From the page: Denim deserves a second life
Idea 3
Rug of braided strips or crochet
Rag rugs are a grandmother tradition all over Brazil: in times of expensive fabric, nothing was discarded, and strips of old clothing became rugs by the door or beside the bed. Denim modernized the tradition because its shades of blue — from indigo to faded — form a natural gradient when mixed. Braiding three strips is the oldest technique of all and requires no sewing skills.
What you need
- All the legs and body of the jeans
- Tailor's scissors
- Measuring tape
- Large pins or clips to hold the braid
- Thick thread and a strong needle (to join the rounds)
How to make it
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1
Cut the fabric into strips about 5 cm wide, always along the length — the longer the grain of the weave, the less the strips fray.
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2
Join short strips by overlapping the ends and sewing a generous X; alternate light and dark tones to form the gradient.
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3
Pin three strips at one end and braid normally, tightly — a loose braid sinks under the weight of feet.
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4
As each braid is finished, coil it in a spiral, sewing the rounds together from behind with firm stitches; use a round or oval base as a guide.
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5
Continue until you reach the desired size and hide the final tip underneath, sewing by hand.
Finishing touches
For a bathroom rug, wash and dry it well before use. Sew a layer of repurposed non-slip fabric (an old fabric flip-flop sole) onto the base.
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