp.
3. Now you need to warp your loom. On one end of the fabric, you just tied together, tie a small knot large enough to fit over the first nail/pin on your loom.
Now weave the warp back and forth, keeping the fabric taut (not tight). When you get to the last nail/pin, tie a knot near the end to create a loop that will sit tight on the last nail/pin.
Cut off the excess fabric, leaving a few inches for the tail.
4. Now you will begin to weave in the fabric pieces. You will need 2 fabric strips. It is easier to use different colours. First, attach the 2 pieces the same way you tied the warp pieces together.
Start weaving by going behind the rod, on the right, and coming up through the hole created by the first warp loop.
Pull the working piece of fabric through until the knot is even with the rod. Now take the other side of the fabric and weave it down through the first loop.
5. Continuing weaving the fabric pieces, rotating between each. One goes up through the centre of the loop, then one goes down. You will be working from the right to the left.
When you get to the end of the row, treat the bar, on the right, as the final nail/pin. So, when you are done, one piece should be behind the bar and one in front.
6. To start the next row, continue rotating between the colours. This time, work from the left to the right. Weave in between the gaps created when you weaved the first row.
You will notice a chequerboard pattern forming due to the 2 colours used.
7. Continue working back and forth (right to left and left to right) across the loom. When the fabric pieces begin to get short, add another piece of fabric to the end.
Do this the same way you attached all the other pieces. Except, this time, you will want to attach the same colours together.
8. When you get to the end of the project, you will need to secure the ends. To do this, weave the ends back through a few stitches. Think of it as backstitching. An easy way to do this is by pulling the fabric through with a crochet hook.
9. Once you have woven backward through a few of the stitches, cut the fabric and leave a short tail. Now take each of the tails and pull them up through the weaving to hide them.
7 Rag Rug Weaving Patterns
Now that you know the basics of rug weaving, why not make your own rug? Below are 7 rug weaving tutorials that will teach you how to make beautiful throw rugs and runners.
1. Rigid Heddle Loom Rug Weaving Pattern by ZoZoFibersArt
Use up your fabric stash with this rug weaving project. The rug weaves up quickly on a rigid heddle loom. Even beginning weavers can complete this pattern in a single weekend.
The completed rug will measure approximately 12 inches (30.48 cm) x 48 inches (121.92 cm), plus fringe.
Get the Pattern by ZoZoFibersArt HERE
2. Rug Weaving Tutorial by Crispina ffrench
Make a potholder inspired rug with this rug weaving tutorial. Once you complete one of these rugs, you will be searching your local thrift store to find more clothes for upcycles.
The 7 page DIY tutorial has hand-drawn illustrations. They show the exact steps for upcycling old clothing and material to create a beautiful, durable potholder rug.
Get the Pattern by Crispinaffrench HERE
3. Marina Rag Rug Weaving Free Pattern from Lankava
This is a gorgeous, professional looking rug you can make yourself. And the rug weaving pattern is free. The colour combinations you can use to make this beauty are endless.
The pattern calls for Lankava Aino Rag Rug Yarn and Lilli Tube Yarn. The finished size of the rug will measure approximately 28.74 inches (73 cm) x 74.80 inches (190 cm).
Get the Pattern from Lankava HERE
4. A Peg Loom Rug Weaving Pattern for Beginners by WeavingMe
Are you looking for an easy rug weaving tutorial you can make on a peg loom? Check out this one that was designed for beginners.
This peg loom rug for beginners is 20 pages long and includes 56 colour photos. The tutorial will teach you how to choose the right yarn, warping the peg loom, plain (tabby) weave, curved wefts, angled wefts, removing the rug from the loom, knotting-off the warp, and creating a plain fringe.
Get the Pattern by WeavingMeHome HERE
5. Free Blue Rag Rug Weaving Pattern from Lankava
Here is a free rug weaving pattern that creates a traditional Finnish woven rag rug. It is a beautiful rug that is perfect to use as a hallway or kitchen runner.
The pattern calls for Lankava Aino Rag Rug Yarn and Lilli Tube Yarn. The finished size of the rug will measure approximately 27.17 inches (69 cm) x 76.38 inches (194 cm).
Get the Pattern from Lankava HERE
6. Rag Rug Weaving Pattern from ShopSmartisans
Do you need a weaving tool and an instructional rug weaving tutorial? Then this one is for you. Rag rugs are one of the greatest rugs to make. They are easy to learn, inexpensive, and you can recycle old clothes that would otherwise be thrown in the landfill.
With the included book, you will learn rug weaving using scraps of fabric. You also get a handy and necessary rug weaving tool.
Get the Pattern from ShopSmartisans HERE
7. How to Weave a Rug or Wall Hanging with Weaving Sticks by WeavingMeHome
You can create this gorgeous round rug using the weaving method. You can use the finished piece as a throw rug, wall hanging, chair pad, or pet mat.
To make this rug you can use yarn, cord, or fabric strips. It is a great project for using up your stash supplies. You can make any size, from a small doormat to a room size rug.
This printable PDF booklet is 9 pages long and is in full-colour. The booklet includes step-by-step instructions, full-colour photographs, a guest photo gallery for inspiration, a supplies list, and a resource section.
Get the Pattern by WeavingMeHome HERE
Are you interested in being more environmentally friendly? Instead of throwing away your old clothes and sheets, try rug weaving.
Handwoven Rugs are a great way to upcycle old clothing and get rid of fabric scraps. If you are looking for a way to make your old clothes new again, work on a rug weaving pattern.
Can’t get enough of rugs, check out these Mug rug patterns, crochet rugs or these macrame rug patterns to add bohemian vibe to your home. Also learn how to make a braided rug here.
Once you make one of these rug weaving patterns post your creations on our Facebook page.
