Here's a denim rug recycled from a variety of thinner denim fabrics, such as those used for shirts or skirts.
Joyce, the designer, drew inspiration from her Grandma B's hand-made scatter rugs, usually made with non-fraying double-knits.
Although the denim version does fray, especially after washing, the homespun look that results has an appeal all its own.
Joyce's denim rug is shown, above left, after completion, and at right, after washing and drying. Two jumpers, one dress, a pair of denim slacks, a work shirt and old denim skirt were all used in the construction.
If you'd like to make your own, you'll need lots of denim to cut up into small rectangles, plus a larger section of thicker denim (pieced together to get the size you need, if necessary), as the backing.
Denim Rug Instructions:
1. Cut a piece of heavy-duty denim fabric for the backing, to the desired size, and finish the edges with bias tape. (Grandma's method was to reuse the legs of jeans, sewing pieces of fabric together, then cutting to whatever size or shape was required.)
2. Mark the backing fabric with dressmaker's pencil or something similar. Start at the outside edge and draw lines one inch apart. In the sample shown, the lines were drawn in decreasing rectangles, but straight lines would work too.
3. Cut lots and lots 2 by 3 inch rectangles of thin denim.
4. Starting in the center of the denim fabric, and working outwards, begin sewing the fabric rectangles to the backing fabric. Sew straight through the middle of the rectangle width, so both sides stick up evenly, gathering the fabric either before you stick the fabric under the presser foot, or bunching it up as you sew.
5. When you have completed one line, or gone around one marked rectangle, sew it down again to secure it.
6. For the last rounds, cut the rectangles in half along the length, to make rectangles that are 1½ inches by 2 inches, and sew along the edge of the backing fabric, so that the last row lies flat.
Suggestions:
Grandma B's original double-knit scatter rugs were non-fraying and virtually indestructible, so if you have unwearables made from double-knit, velour, or other non-fraying fabrics, consider recycling them into a bright rug of your own. The colorful rug shown here, at right, was made from scraps of velour.
About the Designer:
Joyce is married to a handsome farmer, and has two children, Owen and Helen. She lives in Alabama and is currently expecting her third child. She writes an engaging blog, called The Funky Clothespin, where she hangs out thoughts, anecdotes, and whimsical family happenings for your perusal. Thoroughly enjoyable!
My neighbor had some beautiful double knit rugs made from 2 1/2 inch squares. I was immediately impressed and began making them myself. I am now on #70. Sometimes I have difficlty finding the colors I need.
Kathy Sommers – Milwaukee, WI
June 23, 2008 - 12:10
Joyce, what a great rug pattern!!! I'm going over to the resale shop this weekend to find more chambray and thin denim shirts to make a rug for my son's room! I crochetted him a denim blue and white bedspread last year and this would be the perfect compliment. Thanks for sharing!
Bev – S.C.
June 07, 2008 - 12:15
Way to go Joice My Grandma taught me to sew and i taught my girls. Tridition is a wonderful thing. I'v made rugs like this using squars instead of rectangles. You fold them in half from corner to corner and you have a double layer triangle, stach them on top of each other half way over laping and sew through the wide part and it makes a very soft flrffy rug to stand on I have one made out of the double knit at my sink. I love to know there are young women out there passing on some of the lovely older crafts. God Bless you and your family Bev
D. Monrocher – Toulon FRANCE
May 19, 2008 - 06:11
I like it ! I think I am going to pass it round to a friend wbeepmade a bed cover for her son's bedroom last year , I am sure it will complete it marvellously .... ( she doesn't speak English , but she will understand ...)
so, thanks for the idea ....
We also made a few bags out of old jeans last year and enjoyed it .... And made a few happy people ...
connie – Zambia
May 16, 2008 - 09:05
i have loved this rag rug, it's so beautiful,colourful and looks easy to make.i will surely try one for my front door!
Ellen Graber – Shipshewana, IN
May 05, 2008 - 08:32
Thanks for taking time out of what's got to be a busy schedule, you're being a mom of busy litte ones, to share a fun and practical project. It's extra special because you are passing on a really nifty craft that you learned from you grandma. I've a feeling you'll teach your children to enjoy crafting too. I'm right proud of you, Joyce! ~Auntie El
Jen Bontrager – Goshen, IN
May 05, 2008 - 07:36
Grandma will be bursting with pride! Way to go, Joyce!
Lyndon Bontrager – Dowagiac, MI
May 04, 2008 - 07:44
My sister is the coolest. Way to go, Joyce. Y'gonna start making any rugs with "Welcome" or something of the sort some time? I think that would be grand.
Ruby Bontrager – Middlebury, IN
May 03, 2008 - 10:10
Joyce, Bless you for giving credit to Grandma. I'll have to print this page for her to see. I'm sure she will be very proud of her grandchild, as I am of my daughter. Now, maybe it's time for your mother to make one too! Love, Mom
4. Starting in the center of the denim fabric, and working outwards, begin sewing the fabric rectangles to the backing fabric. Sew straight through the middle of the rectangle width, so both sides stick up evenly, gathering the fabric either before you stick the fabric under the presser foot, or bunching it up as you sew. 
Grandma B's original double-knit scatter rugs were non-fraying and virtually indestructible, so if you have unwearables made from double-knit, velour, or other non-fraying fabrics, consider recycling them into a bright rug of your own. The colorful rug shown here, at right, was made from scraps of velour. 