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You can easily make your own rag rugs without having a loom! Use the knit-weaving component of your knitting machine, cut up some old rags (or new ones) and away you go! It's a good way to use up left-over fabrics!

I found that it is:

You should be able to do this technique on any machine. If you are using a standard machine, I suggest using a light weight fabric cut up in narrow strips for the ease of knit-weaving. You don't need a punch card pattern, but you can use one if you prefer.

I used a Brother 260 chunky to knit-weave the following rag rug. I used T-10 with a chunky Shetland yarn from Zellers. I cut up old, fairly thick woolen material into strips of ¼ inches wide. Set the machine for knit-weaving with the brushes in place.

1. E-wrap cast on 100 stitches. Knit 4 rows in stockinette.
2. With carriage on either side, pull out every 4^th needle into D position. Do not use holding button! (If you prefer to use a punch card pattern, then follow the instructions in your manual).
3. Make sure latches are closed on the selected needles and lay the rag strip across the needles in the direction that the carriage will go in. Hold the end of the rag under the carriage until you have started knitting.
4. On the next row, pull out every 4^th needle starting with the right needle adjacent to the one that was pulled out on the previous row. By selecting the needles in this fashion, you will get a twill look on the rug where it knits in the rags. See diagram below.

N X X X N X X X N X X X N X X X N X X X N

X N X X X N X X X N X X X N X X X N X X X

X X N X X X N X X X N X X X N X X X N X X

X X X N X X X N X X X N X X X N X X X N X

                   5.   Think of the colors you have and how much of each color when deciding on your pattern. I used  dark blue, light blue, orange and dark orange fabrics. I knitted different width rows until I had 24 inches of fabric. Then I knitted a 'reflection' of the same rows of color on my way through the last 24 inches of knitting. 

              6.    Continue knit-weaving in this fashion until   you achieve the desired length to the rug  you are making. Remember to move your weights up as you go.

               7.    I used up different colors of blue yarn to finish up my left-overs. Even though some of the blue yarn was quite a bit lighter in color, it doesn't show on the front of the rug. But when you look at the knitted back, you can see the different colors of blue yarn.

                  8.    The finished rug is thick and luxurious. If it is too slippery on your floor because the back is all just knitted yarn, then you can purchase some anti-skid fabric to lay underneath.

Here's some placemats I made with this same technique!

Have fun!

11/16/03