From the page: A second life for torn clothes
Idea 5
Braided or crocheted fabric rug
The fabric-strip rug is a Brazilian countryside tradition, made when there were extra t-shirts but no rug. T-shirt knit strips have an incredible advantage: when stretched, they curl in on themselves at the edges, forming a continuous "ribbon" that's perfect for braiding or crocheting without needing to join anything.
What you need
- 8 to 10 t-shirts or knit garments
- Sharp scissors
- Thick crochet hook (size 6 or larger) or just your hands for braiding
How to make it
-
1
Cut the t-shirts into strips 2 to 3 cm wide, circling the garment in a spiral for long strips.
-
2
Stretch each strip — it will curl and become a soft fabric cord.
-
3
Join the strips with small knots or by sewing the ends together.
-
4
To braid: take three long cords, secure one end, and make a regular braid, then coil and stitch it in a spiral with strong thread.
-
5
To crochet: work chain stitches and rounds with the strips themselves until you reach the desired size.
Finishing touches
mix nearby colors (earth tones) for an elegant result. Once finished, beat the rug out the window instead of machine washing it.
This is one of the ideas from the full page — see all the possibilities.
This page feeds the collective knowledge 🌱 — every discovery makes the next answer better.