Easy No Sew Rag Rug 

I’m a little old man interested in arts and crafts. Worked as a blacksmith and woodwright but slowing down. Fiber arts interests me and I’ve been making rag rugs, as well as, felting and needle art. I know of four other techniques for making rag rugs and I like ant to say I like this method and will try it. Thank you for sharing.

I want to use old t-shirts to make a comfy rug for my aging dog to help her navigate my slippery wood floors. This is exactly what i needed!

This is also known as a toothbrush rug, the British made them after WW2 because of a lack of materials, any cloth that was to worn out such as dresses shirts bed sheets are the easiest to tear up into strips. The reason why they were called a toothbrush rug, back then they could buy toothbrushes that the brush part was cut off and filled down into a rounded point and there you have your rug needle. I make my own out of wood, but there are other channels that will explain this type of rug making and they sometimes have needle they make for sale. I just want to share what I've learned so far. I'm in the states, and its known locally as Amish rag rug if you look up these 2 names you will learn much more about it. Its known as one of the oldest known ways to make cloth, dating back to the Vikings and older than that the ancients Egyptians had cloth made with this technique, which was found in the burial crypts. I'm trying to find the channel that demo the technique, the first one I seen was with a Norwegian a lady, she was using a fine yard to work around her thumb and fingers to make a sock, I can't find that video But, I've found a channel with the Egyptian weaving :) name of channel is "LET ME KNOW" look up " A 1,700 year old sock was unearthed in a dump, and experts are unraveling it..." so at the 8:09 min mark it will give the name, but with my google CC it spelled it out as (now bending). I love to study techniques. I've found that looking at different cultures we all have so many things that we all know and do, that goes back 1000's of years how cool is that. OOO I found another channel, V S look up (Needlebinding a pair of socks) she is using the same kind of needle I make for myself, its easy to whittle one out of a tree branch or a scrap piece of wood, I use my needle's to make rugs. Hope this gives you ideals that are not just for rugs :) Have fun.

Very easy and hassle free. I loved this ingenious style of joining the strips instead of stitching them. I used a nappy pin instead of the tool used by you. Got the idea from another video I had watched. Works equally well.

Your voice is so pleasant. It does not create stress for newbies

Thanks for these! I'm doing them to teach my 7 yo daughter who *loves* art and crafts. I'm enjoying learning this stuff with her as well.

Every few months I watch this video--and I think I have time this week to actually start a little rustic rag rug. These are so hygge! I love this style of rug! :) Thanks so much for the tutorial!!!!

I LOVED watching Nancy's Notions back in the day! My mother taught me how to sew (hand and machine) and how to use patterns as well as free-form to make much of my own clothing. Watching Nancy introduced me to many tips that made my sewing easier, as well as new craft ideas. - Clear instructions, easy to follow presentation along with not presuming that everyone is an expert while NOT being condescending.... that was Nancy at her best, and that is well-echoed here. Thank you!

What thrill to find what looks like a unique new idea. No sewing, no loom, no crochet hook or knitting needles. I can't wait to try!

Oh, wow. Decades ago this was the type of rag rug i tried to imitate and figure out how to make (i think the two colors look so pretty together) but i ended up creating two different methods and finding several others along the way. How nice to finally find this! Thank you for sharing and teaching!

Nice, clear, concise tutorial. Great production without too much boring talk. Didn’t have to forward ahead to get the idea. Thank you!

Crocheter here, the end result really puts me in mind of my double crochet stash busters made from leftover yarn.

Thanks for the video, bloopers and all! Let's keep Nancy's spirit alive!

Long ago I made these and was giving a tool made out of a toothbrush handle, the bristles were cut off , that end was sharpened to a dull rounded point, the other end had a slit cut out to put the thread through . You used it look a crochet needle! It worked great!

Fantastic! I hate just throwing stuff out, and I have a few sheets that have reached the end of their useful lives as sheets. I think I'll try using them to make floor mats.

Very clear and helpful video for the rag rug process. Your explanation of how to make this is the clearest I’ve found on RU-vid. BTW, I think you are a fabulous addition to the new Nancy’s Notions staff and team, bringing that site into the 21st century. Your soft, mellow voice is peaceful to listen to as I learn. I think you’re a wonderful addition to that website. Thank you very much!

When I was a child my great, great Aunt used old clothes cut into strips to make rugs. She used a crochet hook to make them. They were great and easy and lasted for several generations.

I love this technique! I could do this sitting in my chair! ❤️

I'm sure this will be so much better on my hands! I made some rugs, using flannel bought from a thrift store. So I'm willing to try this method. Thanks for showing us how to do it.

Thank you for a quick and clear into to this technique- the bloopers were fun to watch too- gives us a peak at the process of putting these videos together.

I like the idea of making a coaster. I had made a rug in a similar manner and found it took a long time to dry after washing it, so I think that this is more practical- at least for me. I find this exact method easier to do than the rug I had made as well.

This is the one I'm going to use to make my rugs! I have scoured RU-vid and this is the ticket! Thankyou so much for your easy to follow instructions.

Very clear tutorial for any sewing newbie like me.Looks very doable for me.Thanks for sharing!!!

Is heavy denim hard to work with? I would love to make a rug out of my husbands coveralls. He passed away and I just hate throwing all of his coveralls away. He wore them all of the time as he was a big man. It would be nice to give the kids each a smaller rug for their apt.s

Iike the cinematography 4 screen splitting! Great teaching! I have watched many of these videos and having a hard time focusing. There are a few styles out there! Good tips! Thank you Maria! Beautiful job on your rug!

Fantastic I will definitely give this a try, I want to make a few rugs , to help Keep the lounge carpet clean near the entrance , and also I can pop them in the wash machine for easy cleaning, now I have said it, it sounds like a lot of work so I best get started. Thank you 😊 for the inspiration.

You really do explain the steps Clearly, thank you.🙋‍♀️🇨🇦

Nancy's notion' s, easiest, coolest, neatest & prettiest rag rug making tutorial I have Ever seen! Got to try!

A mug rug is what my life has been missing

What a cute little rag rug mat you made. 😊 Thanks for the video and instructions.😊

Love it! Clear, easy to follow and inspiring. Clever using the mat's handle to anchor your rug...Thank you!

Is it just me or does this look just like blanket stitch? This looks fun. Thanks for the upload.

Thank you for showing us how to up cycle old clothes like our grandparents did. You could make purses using this method too.

What a great project so many possibilities! Thank you for sharing your time and talent.

I so glad you made this toothbrush rug. I’m making a flag wall hanging but didn’t like the holes look I was getting with crochet. Great teacher, thanks.

I love this! I am looking forward to making mats for my bathroom and a rug by my bed!

Nice, quiet voice. Precise instructions.

I'm doing this rn with old t shirts. Best video. I made her tool out of plastic and tape and it is working awesome 👌👽👌

Great idea. I was thinking that at the end when you tried the knots, another thing to do would be to tie the knots and cut the material ends like a bow to look like a pretty bow on the top left corner. Pretty.

Thank you. I need to make a bathroom rug out of all my old torn clothes.

Thanks for showing this method of making a simple rug and I agree the demonstration was at a good speed for me to follow along and take notes.

This is very helpful! I need to make a square rug for my basement and this seems very easy to follow.

I"m thinking crocheting it would be easier and faster. Good inspiration, thanks for posting!

This is great! Your demonstration is so easy to follow.

Wonderful! Thank you! And of course one could make several of these mug rugs, and make a rug out of them. You could make all sizes, join little ones together, make big ones. Thank you so much! Lovely 🙂

So easy! Great explanation. Thank you this was so easy to understand. I have tons of scrap fabric and I need rugs. Definitely making these. Happy crafting from Dee in NM

I made a fleece blanket with fringes and I bought two of the same and made a rug. I like the way you tied them together. I will try to do a rag rug again. Thanks

I love the video. Does the running strip always stay hidden? If so couldn't you use most any fabric for the running strip and use your more colorful pieces for the "body" of the rug?

First time watching this video and you have motivated me to want to do this project.

That was interesting to watch. I've been making rag rugs for years, mostly with old sheets, but by crocheting with a large crochet hook. I'll have to give this method a try.

It is like a method of making "friendship "braceletts just with yarn! Love it tho!

Love the great rug -- mug sample shown.... beautiful 😂

I do raffia weaving and this as great for flat pieces, very similar to how I was taught and easy to translate in different media, cheers.

Hi. I'm so in love with your work. Thank you for the lovely video.

Really nice and clear demo. It answered a lot of questions I had will definitely give this a go. Thank you

I have a bunch of scraps of fabric that I was wondering what to do with- definitely going to give this a go!

That would be a dang cute envelope bottom handbag at that size! Just make 2 equal pieces & stitch 3 sides together. Then add a shoulder length strap. Or a reusable type shopping bag just a bit bigger but with 2 short handles. Too bad you cant see any of the green- it was so pretty! For future I would use something very plain as the anchor- or make sure you let people know that the anchor will not show. Great project!

Thank you! You are an excellent teacher!

I really liked this video-very clear instructions thanks

I took a rag rug class and I couldn't make heads or tails out of it but enjoying it your way looks a heck of a lot easier thank you so much for your video hopefully I can make another one that won't look like a bowl LOL

Very nice. Going to try and make a rug for my kitchen floor. Thank u.

I have the tool and need to cut more strips and get started. Thanks for the video

Wonderful use of left over bits of fabric

I am going to have a go at your rag rug, thank you for your video

Thanks for sharing your ideas,God bless you 👍👍🙏🙏🙏😘❤️

Thank you I like your videos yes I would love to see more rugs and yes let's keep Nancy spirts alive

Thanks for the tutorial! I have wanted to make rag rugs for a while!

This was fun to watch! I feel like I could give this a try!

Great product. I love it!

I really appreciate this. I have a left ring finger that locks, so I look for what I can do! This was so great!

Thank you for sharing this is so very lovely and I sure will give it a try 👍

Hi... that was easy n wonderful as well...I m not sure about outcome but I will surely start it tomorrow.. thanks....love from India for a sweet lady.....

I finally have a use for the over abundance of the cheap cloth shopping bags i have in my house. It's going to be a lot of work cutting and using short strips but I think it will turn out well. If it turns out that I need more bags I guess I will have a good excuse to forget to bring bags shopping 😅

your video is the best and clearest and easy to follow, thanks!

Soo creative. Thank you

Easy and looks nice.Great tutorial.Thanks

I want to do a rug for my bathroom. Looks very easy to learn and do.

O idee foarte bună! Mulțumesc! S-auzim numai de bine

thank you for this video!!! it is helping me a ton and i need a long rectangle rug and this is helping me to see how to do it. you are great at explaining it :)

This looks great and yet so simple 🧡

I love the bloopers at end of the video 😄👍🏻

I love this and I was not sure about the colors at first but I really like it all together and done love it. Thanks I am going to try this

I love this. It looks easy and relaxing, and seems like it works up quickly.

Wow ma’am you’ve just made my life sooo much easier thank you 🙏

I have too many clothes, sheets, jeans to donate ! Crafty girl who hates to waste so will try this “weave a rug using scraps”

Interesting stitching, it actually looks like crochet.

That is so pretty and cool ! Thank you for making this video. Liked and subscribed!

Beautiful creation, explained well. Thank you from Mumbai, lndia.

Thanks for posting this. Ill wish for a tool like that next Christmas.

I really enjoyed your video.

great video .. best I have seen .. Question . Could one use inexpensive muslin as the anchor strip ? it seems that one doesn't see it .. so use your "fancy fabrics " for the top strips . It also seems that batik being a finer fabric works better ,..

Nance, you crafty bastard, you've done it again 😘

Thank you for showing this to us.

Thank You for sharing! Woth your simple instructions, I look forward to trying it myself!

So awesome! Rag rug!

Thank you. Can’t wait to make one of these

Oh this is lovely! Thank you for sharing :)

Thank you so much it was easy to follow ,will be starting one.sharing knowledge is such a beautiful way of making the world into a community.keep it up and continue to share your blessing.

Your explanation was very clear ! thx

Great video. Going to try your method.