Braided Rugs

Handmade quilts and braided rugs are among the charmingly quaint all American crafts, and top the list when it comes to bringing a sense of nostalgia of the good old days. Originally, braided rugs were actually made from the clothes of families lovingly braided along with other treasured objects that can be included, provided of course that these materials can withstand wear and tear and can be passed on as precious heirlooms. Such endearing glimpse of this history gives a heartwarming thought every time you come across a braided rug.

If you are planning to have one of those delightful braided rugs, you need to carefully consider what type of cloth you would want to use. Cotton, for one is generally an ill-advised choice since it is too rigid to be braided and synthetic fabrics such as nylons do not possess enough substance to be used underfoot. What you can actually do is gather used and discarded coats, skirts, bathrobes, blankets and even blazers and use all these to create a multi-hued rugs. Simply cut these fabrics into two-inch wide strips and fold over the raw edges under and begin to weave three strips into braids. When you have finished braiding with three inches left from the shortest strip, slip in a new strip and deftly roll the two strips to make in one, and then continue braiding. Repeat the same procedure until you have reached the desired length of your rug minus the width. You are now ready to mold your rug into shape, may it be circle, oval or any other shape you want and position the braided rugs accordingly. To hold it in place, put it in a flat and hard surface and mark its end using a safety pin and start double it back unto itself while carefully making sure both portions are maintained as flat as possible. Then you can start sewing the braid together or you can simply use a waxed beading cord and loop it in and out to draw the fabric together and keep it tightly in place. And now you are ready to use your personally made braided area rugs.

So who said that there is simply no use for old clothing? If you pay close attention, there are certainly a great number of art potential in every scrap of material that we carelessly throw away. As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. While making braided rugs may not be dictated with great need, it is certainly a nostalgic way to make use of your clothing that you find cramped in your closets.

Braided rugs can be used to complement other styles of rugs and even placed right along with the plain carpet. Some exceptionally pretty rugs can even be used to adorn the walls and can actually become a perfect room decoration that adds a unique touch of character into your living room especially if you tend toward country style decor. There’s definitely a certain appeal with such rustic charm that a braided rug can bring in the room.

As for its resiliency, you can actually look forward to years of use even when placed in areas with high foot traffic. However, to really ensure its durability, make sure to sew it on both sides so if one side would unravel or wears out, you can simply flip it over and use the other side that will instantly give you a brand new looking rug. Just make sure to put rug pads underneath to effectively keep it in place and prevent any accidental slips. This will also protect your floor from possible scratches..

Now that you know that braided rugs are actually considered an economical thing of fashion to use in your home, this presents you with a ruggedly chance to exercise your creative spirit!