Lost Art of Braid-in Rag Rugs Part 1 

I have news for you! I made a rug like the one you taught, I turned it into the fair got a first place and so many comments on it. everyone wanted to know what it was called and where I learned how to make it. THANK YOU for a hidden art that took them all off their feet at the fair!

My neighbour taught me this when I was 8 years old but we sewed the braid in with a strong string. She grew up very poor and knew a lit of handy things to make. You don't need a fancy jelly roll to make a great rug. She also help her grand daughter and I to sew Barbie clothes from old clothes. Nothing went to waste, I believe we really need to get back to some of our old ways of making things for around the house. Thanks for this video.

Hi Erin. I’m a little old man who grew up very rural on tenet farms and later in life worked as a woodwright and blacksmith in a Pioneer Village at a State Park. All things made by hand interest me. For a couple of years now I’ve been making rag rugs using the crochet method with a large wooden hook, or using three strands braided then sewn together with carpet thread. I want to say what I just saw in your video here is a much better way and most likely the way they were done by the ladies I knew. Thank you for sharing this. Much respect.

finally someone who gives a tutorial without gadgets and insert braiding! You made my day! Thank you!

My mother taught me, my sisters and my brother how to do this years ago. We were all teenagers and now in our 60’s. I occasionally think about doing this again. We used thick wool pieces that had these round metal clips on the end. We’d make a lot of rugs. We still have the rugs to this day. Our biggest was 8’ x 12’. We all worked on that one.

Thanks. My grandmother used to make rag rugs by crocheting strips of old clothes, sheets together. My grandfather whittled her a very large crochet hook to use. Old crafts need to be kept alive. Again, thanks.

I've spent years doing three strand braid rugs and hand sewing them together with needle and thread and I've always wanted to do a 'no sew' braided rug but always found the instructions complicated until this video. Thank you!!

I am the Sesame Street child grown up and this is speaking my language. Thank you for being so practical and clear!!

Thank you for this tutorial. In all my 90 years I've not seen this kind of rug-braiding, and I think it's delightful, and very useful. One is never too old to learn a new thing. Reminds me of the type of rug-making my husband's mother used to do, which she learned in the 1930s from older women. Her method involved using a big needle carved from a toothbrush handle. Those handles used to have a hole in the end so you could hang them up when not in use. The hole served as the "eye" of the needle, and the other end was sharpened to a point. Interestingly, she used the same method of joining fabric strips that was shown in this tutorial.. I've always been amazed at the resourcefulness of women who were striving to make useful and pretty things for their homes, and with the least amount of money. They wasted nothing. I'm going to start cutting up old tee shirts.

Excellent and clear instruction. Thank you for making this video.

This is was i was looking for for years!!! My grandmother did these but i couldnt figure it out! I knew it was not crochet 😆 you are great! Thank you!

My great-grandmother made braid-in rugs during the 1920's. I never had the chance to meet her, but I have her rugs all around my home. I can not wait to try to create one of these myself! Thank You for this video!

Oh my goodness I feel so inspired. Such a work of art. Thank you for sharing

Excellent tutorial: Clearly explained and shown -- without weird non-music music and confusing off-the-subject communication. 🙏 Good, steady, in -focus camera work, too. You are an excellent teacher. 🙏 Thank you so very much. 🙏💖

Glad I ran across this. I used to work for Guilford Mills and sold the trim goods to a rug company in the mountains of NC that made rag rugs from them that looked like this, but were sewn. I still have one after 30 years. Thanks for simple instructions. My husband has tons of t-shirts to get rid of, and it will be a great way to keep them but throw them out. I plan to use the logos to make a quilt for him. Appreciate the good instructions.

So glad to see this! It's great to preserve the old skills - who knows, we may need them again!! Thank you.

I want to share one little tip that might help some folks who live alone as I do. When I started my braid, since I have no one else here to hold the end for me, I slid it under the presser foot of my sewing machine with the needle down. This is secure enough to get the braid started.

Back in the 70's, my wife and I made a braided rug, and we got a library book that told us how. What we learned was: 1) Sew your cloth strips together on the bias, at a diagonal. 2) Make parallelograms of metal, tin can or such, sand or file the metal smooth, and roll the sharper corners up to make cloth rollers that turn the cut ends of the strips in and bury them as you braid. 3) You can either interbraid the rounds, or you can simply sew them together with strong cord after your braid is all made.

Erin - thank you so much for these tutorials. This is one of those hind sight moments for me - I wish I had paid attention to my great-grandmother when she tried to teach me this many, many years ago. Your videos are very informative and encouraging. I tried to take a class once and felt intimidated - it just looked so difficult. Watching your videos I am empowered to venture out and try this now. Thank you, than you, thank you.

Beautiful Series. I had already knew how to braid 4-7 strands of t-shirt material to make headbands, but didn't know how to use that skill to make rugs. Your video inspired me to make a gorgeous braided rug out of plastic bags. Thanks!

your instructions are very clear... thank you so much for taking the time to teach us something you've already learned

We found an old rug in a 1890's farm house we refinished and until I saw this video I did not understand how it was made. They used gross grain ribbon, (so it was not stretchy), the ribbons were folded in half and it was much more loosely braided/ woven than the bed sheet one or T-shirt rugs you showed. I can get a picture to you if you are interested. I had been poking into corners and such and found a dirty lumpy thing, just covered in brown dirt and dust. I did not recognize what it was but knew it was something wonderful, I was hesitant to throw it in the washing machine but put it on gentle in warm and when I pulled it out, I was delighted to see dark brown, maroon and cream colored ribbons woven into a braid type rug (about 30 inches by 40 inches) but it wasn't sewn together.

I have always wondered how these were made! I grew up in a house with a massive one (at least 10 feet across the narrow part) and this video has answered so many questions I had about braided rugs. Thank you!

Thank you for taking the time to research, learn, and share how to do this. I'm always glad to see the preservation of lost or nearly lost arts. I can't wait to try this.

I applaud your effort and wonderful demonstration of how to make 4-strand braid-in rugs. I have tried other methods to make 'braided rugs', but I think with your demonstration and clear, concise instructions, I will be able to have success in making a rug which lies flat, is washable and a 'joy to behold'. Thank you Erin!

Finally, I found your tutorial. My mother told me years ago how my grandmother made rag rugs. I've have only seen rug tutorials where you braid then sew, which are a pain to sew together. So, so very happy to see your tutorial. Thank you.

These have always been my favorite kinds of rugs but I could not afford to buy them. Now I know what I will do!!! Thank you so much, this is a wonderful tutorial. I have watched 2 of them so far and will watch everything, and anything, you produce. Thank you so much. It amazes me how generous crafters can be with their skills. I hope you are safe and well.

You are a good instructor and so easy to understand. Thank you for posting this unique art form! My family and I are collecting our t-shirts and look forward to starting our rug. Great work, Erin Halvorsen.

Thank you for sharing ... I love these kinds of rugs ... now I need to collect a bunch of T-shirt’s with colors I like, lol ... goodwill, maybe

Thank you so much for sharing your an awesome teacher much easier to follow than others

I'm so grateful to you for putting this out there. I started my rug over a year ago, and needed the reminder on how to work it again! Thanks muches!

Thank you so much for making these videos! I have been waiting for a thorough, clear, and easy tutorial on how to make these rugs for a loooong time!

Beautiful lady,beautiful teacher.

Very helpful ! you are a natural instructor . Thank you

I love that you recycle old clothes and sheets to make your rugs. I have made a few of the rag rugs from sheets and I'm going to have to try this next. You are a great teacher and I enjoy you videos so much. Stay safe my friend, and I hope we get to see each other in person again one day.

I started with a bag of cast-off tshirts from my son. Made a few balls of yarn, intending to make a regular, sewn braided rug. Then I searched for how, exactly, to sew the braid together... and found this! Amazing! I can make a rug without sewing?? I'm si excited! I can hardly wait to start making my rug. But first I have to watch your other 'Lost Art' videos. You explain the steps so very clearly, Erin. You're a great teacher. Simple words, just enough repetition, not a lot of extra distracting chatter, it's excellent. (Pretty solid camera work, too. My compliments to your cameraman.)

Oh, I get it now. ☺ Thanks for going slow and showing each step several times.

I see...it's kinda like weaving. I gotta try this! I want to make a rag rug for the cabin we're in the process of building. That will be so fun to make!!

I love this. I'm making a t-shirt quilt for my son. I kept all the backs of the shirts that are solid colors, and had no idea what they would be used for. Thank you so much for this video, and explaining it so clearly.

I have made many rugs over the last 20 years using a method similar, but using only three strips. I was taught this method almost 50 years ago by an elderly pioneer lady. Finally I got so tired of the latex backed rugs falling apart that I worked at remembering what she taught me until I made it work. Your method using four strips is intriguing. These rugs will last many years with constant use. Thanks

I'm finally making one of these rugs. Got 27 shirts for $1.00 at a rummage sale. I'm in the cutting phase now and soon will start.

Erin if you cut your sheets on the bias your rug should lay flat as the strips will hav more give.

Erin Halvorsen Thank you so much! You do a great job of explaining so even a beginner can follow!

my daughter and I really appreciate your teaching style. We love that you repeat things and move slowly. -=) we are preping out old shirts now. yay!

Erin, just subscribed. I have been making handmade rugs for a while. I had heard about this technique but had not seen it done. Will be hanging out on your site until I have seen them all. Thanks for giving instructions to a lost art. Was a great tutorial.

How scraptastic! Love it!

Love the simplicity of these type of rag rugs and the over, under, over is a bit like weaving which is so cool! Thank You for sharing this style of rag rug technique. When I was a kid there was a popular craft kit that came with a small square plastic loom and a bunch of colorful stretchy loops which we used to make pot holders and such. This really reminds me of that and of course it reminds me of the rag rugs mom had when I was a kid. Great idea to use T shirts. I have loads of leftover fabric that would work well for this so I can see myself making several. It is nice to find a tutorial that teaches You how to make something with stuff You have on hand and that is very doable! Well Done and thanks again.

Thanks for this! It’s so important to preserve these lost skills and pass them on. I am going to teach this to my kids.

We use safety pins, big ones. They slip in and under nicely.

Very clear instructions. Thanks

Excellent explaining on how to do this. Great camera angle on every step. I did this years ago with my Mom,when I was a teen. But, over the years had forgotten. Thank You for the refresh. Very easy to watch. Felt like I was right there.

Fantastic! I've been looking for something like this for a long time. Thank you for all of your research and for sharing it with us in such a simple, clear way.

This is from Norway, I think. I learned to do this over65 years ago.

Just found your channel and I grew up in the 60’s with Braided rugs, I love them. I was wondering a friend gave me 54 inch bolts of fabric different shades of light and heavy weight denim and they are about 6-10 yards per bolt. Do you think I could roll out the 6 yards, cut the strips and make these rugs or do you recommend cutting it into shorter strips to make the rugs? I would love to make some large living room size rugs 6x8 etc. Thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas 👏👍👍

Amazing. I have never seen a rug made like this. Beautiful! I am almost 80 and I have made every kind of rug you can think of and then some. My daughter has to that I made her and they are about 25 or 30 years old. She has used they every day she is moving them with her tomorrow to her new house. She was just telling me about it two days ago. This I am going to do for her. It looks like so much fun. I can’t go to store because of the corona virus so I’m going on line to buy the material for now. Everything is closed but I can order on line and pick it up at the curb ofJoanns over here in Colorado. I have to go out to pick up meds., also get some food. I have been in this house for almost three weeks. We can’t get out unless it’s for food or meds. Joanns is just about a mile from there. Thanks again. (I subscribed) lee

Awesome !! been searching for a video on the method of this type of braided look rag rugging... Love how you've made the explanations and reasoning so simplified - thank you

No. My Mother-in-law did braided rugs. I can't do it but I've wanted to learn.

Once we make them. How do we care for them? Can they be thrown in the washing machine and dryer?

This is how my grandmother made them, though I was beginning to doubt my memory, because "lost art" is an accurate description. No one else seems to be doing them this way. Thanks so much for your work and making it available.

Thank you for giving a tutorial that's very easy to follow along and not boring and hard to watch like alot of videos out there.

i cannot tell you how pleased i am to have found you.....i love the rugs....my mother used to make them and i am on my 2nd one. everyone seems to love them.i love the no sew ones...i havnt mastered the one on this tutorial but love and i will....please keep sharing them. thnx so much

Hi Erin, I was raised in a home where two of these same types of rugs adorned the kitchen floor (in the 50's and 60's). What a work of art! They are lovely and they are so durable. Was hoping to find some kind of directions online. Instead, I had the privilege to watch while you explained the entire process in details! I cannot thank you enough for having made and shared that video. Because of you I know I can make one too! Thanks again! :)

Thank you so much for this wonderful video series. Your instructions are perfectly clear, and your camera man gets an A+ for keeping up with you so well! I have loads of extra t-shirts that I've been wanting to make these rugs with and, thanks to you, now I can!

My grandma made these using 7 or 8 threads. i was very young at the time and have been looking for someone that knew about this besides me . wonderful.

Thank you so much for doing this video. My mother used to do this and I have been wanting to try it. I probably could have figured it out but this saved me a lot of time and tribulation!

That green one was pretty. It would make a good "bread basket" at that size to sit on the table when you want to serve biscuits etc. That way it would be good that the ends curled up a little. You could also make some really cute matching napkin rings. This vid is older than I thought but now I am inspired!

This is absolutely the best video I've seen on how to do this. Thank you. Very clear.

I finally got it! I never quite "got it" when friends were trying to show me how to add material strips. Your repetition was just for me! Ok, maybe not "just" me, but your patience and calming instructions were finally absorbed in my brain! Thank you, Erin!

I have been saving shirts to make a rug with my daughter. We have been sitting here watching several videos. We like the method you teach the best. Thanks for sharing! We are going to watch the rest of your videos now and maybe tomorrow we can start our first rug.

Thank you so much for this video! Wonderful people like you keep arts from being lost!💕

Love, love, love that you began with braiding and not how to begin. Counterintuitive but brilliant! Thanks!

I grew up with a rug done just like this but I never knew how it was done. Thank you so much for this tutorial! Now I'll be able to make a rug like my grandmother did ❤

This is perfect! I've been wanting an oval braided rag rug to go in our (new to us) 1932 home. It's been impossible to find one that is made the way I want. I figured I could make on... someone's got to have a tutorial that I can follow. Many did and they just weren't perfect. THIS is perfect. This is EXACTLY what I want. I'm very excited to get started. Thank you so much.

Thank you for a very clear explanation of how to do this type of braid rug. I'm looking forward to making one. Very nicely done.!

Love this! My grandmother taught me how to hand quilt. I love traditional work. 💗

.Just want to you know, there's a group of international ladies in Guangzhou, China, who do crafting projects together each week. Many of the gals like to do projects together that we then sell and donate the money to charity. This week we're going to learn to make braided rugs using your videos. While I know some ladies will be making ones for themselves, we're going to donate most of the rugs to several different animal shelters in our area. We have at least 2 shelters who rescued dogs from the Yulin Dog Festival (one of the few places in China where they not only still eat dog meat, but they celebrate it too). Even though we're in the tropics we do get temps in the 40s in winter, and these dogs are mostly in large warehouses with large cage cubicles where they sleep at night. A concrete floor is cold no matter what the outside temp, so we'll be giving the rugs to the shelters for the dogs to sleep on. Will post some pictures for you after our first session.

Erin, thank you so much for all the valuable information. I am a big fan of braided rugs but not of sewing. I grew up in a family of seamstresses and learned to sew at a very young age. It was more of a chore than anything. One of my childhood chores was repairing braided rugs. I was so excited to see your tutorials of the 4 strand braid in rug. (Imagine a braided rug that not only won't need sewing but is machine washable!) I have just finished my first rug and I am starting on my second. I can't believe how nice the first came out and I think the second will be even nicer. I am using t-shirts so I can get any color in the rainbow. My first start was a little bumpy but the finish was just perfect! Thank you so much for sharing!

Thank you Erin great instruction you are a "STAR", should be able to do this with my arthritic hands, Much love from the UK

I have made crochet rugs and braided rugs from sheets and t-shirts for years… this technique is quite lovely . I am looking forward to trying it. It has the advantage of working nicely with scraps. Thank- you for sharing this. Wool could be a happy medium between sheets and jersey in that it has more stretch than sheets. Wool is also easier to care for, more stain resistant and longer lived in rugs.

Thank you! You explained and filmed very well (even if I'm not bilingual). An old "art" to perpetuate... Thanks from Québec.

I started one of these many many years ago and never finished it. Now it is time to do that.

Thank you so much for doing this. My Mom use to make these, and it brought so many memories back, that now I want to do this too.

I really like this method, I have been looking for a pattern that isn’t so complicated. This one is easy. Can’t wait to get my T-shirts cut into strips. Thank You for sharing your video with all of us. ❤️

Thanks for sharing this.... I used to help my grandmother when I was young and could not remember how to get started.... my daughter is going to college and really wanted to give her something hand made!

Wow watched your tutorial..thank you so much for your craft! Have not seen these types of things in years my grandmother had these rugs throughout her home ...this brought back many happy memories so I thank you very much, I am sure going to give it a go! I will keep watching you!🇨🇦

Thanks for the wonderful tutorial, Erin! I started my first one and it's fun!!!

Living overseas and no tools or sewing needed! A true wonderful craft! Im going for it, and maybe teach it to a few ladies ! Love from ecuador!

I can remember my grandmother making rag rugs similar to this.

Thank you, for your clear instructions and Mr. Camera man's work. A friend was telling me just last night she learned this from an old magazine and she'd look for the instructions. I enjoyed seeing you do this and I am moving on to part 2. Happy New Year.

Absolutely it was at the end of WWII...I was a little girl and my mother taught me how to make those rugs...I was more interested in sewing my clothing so it never connected with me but NOW, I'm looking forward to finding fabrics to start it again.

This is a unique rag rug made out of t-shirts. I have not found any other video on this exact rug. No sewing involved. Hope you enjoy it!

thank you. I have not seen one of these for years and am really pleased to see it as just clicked on my head what I saw as a child 😙

Thank you for this. Loved the clever slip knot for attaching new strands. That was the point I hit "like". Looks like just what I'm after but they're about $300-$900 dollars on-line!!! Hell no! The house is falling down with t-shirts that I've been saving for a tutorial - and now I finally found you. I'll be glad to see the back of the bags of t-shirts in my room too!! Thanks again. Moving on ot the start of a rug now...

Thank you so much! We are trying to reduce our dept and I have been looking for great handmade gift ideas. My friends and family will love these!

Best, most practical video I've found so far. Thank you!

Well explained and easy to understand. I will be watching the rest of your series on this! Thank you for the tutorial!

I had a book to do this but, lost it. So very glad I found you. Your teaching skills are outstanding. Easy to follow and learn. Thanks for being here.

Thank you for this great video, your explanations are just as thorough as my mother would explain it

Hi Erin and thanks so much for the tutorial. I find with the stiffer materials that cup, relax over time. Especially in the bath area when exposed to heat and moisture...

I’ve been looking for this method. I hate throwing old T-shirts and sheets away-two things that we stain and wear out often. Great detailed introduction! Thank you very much. 🌷💚👏🏼