Need some advice. I'm thinking of making an area rug (tired of the ones I buy not lasting very long) I want to strip piece either dyed burlap or jute (like a quilt) and use a backing and binding of either burlap or cotton canvas. I don't like latex backed rugs and most other rugs are either too expensive or too difficult to clean. I'm hoping these will be less expensive and can be re-used after they start to wear for some other purpose. Any thoughts? Thanks Linda

-- Linda Al-Sangar (alsangal@brentwood-tn.org), March 18, 2001

Answers

Linda, check out this discussion in the archives...maybe some ideas for you there:

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0033Bp

Good luck.

-- sheepish (WA) (rborgo@gte.net), March 18, 2001.

Linda, I ordered a book from a place called Country Threads. Their number is l-800-544-6852. The name of the booklet is Rugs from Rags. It tell you in very easy to understand detail how to make a rug loom that makes a rug 24x36. It has detailed picture showing how to use it. I'm going to make 9 of them and stitch them together to make an area rug. I sew a lot so I have a lot of cotton scraps but you could even buy used garments from someplace like Goodwill or yard sales to tear up for rugs. I'm almost through with one of them and it looks good and feels real sturdy. I found bundles of new white fabric strips that a machine quilter discards to use to warp the frame as that isnt visible in the finished rug. Believe me if I can figure out how to make the frame and weave it anybody can cause I aint to bright about figuring out stuff with just written instructions. The pictures were great and the book isnt expensive. Hope this helped Blessings Peggy

-- Peggy Carr (wclpc@cookeville.com), March 20, 2001.

What about braiding... Its simple, doesn't require a loom and the rugs are pretty. You can wrap the material around roping if it is too thin, but you don't need to, and they last forever.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 20, 2001.

may I suggest a "toothbrush" rug. It is much easier to make then a braided rug. All that you need ia material, scissors, and the "toothbrush" tool(or you can make your own out of plastic).

-- redhen (redhen@fiberia.com), March 20, 2001.

Hi Redhen..could you go into a bit of detail about that "toothbrush rug"? I have never heard of one. Thanks.

-- Lynn(MO) (mscratch1@semo.net), March 20, 2001.

For more about toothbrush rugs go to:

http://198.209.8.166/sheproom/periodicals/bittersweet/sp81g.htm

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), March 21, 2001.