How to Make a T-Shirt Shag Rug

A T-shirt shag rug is a great way to recycle an old T-shirt and turn it into a unique rug for your home.  It makes a great accessory for any room and can be as little or as big as you want it to be.  You can make a little white one for your bathroom or a pink one for a girl's bedroom.

        Coiled Shag Rug

1. Cut the T-shirt across the chest just underneath the arms.


2. Cut open a side seam on the lower part of the shirt.


3. Cut the lower part into strips that are 1-inch thick across the width of the T-shirt.


4. Cut two strips that are 1 yard long, and tie the ends together to create a circle.


5. Slip your other strip through the circle, and tie the ends together.


6. Fold both of the strips so they form a long cord.


7. Cut 5-inch pieces from the rest of the strips.


8. Form a U-shaped loop from one of the strips, and slip the bottom of the loop under the cord.


9. Pull both of the loose ends over the cord and back down through the loop, so it is wrapped around the cord with both of the ends sticking out.


10. Loop each strip around the cord until covered completely, and turn each one of the loops so they are sticking up in the same direction.


11. Wrap the cord around into a coil so it forms a circle rug, and stitch the cords together. 

        Canvas-Backed Shag Rug

1. Cut your rug canvas to the size you want your T-shirt rug.


2. Cut your T-shirts into strips that are 1-by-4 inches.


3. Cut across the T-shirt, just underneath the arms.


4. Cut the shirt into 1-inch strips, and cut into 4-inch long pieces.


5. Begin at one corner of the canvas and tie your strips to form the shag.


6. Fold a strip in half and hold the ends together.


7. Slip the loop end down through one square hole, and then up through the next hole.


8. Bring the ends of the strip through the loop and pull to tighten.


9. Tie a knot in each hole or every other hole, depending on how thick you want your rug to be.