What a great idea, a good way to use scraps and ugly fabric. Dollar stores sometimes have the clothesline. People buy this rope for all kinds of stuff and they always run out. Someone said try K-mart. Our walmart has it ,but runs out all the time. I am thinking of trying the hardware stores.

What a great idea! Thanks for taking the time to share your tutorial with us, Mary. I'm buying some clothesline the next time I'm in Walmart. :D

Love the rug. It brings back memories of my Grandmother when I was little. Watching her make rag rugs and yarn rag rugs. use to take a wooden spool of therd put 4 nails in it gave me some old left over yarn while she did her rugs by hand. So we would be both working on one.

Mary,
Thanks for the directions of a great looking rug!!! Just a couple of quetions....Do you drop the "feed dogs" when you stitch? Also, how does the fabric wrapped cord stay in place? Do you machine stitch or hand stitch as you go around with it? -Pat

Machine and no I do not drop the feed dogs.

Thanks so much for this...and I love the idea of coasters for gifts. Hope I can find some of this fast disappearing clothesline so I can try this too. :? PLEASE everyone post pictures of your finished rugs!!!! I can't wait to see them. :D

i will hopefully take a class in November for making a scrap basket made from the same cording! It looks really neat and I'll a picture if I'm able to do the class!

You all do know that IF I do a craft fair next year, I will have some of these on my table too! lol

How big an IF is that really. The rug is a great way to use up scraps and the ugly "what was I thinking" fabric. The hard part is keeping it flat.

I've looked everywhere - that cotton clothesline is nowhere to be found!

The closest thing to it seems to be 100 percent cotton venetian blind cording - and that feels to dense. Wal-mart doesn't seem to stock it anymore, and the hardware stores and home improvement stores all have nylon cording. Woe is me!

Try Joann Fabrics also for this. They used to sell it in bags for upholstery work. It is cotton but I don't know how pricey it will be for a project like this. Clothesline would probably be cheaper, but if you want to make a smaller one (even coasters) it would be perfect to try out while you are still looking.

I do upholstery work and I buy mine by the 1250 feet roll so I am all set. I do have the tool to do the braided rugs, but haven't gotten around to that yet.

I might try this out with a rug for my dog. She isn't that big! Hope I can find the time!!
Barb

Did you use only cotton scraps? Could you use flannel too? Or even mix flannel and cotton in same rug?

Margie

Margie, I just used cotton scrapes. I was'nt sure about using other kinds of fabric. From having done one rug I will say it might get too thick. Maybe Mary can help us.

If it works use it. My thoughts on the flannel is the bulk. But it's a rug. All flannel would definitely work.

Thanks Mary! I'm doing some flannel quilts so will save up the scrapes from them too. My DH wanted me too add on to the one I made to make it bigger but it was starting to bowl up so I did'nt.

I finally got something called "Cotton Filler Cord" by Wrights
in Wal-mart in the fabric department. It's a 6yd package and it says 5.5m. I think it cost about $2.60 per pkg. I got 2 packages. It's about
as big around as my index finger. Hope that is the right size. Guess
I'll find out when I start to sew.

I have lots of strips cut at 2 1/2" wide. Is that too wide?

This is really exciting! Thank you so much for the tutorial!

The above cording does not fit under my foot!

I don't think there is a beautiful rope basket filled with yarn

in my future......

I am so sorry. Yes, that sounds too big. It should be about a quarter of an inch.

AWESOME tutorial. This would be a great way to use those little leftover strips I have. Thanks for sharing that.

Love the tutorial.......... I am going to try this one.

how do you clean these rugs? just vacuum? or spot wash or what?

I am having trouble keeping the tension on the fabric as I wind it around the rope. Is there a secret to it that I missed? Have started over three times and threw it on the floor lol.

Linda D MI

A couple things I have learned through trial and error is 1 have a big flat surface. Build up your table around your machine if you need to so it is nice and big. 2. Don't pull the rope you are adding too tight.

Hope this helps.

How about using a glue stick at the beginning and at each new join? That way you wouldn't have to use pins and get stuck. I think that's how the book does it. Jan in KS

Ya know it's funny. I have made numerous baskets wrapping clothesline but I had not even thought once to make a rug. Yeah, I can be dense sometimes! :lol:
Your rug is just fantastic!

I want to try that, it looks easy enough. I am wondering if my scrap bag is full enough yet?

What a great idea! Can you use selvedge on these? Well another thing to add to my list too.

Thank you for the great instructions. Appreciate the pictures too. Any particulars on needle size or type of thread?

I am still having trouble finding the cotton clothesline. Have you all found somewhere to purchase it? I can find it with a polyester core but for some reason I think that is a hard core and would break my needle. Any thoughts on this?

That's a great rug, I'm going to have to do this!

This is on my list of things to do......... right after the holidays....
Thanks for the tutorial..........it's great.
Scrap Quilter

OMG, I had to re-read a couple times before the light bulb went off. How cool is this! I love Christmas, but I can't wait until I have the time to try this, which will be after the Holidays. Thanks you so much for sharing. Love learning new stuff.

Have you tried washing one yet? If you have how did you do this?

I found some at our local Dollsr Tree. Most places have some sort of dollar stores.

Greetings Mary: Your tutorial reminds me of a rag rug {so many colors} that my GrandMother made at least 100 years ago and it is still in good shape.

It looks like you used verigated thread {any particular weight or type}? Any particular pressure foot? Thank You for your Tutorial - Can't wait to get started on a rug following your instructions. :thumbup:

I use whatever thread I happen to have. Especially what needs to be used because there isn't enough to really complete any other project.

I have a Bernina and I use foot 20. I like it because it is nice and open and I can see what I'm doing.

Be sure to let us see pictures. We love pictures.

Oh, this is cool...thank you for sharing!
I found answers to all my questions except: Do you stitch the other side, too?

I don't stitch both sides. Just be sure your stitches are close enough together so it holds under abuse.

I love it make me one :D

Nice try but I could send you some rope. :)