Rug mod tutorial

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Are you ready to rug mod? I've decided to go with the term "rug mod" although I do love the all the suggestions I got. Really considered going with "shagging", but I realize that would've made this an entirely different sort of blog.







You'll need a piece of carpet or a plain rug or a carpet remnant. Any size will do. And some yarn. And a big needle.




Draw your design on a piece of paper, cut it out, and lay it on the back of the carpet. Let's call that the bald side.




Trace the image.




This is the tool you are going to use. Find the biggest needle you have, and thread about a 12 inch piece of thread through it. I used embroidery floss in this picture so it would show up really well, but I find the best thread to use is heavy duty nylon thread.






Poke the needle up from the shaggy side of the carpet out the bald side on the traced line. Pull the needle up through the rug, but don't pull the tail of the blue thread all the way out. If your carpet has really thick, tough glue, you may want to wear a thimble.










Now poke the needle straight back into the exact same hole where it first poked out. See how you catch the white yarn? You're going to pull that white yarn down through the carpet.






Grab your needle and the tail of the blue thread, and pull the white yarn down through the carpet.






Then you just let go of the blue tail and the needle. See? You're left with just a little loop of white yarn on the shaggy side of the carpet. That blue thread never gets sewn into anything. It's just a tool you use to pull the white yarn through.






Keep going. Be careful when you pop the next white yarn loop through the rug that you don't pull out the first loop. The ball of yarn can just sit over there on the side as you keep working off of it.


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Now you have two little white yarn loops!










Keep going around your traced design. The stitches on the back should look like this. Not too tight, not too loose.




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When you have stitched all the way around, turn the carpet over and trim the loops off. The big reveal! Totally exciting! Coat the stitches on the bald side of the carpet with some glue or mod podge or caulk to hold them in place. You can buy brush-on latex rug backing from the craft store if you want. If you used a carpet remnant and you have rough edges around your rug, you can stitch on a piece of fabric like a quilt binding, or just turn the edges under and stitch or glue them in place.










Happy rug modding!

Comments

  1. This is a brilliant idea! I think I might try a Christmas welcome mat with some snowflakes...

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  2. fantastic! So creative and a great tutorial.

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  3. I love this! I never would have thought of it. Brilliant.

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  4. Super cute--thanks for the tutorial! How long did it take you to do this one?

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  5. Thanks for the kindness, you guys! I'd say it took me about 2 hours while late night tv watching in bed. You start to get a groove going after a while. At first it feels awkward, then you figure out where you want the yarn ball, your elbows, your hands, etc.

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  6. Ouuu I love it, now I have yet another project from your page to get around to doing, I think I need a nanny or something, lol.

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  7. I was just wondering this week if something like this would be possible! Thanks for the tutorial- I can't wait to try it myself.

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  8. what do you think is the ticket for washing these once they are decorated? it makes me nervous that the yarn would wash right out. perhaps you could do a test for us? :o)

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  9. AWESOME! I've got a plain white area rug waiting for some love!

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  10. FABULOUS! i love when creative geniuses share their genius! thank you!! great blog! and your wild things are adorable - we're all over making our own tomorrow! thanks again.

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  11. by the way... found you via ohdeedoh.com

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  12. Ha...shagging.

    I like your style. Your blog is great & I love your ideas.

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  13. I love it!!! A brilliant way to use up all those pesky yarn scraps I just can't make myself throw away.

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  14. AHHHHHH!!!!! I love this! Amazing!

    Now... I need to make one :)Thanks for sharing!

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  15. This is super! What a fun and inspiring blog. Thanks!

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  16. Lovely Rug!! Now I know what I can make that really tricky friend for Christmas.
    P.S. i hope you don't mind, I have added this tute to my blog. Chele x

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  17. Awesome! Thank you so much for posting this!

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  18. you are absolutely brilliant....i need to squint to read your blog, or maybe just wear a very large floppy hat....

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  19. This is amazing! I'd just love it you would drop by my crafty blog linking party, Sun thur Tues and share this! Hope to see you there!

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  20. Add a beautiful rug to a room to warm a cold space or update a traditional look. We have a massive choice of different sizes and colours.

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  21. Rather cool--just need some decent remnants, as I've got yarn (S.A.B.L.E. status achieved, knit/crochet/craft from stash forever!)

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  22. So Cool! Brillant idea, very original.

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  23. You are awesome. This is just darling.

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  24. Ho-ly crap! That is the best idea I have seen in ages! Thank you so much for sharing, these would make lovely gift ideas for the holidays :)

    Nikki
    Eveningsong Ink

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  25. Wow, you are seriously BRILLIANT. I love it! And who knew? Brush-on latex rug backing?! What will they think of next?

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