Crocheted Rag Rugs
Rag Rug Crochet Pattern ~ For today’s freebie I’m bringing back a tried and true craft, Grandmother’s Hand Made Crocheted Rag Rugs.
The only tool necessary to make a crochet rug is a wood or metal hook and a the knowledge of a couple basic crochet stitches. Generally a size No. 3 hook with a 1/4 inch shank is used.
Of course these rugs wear well and are quick to make. They can be made as one unit or made in several sections and then assembled. It requires no binding or lining.
Another advantage of these rugs is it will be easy to match to your decor. Just use your leftover scraps of material from sewing your window coverings, bedspread or pillows.
You’ll find even old sheets found at yard sales and thrift shops can be used for this project. For instance see the YouTube video below.
Materials to Use
Materials for this rag rug crochet pattern can be wool, silk, cotton, as well as, most recently, leftover plastic grocery bags. A great recycle project for that stash of bags stuffed away in the kitchen. Much better place for them than the landfill.
Here is a step-by-step Instructables Craft on how to make yarn from plastic shopping bags: Recycle Plastic Shopping Bags Into ‘Yarn’
The rag strips can be in widths from 1/4 to 1 inch, depending on the kind of rug desired. The width of the strips should be equal. Rags used are cut or torn on the bias or straight along the length of the material. Crocheting is easier if the rags are wound in small balls.
You don’t have to sew them together, simply cut a small slit in one strip, then thread the next strip through the slit and fold over. This method can be used when changing colors as well.
Crochet stitches in rag rugs vary from 2 to 4 in an inch, depending on the width or weight of the strips used. Heavy twine, sisal or cotton, may be used for filler. This will add durability and thickness.
How To Video for Crocheting a Curve
This rag rug crochet pattern requires making scalloped sections and then joining them. The eight sections will be slip stitched together. To make sure the pieces fit properly or about the same size, change the number of stitches or rows from what is required, if necessary.
This video from Sugar Bee Crafts explains crocheting a curve on a rag rug she made from old sheets. It may help with the scallops in this pattern:
Abbreviations for Instructions
Abbreviations Used in the Instructions are very basic and include:
Ch. – Chain
S.C. – Single Crochet
Sl. St. – Slip Stitch
D.C. – Double Crochet
The instructions site “Linkraft” strips which were available at the time this booklet was written in 1933.
If you find that your rug won’t lay flat, to remedy that problem, place a wet sheet over the face down rug. Hold it down with a heavy weight for about two days. It should then dry flat. Lightly starching the wrong side will prevent curling.
PDF Pattern Link
Here’s the pattern in PDF format:
Download Instructions: You can use the Download button above or Right-Click the link and select either “save target as” or “save link as” depending your browser. Also, you can click on it, it will open in another window and there you can save or print it.
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Enjoy!
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