Durable fabric is a wear-resistant material that is convenient for handicrafts. Old jeans gathering dust on the shelf can be turn into an original rug, making it yourself using simple instructions.
Features of creating a rug
Jeans of any characteristics can be useful for creativity: cotton, elastic, thin and thick. You can choose different color combinations, then the product will look more impressive. For products with beautiful fringe, it is recommended to use natural denim, and for knitted carpets, items with elastane are suitable.
A rug made from old jeans can be made with your own hands in different styles, shapes and sizes.
Types of homemade things:
- woven rug;
- patchwork carpet;
- product made using chenille technique;
- bedding according to patchwork patterns.
Before you start remaking, it is recommended to prepare your old jeans. They need to be washed and ironed so that the new item does not have stains and stretched areas. Denim has many advantages for implementing creative ideas. At the same time, the fabric has some qualities that are important to consider when working.
The characteristics of denim fabric are listed in the table below:
| Peculiarity | Description | Method of elimination |
| Shrinkage | When wet, the fabric changes size (shrinks), which can lead to deformation of the product or a decrease in its size. | Wash or wet material before use. |
| Molting | Some models have unstable dyes, which can spoil the appearance of the product when washed. Especially if it is made from fabrics of different colors. | · Check the dye for fastness before using it in your work. · Sew items from only one type of fabric or select materials in dark colors. |
| Thread shedding on the cut edge | When cutting the fabric, the edges quickly begin to unravel, forming a fringe. | · Do not cut strips too thin.
· Use this property for decorative purposes. |
The denim carpet is very comfortable for the feet.
It can be placed in any part of the house, but remember some rules:
- The bathroom product should have an anti-slip base. This can be rubberized fabric or special self-adhesive silicone strips.
- Fringed rugs are suitable for the hallway. Such rugs will clean shoes from dust well.
- For a bedroom or living room, you can make a soft carpet with a layer of synthetic padding inside.
- For a child's room, large-sized products with a non-slip base are suitable.
Crochet
The knitted version will appeal to those who like to work with a crochet hook. It can be made round, oval, rectangular and square.
For creativity, you need to organize a workplace with good lighting and prepare the necessary materials and tools:
- The required number of jeans. For a small rug you will need 8-9 pairs.
- Scissors. Choose a sharp tool to easily cut thick fabric.
- A strong needle and thread. It is better to give preference to synthetic materials, they are wear-resistant and do not lose strength when wet.
- Large crochet hook (No. 9-12).
Before starting work, it is necessary to "cut" the yarn. To do this, make strips 6-8 mm wide along the length of the legs. The resulting parts are sewn together, the yarn is wound into balls. Strips of different colors can be connected in any order. This will add brightness to the carpet.
You can use the method of cutting the blanks in a spiral. But this method assumes the presence of a cut thick factory seam in the yarn, which can create inconveniences when knitting.
Knitting pattern for a rectangular rug:
- Knit a chain of air loops. The length of the chain will be equal to the width of the carpet.
- Knit each row with double crochets, and in each new row do not forget to make 3 lifting loops.
- In the front rows, knit the loops behind the front walls of the loops of the previous row, and in the back rows, knit them behind the back walls.
- Knit the product to the desired size. Fasten the end of the thread and hide it between adjacent columns.
Tips for further processing of the product:
- The edges of the carpet can be trimmed with denim, braid or bright fabric.
- To add volume to the fringe, treat the rug by washing it in the washing machine.
- To prevent the product from slipping, sew it to a rubberized base.
In patchwork style
A rug made from old jeans, made in patchwork style, can become a bright element of the interior. At the same time, such a product is suitable for gymnastics, yoga or a picnic.
Features of patchwork needlework:
- The item is created from elements of the same shape and size or from scraps of different sizes.
- The patchwork style involves brightness and variegation due to the use of fabrics of different colors.
- Often, a specific pattern is formed from pieces of different shades.
- The blanks are sewn together by machine or by hand.
- The edges of the product are finished with braid or bias tape.
A simple and effective way to make a denim rug in a patchwork style is to sew it from a large number of identical rectangular elements.
Manufacturing procedure:
- Cut rectangular pieces measuring 10 x 12 cm from old jeans.
- Sew the pieces together with the seams facing outwards. First form rows (the length of the row is equal to the length or width of the finished product), then sew them together.
- To give it a finished look, hem the bottom with thick fabric and sew tape along the edges of the carpet.
In the chenille technique
The classic chenille technique involves sewing from whole pieces of fabric, when the product has a base, a filler for volume and an upper decorative surface. The top of the product looks like tightly sewn strips of fabric.
This technique can be used to work with leftover denim, sewing different strips of denim onto the base. The finished product has an original look due to the fringe along the edges of the strips.
The rug, in the chenille technique, involves laying lines on a sewing machine. Patient needlewomen can utilize old jeans by sewing strips of fabric with their own hands using a needle. For a rug measuring 50 by 50 cm, you need to prepare 7-8 pairs of jeans.
Other accessories:
- thick fabric the size of the carpet to create the base;
- scissors;
- sewing machine or needle and thread.
Progress of work:
- Cut the blanks into strips 1.5 – 2 cm wide.
- Apply the direction of the pattern to the base fabric using a pencil or chalk. It can be diagonal or vertical. The stripes can be sewn on in sectors that differ in color and direction of the pattern.
- Using stitches, sew the strips tightly to each other. The seam can be laid in the center of the strips or asymmetrically.
- The edges of the finished product are overcast, processed on an overlock machine or finished with tape.
From scraps
A rug made from old jeans, made with your own hands from hexagons, can be laid in the living room, children's room or bathroom.
Denim feature:
- absorbs water well;
- does not collect dust due to its anistatic nature;
- easy to wash.
To make a rug you will need:
- jeans;
- hexagon template;
- pencil or chalk;
- scissors;
- tailor's pins;
- sewing machine.
Step-by-step diagram for assembling a patchwork rug:
- Cut hexagons. It will be more effective if you select materials of different shades.
- Sew the elements together, with seams on the wrong side. When stitching, do not reach the edge by about 7 mm. This will allow you to sew the parts neatly and evenly.
- When working, combine blanks of different colors.
- Steam the finished product from the inside out and sew it onto a dense base.
- Stitch the edge along the front side, leaving a 0.7 mm margin.
Wicker
A rug made from old jeans can be made with your own hands in the form of a braid from fabric of different colors.
Tips for creating ideas for a future product:
- When weaving, use the remains of factory seams, belts with labels. The carpet will be dense and can become a designer item. Additionally, as a decoration, you can sew on denim pockets.
- Make even stripes from denim material or trouser leg panels. Such a product is highly aesthetic and can become an original gift.
Materials for creating a woven rug from even strips:
- Jeans.
- Scissors.
- Iron.
- Materials for edge finishing (tape, bias binding).
- Dense base.
- Needle and thread.
Progress of work:
- Cut strips of the same length and 5-5.5 cm wide from the jeans.
- Stitch the stripes from the front side, iron, shifting the seam to the center. The cuts will be invisible, since the bottom of the carpet will be covered with the base fabric.
- Tightly interlace the fabric strips with each other. Secure the edges with thread stitches.
- Sew a fabric lining to the carpet and trim the open edges with tape.
From braids
The ability to braid is all that is required to make an eco-carpet yourself. The item is quite dense and wear-resistant, suitable for use in the hallway or bathroom. Jeans of any characteristics are suitable for creativity: cotton, elastic, printed, plain.
To work, prepare the following materials:
- old jeans;
- scissors;
- threads, needle;
Features to consider when working:
- If you mix the colors of denim yarn, you can get a colorful ethnic rug. The selection of colors and alternating stripes will make the product more presentable.
- To ensure that the braids are uniform and the product is neat, the yarn must be cut into strips of the same width.
Manufacturing procedure:
- Cut strips of the same width (for example, 3 cm).
- Sew the strips together with the short ends.
- Make 3 identical balls of yarn.
- Secure the beginning of the braid with a few stitches using a needle and begin braiding.
- As you braid the braid, begin to lay it in a spiral, starting from the center. You can make an oval or circle shape.
- The rows of the carpet are connected to each other with stitches made of strong synthetic threads.
Shaggy
A cozy and soft rug can be made from very small scraps of fabric. It turns out fluffy and pleasant to the touch. In the work you can use all the available denim scraps (belts, pockets, seams, hems, labels).
To work you will need:
- old denim or scraps of different sizes;
- dense lining of the required size;
- scissors, needle, thread.
Manufacturing sequence:
- Cut squares of different sizes from the remains of jeans. If desired, make identical blanks measuring 5 by 5 cm. Additionally, you can make squares from other fabrics, this will add brightness to the product.
- Mark the rows of sewing on the fabric. The approximate distance between the lines is 3 cm.
- Fold the pieces diagonally and sew them together, placing the corner of the next element on the fold of the previous one.
- Fold the edge of the resulting rug or overlock it.
- To make the fringe fluffier, it is recommended to wash the product in a washing machine.
Using fantasy and desire, you can transform old jeans, giving them a new life. A stylish rug made with your own hands can become a bright addition to the interior or serve as an original gift to friends or loved ones.
Video about making a rug from old jeans
Making a denim rug step by step: