citruscountyquilter: you are correct! I use old sheets, fabric I don't like - a visit to the charity shops - I just prepare the fabric wrap it in a ball and keep adding to it.

Going to have to try the toothbrush rag rugs. I have some material I'm not crazy about but hate to throw away. Large eyed darning needles would work too.

I am waiting for a box of fabric with my Rag Rug instructions to come down to my new home. As I remember, it is quite simple with just doing a single crochet with a very larger wooden crochet hook.

Citruscountry quilter, I wouldn't be using any NEW fabric for a rug. Usually it is a way to recycle older fabrics that only heaven know why we bought the fabric ! :) Yes, fabric now is much too expensive to use. I have a ton of calicos and clearance Home dec fabric I bought with the employee discount at a chain fabric store called House of Fabric. Many quilters find fabric at garage sales and resale stores. My Great Aunt showed me my father's WWII uniform (wool) that she cut into strips and braid it into her Living room rug.

I have made a lot of them. Very relaxing work. I cannot sew by hand with a needle because of my hands, but I can use a toothbrush tool

If you want a rug that is as soft as a marshmallow--use a knit fabric. I had some new pink knit from the little kid days and cut in strips and it is the softest ever. An ex-large T-shirt could be cut in one long strip until you get to the under arm seam. Must find my tool and start cutting cotton fabrics to make another one.
Aunt Philly can make one a day because she created the method, not in my lifetime can I make one in a day.

My grandmother crocheted rugs out of fabric salvaged from shirts, slacks, dresses, whatever that were no longer in use. They lasted a long, long time with fairly rough use.

Thank you for sharing. I also plan to make a toothbrush rug.

toothbrush rugs
 

Hi,this idea has my creative mind buzzing,what width of srips do you tear please ? I think using old teeshirts would make nice soft fabric and as it rolls up I would need to cut fairy wide. Great forum this,keeps the old brain active !! Love Letty.

Thanks for the first link! I've had the tool for a long time but never made anything with it. NOW I know how to start it!

Nan

the part you are 'missing' is you use the scrap strips people often throw away---instead of throwing all those cut off salvages, strips of fabric you toss them into a basket (the basket fills up pretty fast if you sew/quilt a lot)
when the basket is full you start making a rug---the 10 yards statement is an idea of (area)
I know lots of people who make rugs- I've been making them for years- *besides quilting it is my favorite pass time*
and I have never purchased fabric specifically for a rug- I use up scraps---as does all the other people I know who are making them.