Home Made Rug Loom

Home Made Rug Loom

This is a great way to make use of old clothing!

You can make your own rug loom from 2×4s and nails, using twine for the cross strings. I made mine the size of the lumber I had on hand, but you can literally make them any size you choose. Your nails should have heads to hold your strings on, and be spaced exactly ½ inch apart. The length and width of your loom can be anything you like. Simply nail your 2×4s into a square or rectangle, and hammer nails along the bottom and top. Starting on the first nail head at the bottom, tie your twine securely. Then “string” your loom by weaving the twine up to the top of your loom and around the first nail head – to the bottom of your loom and around the second nail head – to the top and around the second nail head – bottom to third, etc. – until you reach the very last nail head at the bottom. Tie your twine securely around this last nail head, and you’re set!

You can weave practically any cloth material into a rug by cutting it into thin strips. Some people tie their strips together, but I prefer to sew them to prevent the knots in the rugs. To “weave”, you simply start at the bottom of your loom and weave the cloth strips over and under the twine strings, until you reach the top. Use your fingers to pack the cloth down and make the weave tight. You also want to leave a little extra cloth at the ends of your rows, because as you work upward – the weave will tighten.

Once you reach the top, sew your cloth strip around the last twine string. Now carefully pull your twine from the nail heads – I use a crochet hook to grab them and pull them off. Once your rug is released, you can straighten it by hand to level out the weave and take up the extra space, or simply toss it in the washer and dryer.