Make Your Own T-Shirt Rug: A Creative Diy Project

T-shirt rugs are a great way to upcycle old clothing and create something beautiful for your home. There are many ways to make a t-shirt rug, including braiding, crocheting, and weaving. You can use a variety of materials to make your rug, such as old t-shirts, jersey t-shirts, tank tops, and even blankets. The number of shirts you will need depends on the size of your rug, but for a 30 rug, you will likely need around 6-7 x-large t-shirts. You can cut your t-shirts into strips and then join them together to create a continuous piece of yarn that you can use for your rug. There are many tutorials and videos online that can teach you how to make a t-shirt rug, so get creative and have fun!

Choosing the right t-shirts

When it comes to choosing the right t-shirts for your DIY rug, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, consider the size of your rug. The number of t-shirts you'll need will depend on the size of your rug and the thickness of your yarn. For example, to weave a 30" diameter rug, you'll need about 6-7 x-large women's t-shirts. If you're making a braided rug, you'll need around 15 t-shirts for a 30" rug.

It's also important to choose t-shirts that are mostly or 100% cotton, as this fabric works best for creating a continuous strip of yarn. Avoid t-shirts with side seams, as they will interrupt the flow of your yarn. When selecting your t-shirts, look for ones with minimal printing, as the printed areas may not curl well when cut into strips. If there is printing, try to choose t-shirts with prints only above the arm line, so you can cut below it.

When it comes to colour, it's up to you! You can choose a variety of t-shirts in coordinating colours for a cohesive look, or you can go eclectic and use every colour of the rainbow. If you're feeling really adventurous, you can even dye white t-shirts to create custom colours for your rug.

Lastly, consider the thickness of your yarn. Thicker strips of fabric will give you thicker yarn, while thinner strips will give you thinner yarn. For most common t-shirts, a strip width of 1.5" to 2" works well for creating yarn. You can also use a rotary cutter to speed up the process of cutting your t-shirts into strips.

Cutting the t-shirts

Preparation

First, lay your t-shirt flat on a surface. Using scissors or a rotary cutter, cut off the sleeves and open up the t-shirt. You can also cut off the hem as it may not curl well.

Cutting the Strips

Now, cut the t-shirt into strips. The width of the strips will depend on the thickness of the yarn you want. For most common t-shirts, cut strips that are 1.5" to 2" wide. You can cut the strips wider for thin fabrics and narrower for thick fabrics so that the finished yarn stays at a consistent thickness.

Cut the t-shirt body crosswise to get long strips. You can also cut the strips on a slant, starting from the hem and moving up towards the armpit. This will result in one continuous strip, which you can then stretch to form curled fabric yarn.

Roll each strip into a ball, keeping strips of the same colour together.

Joining the Strips

When you reach the end of a strip, you can join it to the next strip by cutting a small slit into the centre of each end and pulling one end through the slit in the other. Pull tightly to link the strips together.

Braiding the t-shirts

Now that you have your t-shirts cut into strips, it's time to start braiding!

Step 1: Stacking the Strips

Gather three strips of fabric and stack them. You can choose contrasting colours for your rug, or a more uniform look.

Step 2: Tying the Knot

Tie a knot tightly at the top of the strips to begin.

Step 3: Braiding

Start braiding the strips using the basic 3-strand braiding technique.

Step 4: Coiling the Braid

Once you've braided about 4" of the strips, coil the braid into a circle, with the knot in the centre.

Step 5: Attaching the Braid

Take the strand closest to the centre and pass it under and through one of the loops in the braid you coiled. This is how you will attach the braid to the coil.

Step 6: Continuing the Braid

Continue braiding another few inches. It should be attached to the centre coil where you passed the one strand through.

Step 7: Attaching as You Go

Every few inches, pass the strand closest to the centre under and through the existing braid to attach it. You'll do this continuously to create the entire rug! Braid and attach, braid and attach.

Step 8: Attaching New Strips

When you reach the end of a strip, you'll want to attach another. Instead of making a bunch of knots, you can quickly attach the next strip as follows:

• Fold over the very end of the attached strand and cut a small slit into the centre. Do the same with the new strand.
• Line up the two slits you cut.
• Take the other end of the new strand and pull it through the back of the slits towards the front.
• Pull both strands tightly and they will be linked together.

Weaving the t-shirts

Now that you have your t-shirt yarn and loom ready, it's time to start weaving your rug!

First, decide on the colours you want to use and cut your t-shirts into strips of yarn. You can cut the t-shirts into 1.5-inch strips using a rotary cutter or scissors. If you want to create thicker yarn, cut the strips wider, and for thinner yarn, cut them narrower.

To begin weaving, take a piece of t-shirt yarn and fold it in half so you have a double strand. This will make your rug thicker, but if you prefer, you can also weave with a single strand. Go through the first loop tied on the warp, as shown in the diagram. This is the trickiest part, and you can also stitch this spot or tie a knot to prevent the rug from unraveling.

Now, take the doubled weft and start weaving it over and under the warp. When you reach the end, turn the corner and continue weaving over and under the warp, alternating from the row above. Push each row up as you weave to keep the rug tight, and don't forget to add more yarn when you reach the end of a piece.

You can create different designs and colour combinations by changing the colours of your yarn. Try twisting two colour strands together as you weave to create a "peppermint" look.

Once you've reached your desired length, it's time to finish off the rug. Remove the warp one section at a time from the bottom bar of the loom and tie a knot as you remove each piece. Then, slide out the side bars from the rug. Trim the warp if there is any excess, and tie a secure knot with every two pieces to prevent unraveling.

And there you have it! Your very own handmade t-shirt rug, ready to brighten up any space in your home.

Finishing touches

Now that you've woven, braided, or crocheted your rug, it's time to add some finishing touches! Here are some ideas to make your rug look even more amazing:

• Tassels and Pompoms: Make some tassels by splitting the ends of a piece of yarn and tying a knot in the centre with 1 or 2 pieces. You can also make pompoms with thin strips of t-shirt yarn. Simply attach them by tying them through any part of the rug, and they will be easy to replace too.
• Colour Combinations: Play with different colour combinations to create unique designs. Try using two colours and twisting the strands as you weave or crochet to create a "peppermint" look. You can also dye white t-shirts to make any colour you like for your rug.
• Backing: To finish the backing of your braided rug and keep it in place, you can iron on some fusible interfacing. You can also finish it with starch or Polycrylic spray as a protective measure.
• Anti-Skid: If you want to make your rug non-slip, you can spray the bottom with an anti-skid spray or use some hot glue in a few spots.
• Washing: When it's time to wash your rug, hand wash or machine wash it in a gentle cycle. Hang it in a well-ventilated spot to dry.

Frequently asked questions