How Do You Make Old Time Rag Rugs?
The rustic-look of hand-braided rag rugs is a homey addition to any room. Making one of the old-fashioned rugs takes patience and time, especially if you want to make a large one. However, the rugs can be made out of any fabrics you have around the house; old-time women would often make them from stained, unmendable, outworn or outgrown clothing of any type, or even cut-up gunny sacks. Prepare rag strips to braid. Try to use fabrics of similar weight and material for easy braiding and washing. Cut them in 1 1/2-inch widths for heavier materials, such as denim, and 2 or 3 inches wide for lighter materials like cotton. The length can be whatever you have available, although longer strips will be easier to braid. Fold strips if needed. Cottons and other light fabrics should be cut wider, as above, then folded in halves or thirds depending on how thick you want the strips to be. You can iron them flat, hold them flat as you braid, or roll them into cord-like strands for more rounded braids
