07/31/2026
My Grandma had a few of these and I loved them! Time to recycle some material to make one 🩷
From a Simpler Time – Braided Rag Rugs
Worn sheets, faded dresses, old aprons, and leftover bits of cotton were once considered far too useful to throw away. In homes where money was stretched, fabric was used and reused until it had given nearly all it could give. The best pieces were saved, cut into strips, and worked by hand into something new. One of the loveliest and most practical things made from those humble scraps was the rag rug.
Braided rag rugs were common in many older homes, especially in farmhouses and simple working homes where women learned to make the most of what they had. A rag rug might be laid beside the bed so bare feet would not meet a cold floor in the morning. One might soften the floor near the kitchen sink, brighten a doorway, or add a bit of comfort beside the stove. They were useful, yes, but they were also cheerful. Bits of old dresses, feed sacks, flour sacks, aprons, and worn cotton sheets could all come together in one rug, and each little strip carried a bit of family life with it.
That is part of what makes these old homemaking projects so dear. They were born out of thrift, but they were not joyless. Women knew how to make useful things beautiful. They knew how to take what was left and turn it into warmth for the home. A rag rug was not just floor covering. It was patience, care, and good stewardship braided right into it.
If you have ever wanted to try making one, a simple braided rag rug is a very good place to begin. It does not require fancy equipment, and it is an excellent way to use fabric you may already have at home.
For your first rug, the easiest fabrics to use are soft cotton materials. Old cotton sheets, pillowcases, lightweight dresses, aprons, and cotton skirts work well. Men’s cotton shirts can also be used. Flour-sack style fabric and feed-sack type cotton are excellent if you can find them. For a beginner project, it is best to avoid stretchy knit fabrics, slippery fabrics, very thick seams, or heavy denim, because they can be harder to braid evenly.
Begin by washing the fabric and cutting away any badly worn spots, hems, thick seams, buttons, zippers, or elastic. Keep the good portions. Cut the fabric into strips about 1½ to 2 inches wide. If your fabric is lightweight, you may want to cut closer to 2 inches. If it is a little heavier, 1½ inches may be enough. Try to keep the strips fairly even so the braid will look neat and lay nicely.
You will need long strips, so the shorter pieces must be joined together. The simplest way is to overlap the ends a little and sew them together securely. Some women used a diagonal seam to reduce bulk, but for a beginner, a simple sturdy join is just fine. Make three long strip bundles and roll each one into a loose ball so they do not tangle while you work.
Now gather the three long strips together, line up one end, and knot them firmly. Some women pin or clip that knotted end to a cushion, the arm of a chair, or a heavy pillow to hold it steady while they braid. Then begin braiding just as you would braid hair. Try to keep the braid firm and even, but not pulled so tightly that it becomes stiff. The goal is a nice, steady braid with a little flexibility.
Once you have braided a short length, you can begin shaping the rug. If you want a round rug, coil the braid tightly around itself at the center, making a small circle. Stitch the braid to itself with strong thread as you go. If you want an oval rug, begin with a short straight braid, perhaps 8 to 12 inches long. Then curve the braid around one end and continue around the other, stitching the rows together as the oval grows. Many old rag rugs were oval, and they are especially lovely beside a bed or in front of a sink.
Use a strong needle and sturdy thread for stitching. Upholstery thread, carpet thread, quilting thread, or doubled strong thread can all work. Sew through the sides of the braid rather than straight down through the top whenever possible, so your stitches are less noticeable. Add small secure stitches every few inches, close enough that the braid stays firmly in place. If you prefer, some people do sew braided rugs by machine, but hand stitching gives a very old-fashioned feel and allows better control.
As you continue, keep checking that the rug is laying flat. If it begins to cup upward like a bowl, your braid may be too tight or your stitching may be pulling too hard. If it begins to ripple, the braid may be too loose in places. Do not let that frighten you. This is one of those projects where you learn by doing, and slight imperfections are part of the charm. Old handmade rugs were rarely factory-perfect, and that is one reason they feel so warm and human.
When one strip runs out, simply sew on another and keep braiding. You can mix colors in a planned way, or you can let the colors fall where they may for a more scrappy, homespun look. Both are beautiful. Soft pinks, blues, reds, and florals give a lovely vintage feeling, but plain white, cream, and faded prints mixed together are equally charming. The more varied the scraps, the more character the finished rug will have.
Keep braiding, coiling, and stitching until the rug is the size you want. A small rug for beside a chair or sink may only need a modest amount of fabric, while a larger rug for a doorway or bedside will need much more. When you are ready to finish, tuck the final end under neatly and stitch it down securely on the underside.
One of the sweetest things about rag rugs is that they carry a little history in them. A strip from an old apron, a bit from a child’s dress, a worn pillowcase, a faded Sunday blouse — all of it can live on in a humble, useful way. That is part of the old beauty of homemaking. It was not only about decorating a house. It was about caring for a home with thoughtfulness, resourcefulness, and love.
A braided rag rug is slow work, but good work. It is the sort of project that asks for patience more than perfection. And when it is finished, you have something sturdy, useful, and full of old-fashioned charm.
Have any of you ever made a rag rug, or remember one in your mother’s or grandmother’s home? I would love to hear about it in the comments.
