Rag Rugs

These days, recycling is necessary to keep our planet from being overrun with landfills. In fact, we have recycling rules in place for everything from batteries to cell phones. We even recycle our clothes by donating them to the less fortunate. An alternative way to recycle worn clothes is to make rag rugs.

Rag rugs are heavy rugs woven with bits and pieces of material, usually cotton. The material is torn into thin strips that are tied together to form long strings. These cloth strings are then crocheted into large circles, or rag rugs. Crocheting isn't the only means for making rag rugs. Rag rugs can also be woven, braided, or knotted into a desired shape and design. Clothes aren't the only items that can be used, either. Rag rugs can be made from worn sheets, table cloths, and other bits of material.

It's not as silly as it sounds. Rag rugs have been around for centuries, adding warmth and color to any room. It is thought that the concept for rag rugs came to the United States by way of European immigrants. As the country grew, those who had a talent for making rag rugs spread across the country. Since many of these families had no money, they needed to be frugal. Using strips of old clothes and worn out blankets was a resourceful way to add warmth to their home.

At the turn of the century and during the Depression, rag rugs gained in popularity. But as the country prospered, the willingness to make things rather than buy them diminished. Some people would continue to make rag rugs as an enjoyable hobby, but for the most part, rag rug making fell to the wayside.

Nowadays crafty people make items for enjoyment rather than necessity; and rag rugs are once again enjoying a surge in popularity. Strips of fabric are not only used to make rag rugs, however. They can also be used in baskets, place mats, trivets, chair cushions, and coasters. While many can crochet a basic rag rug using strips made of the same material, there are those who can create rag rugs with elaborate designs. This is truly an art form.

If making rag rugs interests you, visit your local library for instruction books or conduct an Internet search on the topic. Once you learn the basics of rag rug making, you're sure to create some beautiful heirlooms that will add warmth to your families' homes for generations to come.