Crafting A T-Shirt Rug: How Many Tees To Get Started?

Making a T-shirt rug is a fun and creative way to upcycle old T-shirts. The number of T-shirts you'll need depends on the size of the rug you want to make and the size of the T-shirts themselves. For example, a 30-inch diameter rug requires about 6-7 women's X-large T-shirts, while a 3' x 4' rug requires approximately 16 XL T-shirts. You can use a variety of techniques to make a T-shirt rug, including knitting, crocheting, braiding, and weaving on a loom.

Choosing the right t-shirts

When choosing t-shirts, it is best to select those that are mostly or 100% cotton. This will ensure that the rug is soft and durable. It is also important to consider the weight of the fabric. Try to choose t-shirts with a consistent fabric weight, as pairing a thin cotton shirt with a heavier shirt will create an uneven texture in your rug.

Another factor to consider is the colour and pattern of the t-shirts. If you are going for a particular colour scheme, make sure to choose t-shirts that complement each other. You may also want to avoid shirts with large prints, as they can be more difficult to work with. Black t-shirts can be used as a binder to make the other colours pop, but be sure to choose a good quality black shirt as they tend to wash out over time.

Finally, when preparing your t-shirts, be sure to wash and dry them beforehand to ensure they are pre-shrunk. This will help your rug maintain its shape over time. Using a razor wheel cutter and a cutting mat will make it easier to cut the t-shirts into strips for your rug.

Cutting the t-shirts into strips

To make a T-shirt rug, you will need a collection of old T-shirts, sharp scissors, and a hula hoop or cardboard. The number of T-shirts you will need depends on the size of the rug you want to make. For example, to weave a 30" diameter rug, you will need about 6-7 x-large women's T-shirts.

Now, let's get into cutting the T-shirts into strips:

First, lay your T-shirt out flat and cut off the bottom hem. Next, fold the T-shirt in half, leaving about an inch and a half between the two edges. You can eyeball the width of the strips, cutting somewhere between an inch and two inches. The thickness of the strips will determine the thickness of your yarn, so keep that in mind.

After you've cut off the hem and folded the shirt, you can begin cutting the body of the T-shirt into strips. Cut from the hem and move upwards towards the sleeves, stopping once you reach the folded section of the shirt. You can save the scraps of fabric for smaller projects, such as making yarn or stuffing for pillows.

Once you've cut the body of the T-shirt into strips, unfold it and cut the sleeves off. Then, cut the collar off, making sure to keep as much fabric as possible.

Now, you will have a large piece of fabric with several strips cut into it. To create one long strip, cut diagonally from one strip to the next across the bottom inch and a half of the shirt (the allowance you left when folding). This will connect all the strips and create one long, continuous strip of fabric.

Repeat this process for all the T-shirts, and you will have plenty of strips to work with for your rug!

Joining the strips

Step 1: Prepare the Strips

Before you begin joining, ensure that your t-shirt strips are cut to the desired width, typically between 1.5 to 2 inches. It is important to maintain consistency in the width of your strips to achieve an even texture for your rug. Additionally, having shorter lengths of strips will make the joining process easier to manage.

Step 2: Cut Openings

At each end of the strips, use scissors to cut small openings or holes. These openings will be used to interlock the strips together. Try to make the holes of similar size on each strip to ensure a secure join.

Step 3: Interlocking Strips

Take two strips that you wish to join and interlock them by passing one end of a strip through the hole at the end of the other strip. Repeat this step by passing the end of the second strip through the hole at the end of the first strip. This creates a simple yet effective join between the two strips.

Step 4: Adjust and Tighten

After interlocking the strips, adjust the join by pulling the strips gently in opposite directions. This action will tighten the join and ensure that the strips are securely connected. Be careful not to pull too forcefully to avoid tearing the holes.

Step 5: Continue Joining

Repeat the above steps to join additional strips as needed for your rug. It is important to join the strips securely to create a durable rug that can withstand everyday use. Remember to maintain a consistent width for all the strips to ensure a uniform look and feel for your final rug.

Braiding the strips

Now that you've gathered your t-shirts and cut them into strips, it's time to start braiding!

Take three strips of fabric and sew or knot the ends together. You can also loop them together, as you would when adding strips. You can use a sewing machine or hand-sew the strips together.

Then, simply braid the strips! The tricky part is keeping the strips from getting tangled while braiding. Here are two methods for braiding a rug:

Option one: Coil as you go

• Braid your strips for a couple of inches. Make it longer if you want an oval rug, and shorter if you want a circle.
• Lay the braid flat. Take the inside strand and loop it through one of the loops in the existing braid. Continue braiding.
• If you have a tighter braid, put a large tapestry needle on the end of one of your fabric strips to make it easier to weave through.
• When braiding, take care to keep your rug flat to avoid wrinkles or a basket-like shape.

Option two: Braid first, coil later

• Braid your strips and keep braiding! Add more strips as you go (see below for tips on adding strips).
• Start coiling your braid like a snake when it starts getting unwieldy. You don't have to finish braiding all your fabric strips first.
• Put a length of string on a tapestry needle and tie it to the beginning of your braid. Weave the string through the loops along the inside edges of the coil to hold it together. When you run out of string, tie it off and continue with a new string.

Adding more fabric strips

You can add more fabric strips by using the overlap method or the holes method:

Overlap method:

• When you are almost finished with one strip, take another strip and overlap it with the strip that is ending.
• Wrap one strip around the other to keep them connected. The braid will hold them together, and you don't have to worry about the braid coming apart.

Holes method:

• Fold the end of a strip in half lengthwise and cut a small hole. Do the same with the end of a new strip.
• Take the other end of the new strip and push it through the ending strip's hole, then through the new strip's hole, and pull through.
• The new strip is now looped onto the old one. This method works best with thinner or stretchier fabrics.

If all your strips look like they will end at the same time, cut one or two of them shorter to spread out the bulk.

Ending the braid

To end the braid, cut the last three strips so they taper to points, getting skinnier and skinnier. Cut all three so they end at the same point and sew that last bit together. Sew it to the side of the rug, tucking in the end so it's less visible.

Sewing the ends

One common method is to use a simple knot to join the ends of the yarn. This can be done by tying the ends of the yarn together in a secure knot. This method is simple and easy to do, but it may create a bump or bulge in your rug where the knot is located.

Another method is to use a tapestry needle to sew the ends of the yarn together. This creates a more seamless join and can help to avoid bumps in your rug. To do this, thread the end of one piece of yarn into the needle and sew it through the loops of the other piece of yarn, going back and forth a few times to secure it. Then, trim the ends of the yarn close to the sewn section.

If you are crocheting your T-shirt rug, you can also join the ends of the yarn by crocheting them together. This method creates a seamless join that blends in with the rest of your rug. To do this, you can use a slip stitch or single crochet to join the ends of the yarn together.

Additionally, if you are braiding your T-shirt rug, you can add new strips of fabric by overlapping the ends or using a "holes" method. For the overlap method, take one strip of fabric and overlap it with the end of another strip. You can then wrap one strip around the other to secure them together. For the holes method, fold the end of one strip in half lengthwise and cut a small hole. Do the same with the end of the other strip, then thread the end of one strip through the hole in the other, and pull it through.

Finally, if you are knitting your T-shirt rug, you can sew the ends of the yarn together using a darning needle and large safety pins to hold the pieces together. This will create a secure join that will not unravel.

Frequently asked questions