I originally made this video to show my workshop group how to make a rug.
How to make a hand knotted t shirt rug.
Before the rug is knotted and starts to take form further preparations must be taken.
Continue to glue knotted t shirt sections all the way up the edge of the mat.
The ancient art form and master craft of hand knotting rugs continues today.
I used 5 5 t shirts to make a rug that is approximately 18 in diameter but if you have more time and patience than i do or if you want a bigger rug you could use more shirts.
It starts with a design drawn on graph paper called a cartoon.
You can find clearer instructions and other ideas for the amish knot here https.
Get the woven rag rug instructions here on a piece of rainbow.
Making the yarn is actually really easy.
Select a few old t shirts from your closet a thrift store or your aunt marcy s nascar t shirt collection.
Rugs of this type are produced only using pure materials such as the following.
Silk hand knotted area rugs that are woven from silk are stunningly luxurious.
Lay a t shirt out on your work surface.
Stick the knots into the glue strip leaving 1 2 inch between each knot image 2.
These next steps layout the framework in order to flesh out an oriental rug s flush of detail.
The size of the rug is limited only by the size of the loom.
Place a strip of hot glue 1 inch from the previous row.
With the wool cotton or silk spun dye is applied and left out in the sun in order to dry.
After looking at a bunch of options here s how i decided to make my t shirt yarn.
Move onto the next row.
Then the weavers take the design and begin the process of making the rug one knot at a time.
A hand knotted rug will not have a backing on it.
Woven rugs require a loom but a piece of rainbow has shown how to make a simple rug loom with instructions for making this colourful rag rug.
The oldest rug in the world is the pazyryk carpet which dates to the 5th century bce.
When i found out from researching persian rug selling companies on the internet that the authentic hand knotted rugs take about an hour per inch to make by the best weavers.
It ll probably take a few shirts for you to get the technique down but after that you ll be able to turn a t shirt into a ball of yarn in just a few minutes.
One of the easiest ways to spot a hand knotted rug is to flip it over.
Continue to add glue and knotted sections until the full doormat is covered image 3.
Well trying to learn persian knot tied rug making is a lot like trying to learn how to make cheese by first discovering you need to learn how to raise cows.
Silk being an expensive material rugs of this type have a higher price.
Hand knotted rugs will never be woven using synthetic materials like polypropylene nylon acrylic or polyester.
