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!
Can you suggest the best way to do this same project with a group of 28 children? Hand sewing? Or do you have a way of making is a simpler project they could do a s a group?
Rita – New York
Aug 16, 2010 - 07:59
This is a beautiful rug.....I love the idea...but, is it
slippery when on a floor? Could there be some kind of
backing put on it to make it non-slippery? I would love
to make one, but I can't have something that someone
would fall on. Are they easy to clean....do you use a
vacuum cleaner, or just shake it and throw it in the
wash?
alexis – york
Jun 10, 2010 - 11:57
!i think it looks neat and fun to do!
!od ot nuf dna tean skool ti kniht i!
pat pedersen – minnesota
Jun 06, 2010 - 11:16
your rug is a lot like my sister has beautifull oval ones but has small squares of cloth not jean material sewen on top of thick jean material folded in a way that stands up cut with pinking shears so dos not fray think sewn in middle of the pieces down a half inch apart in oval shape would love to know how to make one can pieces all be sewn in a strait line then attatched to the thick backing and do more pieces have to be put around the the the oval shape to lay flat or are they sewn together flat on one side then opened up to stick up that way?
Even with different colored material in different spots had an even design cicle of designs running around it thank you andany help well be much appreciated for can not wait to make one ha if I knew how to
So I need to know kinda a pattern to go by also thanks again
sheryl – new zealand
May 08, 2010 - 18:27
wow those rugs look great! I'm going to try to make one in turquoise, black & white to go on wooden floors to match my decor :) thanks for sharing your info
crafty rose
Jan 27, 2010 - 16:12
looks like a great project for summer, for my 'let's make our house into a comfy beach shack' series of craft tutorials.
I'll try to answer all the inquiries here while i'll be at it. Seems there are a lot of questions still out there.
Michelle – Utah
Jan 23, 2010 - 19:02
Doesn't the denim fray a lot? Is the a step that isn't listed but is supposed to keep the rug from fraying too much?
Reply to Michelle
Joyce
Mar 17, 2010 - 10:10
I'm sorry, the rug will fray if you wash it, but it will still be loveable! That's the nature of the fabric.
Susan
Jan 13, 2010 - 07:20
Hello,
This would be an excellent project for me to use up a bunch of scraps I have, but I'd love to have some more details about attaching the scraps of fabric. Thank you very much!
Barb Meredith – Iowa
Dec 20, 2009 - 20:41
I made this rug out of scraps from lighter weight denim jeans. I made it the size of a bath mat. Really looks neat & soft to step on. Very easy progect. Thanks for sharing.
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. 
