How to Make a Beautiful Rag Rug by Making a Loom From a Hula Hoop!

Susan Goode
by Susan Goode
4 Materials
$4
3 Hours
Medium

I was looking to put a rug in my guest room and really wanted something unique but circular and colourful. Decided to try and have a ago at making one out of some old sheets and fabric on DIY hula hoop old t-shirt loom!

Cut old t -shirt into inch wide strips.

I bought a second hand hula hoop from online at a bargain price and began cutting strips about an inch wide from the bottom up of an old t shirt.

i then began positioning them on the hoop.

T shirt strips and DIY hula hoop loom

i position the strips of t shirt around edge of hoop evenly to create loom.

Making the loom

And keep going until lots of sections.

DIY Loom

I cut the fabric strips from old sheets and keep going continuously so it’s in one long piece. I do this with a few sheets and fabrics in different colours.

Cut in one continuous strip

The loom and fabric now ready to begin weaving.

I decide to use the lighter colour in the center

Loom and fabric ready to weave

I found it easier to make a start of weave under and over technique with loom hanging in my pond roof but you can find somewhere convenient to hang it to gain ease of working with the fabric in and out.

Weave beginning in center

And keep weaving under and over technique changing the colours by knitting a new colour strip to create a pattern and variety.

Changing colour on the loom

It takes time to weave and is a project to do a bit each day and it grows and becomes bigger.

The rug slowly grows bigger.

When the rug weave reaches the edge and is obvious cannot grow any more it is time to cut off the loom.

Cut rug away from hoop loom

I tied the T-shirt strings in knots to prevent unravel and I kept these as part of the design feature.

i really like the unique and textural result!

How to make your own Beautiful Rag rug
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  • Alexis Mottola Welch Alexis Mottola Welch on Apr 10, 2019

    This looks like it would be a lot of fun to make with my kids. I’m thinking we can each make one or two, and somehow joining them all together. How long did this take you?

  • Kim 'Kiewatt' Waknitz Kim 'Kiewatt' Waknitz on Apr 10, 2019

    This doesn’t look like a hula hoop I’ve every see. Did you add those “knobs” for lack of better term, if so what are they and where do you get them?

  • Stephanie Stephanie on Apr 24, 2019

    I never would have thought of using a hula hoop for a loom...genius! And your rug is so cute! Quick question(s) about the planter in the background; did you create it, is there a tutorial & where can i find it? I love how colorful it is & would like to make something similar. Thanks!

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4 of 9 comments
  • Dl.5660408 Dl.5660408 on Apr 10, 2019

    Your choice of color has made a beautiful, unique rug. Well done!

  • Laurie Laurie on Apr 25, 2019

    Great idea! Who DOESN’T have old stretched-out tees or faded sheets? (And you can only make so many t-shirt quilts!) I’ve never seen a loom like that, but it’s inspired me to make my own rectangular one out of scrap wood and nails - like oversized pot-holder loom. Your technique looks faster than the braided variety.

    • Susan Goode Susan Goode on Apr 26, 2019

      I’m so happy that you were inspired to make your own and now that’s given me idea to do a rectangular one!! Yes is a little bit each day and enjoy the steady progress!

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