Discovering how to make your own braided rug can be a very fun and rewarding process. Nowadays so many rugs are manufactured by a commercial dealer who sells them in bulk. There is nothing wrong with this, but these commercial rugs lack the handmade care and sentimental value that a homemade braided rug has. Since early Colonial times people have been making these braided rugs by hand, so learning how to do so yourself is surely a worthwhile endevour. Let’s look at a few of the techniques and materials that you will need.
The first thing you will want to do is take inventory of what kind of materials you need to get started. One of the best things do to is buy all your supplies at a local craft store. Many of them tend to have a wide selection as well as staff who are familiar with the process. You will need to buy the raw fabric, a long needle, and thread.
You have a choice between using cotton fabric and nylon. Cotton is the material that has been used for generations. It is pretty durable and comes in a wide variety of different colors. Nylon is becoming a more popular choice nowadays. It also comes in a wide variety of colors but its known to be more durable and stronger. This may be a good idea for anyone who is making a rug that is going to be in an area with a lot of foot traffic. If you want to go with the time aged tradition of making your rug like the settlers, use cotton. If you want to try doing it in a more modern way, then you can check out nylon fabric.
The next thing you will want to do is decide on a design. There are countless designs out there that you can choose from. The majority of braided rugs are in an oval shape, so that is a good place to start. If you are not sure what kind of design you want to make then you can check out a multitude of books, online guides, and even DVD’s that will take you through the process.
Braided rugs that are homemade can be used in a lot of different ways. You can put them in your home and use it as an area rug for your living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc. You can also use it as a wonderful gift for anyone around the holidays. They will surely appreciate having something made for them that is truly original and one of a kind. If you want to make braided rugs into a small business, you can do that too. Many people make them and then sell them online or at a local flea market.
Whatever your reason, learning to make your own braided rug is a great new hobby to learn. It may take a few tries to really get the hang of it, but you will surely love the final product when you are done.
Charles Mullin writes about area rugs and other home interior additions more at Discount Quality Awnings