I was wondering
 

If I posted this in the wrong area, please feel free to move it.

This is not a quilting question but it is about scraps.

You know how you hook a rug with yarn pieces, could you do it with fabric? Has anyone hooked a rug with fabric? What would be the pros and cons? Would the pieces come out in the wash fasted than the yarn pieces? I am working on a toothbrush rug, if thats what you want to call it, but I have small pieces that probably could be hooked and I was just wondering?

Thanks to everyone and their ideas!

I've heard of folks crocheting rugs and braiding them with strips, but not hooking them. Don't think that you would have much more fraying than a ragged edge quilt, but you would need to vacuum it really well. Don't think the mesh backing can go in the washer to remove the loose stuff. If you don't get a reply from someone who's tried it, I would just make a small sample.

I know that you can hook a rug using long narrow strips of felted wool but I'm not sure about cotton. I suppose if you used burlap for your backing that was prewashed, which many rugs are made of, cotton may just work out well. Sure is an interesting idea. Hmmmmm.....

I have seen people making rugs from cotton strips using these tools. I found this by searching rug braiding tools on ebay..http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225...8hVTxy8WhQ.jpg

Yes, you can hook with fabric. There was a book out many years ago, I think by Four Corners...they had hooking done with strips of homespun fabrics. I think you would want a fabric that doesn't have a light back...or is color saturated,so if the strip back shows, it isn't too light., That is why homespuns would work well, or maybe even batiks.

Sounds so interesting, I think we will all be waiting for the photos when you finish. I still plan to braid a fabric rug, just haven't gotten around to it, yet.

There is also a method using a Locker Hook, that uses the same base as latch hook. This method uses strips withe the latch hook web base. I think this would be a bit faster than cutting strips , then cutting to a specfic length.
http://www.ehow.com/how_6814324_make...-hook-rug.html

I believe there is a pattern on E-patterns for that....
I also have a "toothbrush needle" I believe from Aunt Philly (?) she has a great website.
I believe she promotes riping not cutting your strips...
here is her website.....http://www.auntphillys.com/

yes you can use fabric--my grandmother used to make them--you brought back some great memories I forgot about.

You sure can! They are called toothbrush rugs! Great way to use fabrics you no longer are in love with! Lots of tutorials on youtube....