DIY Chevron Rug

One of my favorite parts of my most recent project has to be the rug I made. From the very beginning of the project I kept talking about how I was going to make the rug, blah, blah, blah then the time came to actually make it and I freaked out a bit, but in the end it really was super easy.

 



Here it is in all it’s glory:

 



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You will need the following supplies:

 



- 2 yards of fabric. I went with this fabric .



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- One 6 x 9 dropcloth. I picked mine up at Lowes for $10 bucks



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-5 x 8 Rug Gripper that I found a couple rows down at Lowes.



ruggripper



-Aleene's Tacky Spray Glue



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Before you do anything make sure that your fabric and drop cloth is wrinkle free. I went to town with my iron and spray starch.

 



I started this project a million different ways and kept having bunching as I was trying to attach all the layers, but I finally found a great solution.

 



Find a piece of free flooring in your home and start layering your pieces.



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I  laid down my rug gripper first and smoothed it out, then the drop cloth and smoothed it out and finally my fabric right side  up and smoothed it out.

 



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Then with everything nice and smooth I lifted up my fabric half way to expose the drop-cloth.



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Then sprayed my drop cloth with Tacky Glue Spray. I let it sit for a couple of seconds and the slowly placed my fabric back on top smoothly out the wrinkles and bubbles as I went along.



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I then turned around and did the other half of rug the exact same way.

 



With the drop cloth and fabric secure I then flipped the rug over again with the rug gripper and started to place pins to secure it.



* I thought of using spray glue here also, but with the holes in the rug gripper I thought it would just be a big tacky mess.

 



I placed the pins  about 4 inches in from the edge.

 



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Now it was time to finish up the job. You need to fold over some of the fabric to the back in order to cover the rug gripper so that it doesn’t get stuck in the machine and you can get a nice finished edge. We used the peaks in the chevron as our marker so that we sewed a straight line.

 



* Because the fabric is 2 yards and the drop cloth is 6 x 9 and the rug gripper is 5 x 8. You will have to cut some pieces of excess fabric along the way.



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That is it! You are now all done!



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In my research online people that had painted on drop-cloths to use them as rugs recommended to apply poly gloss to protect it. I tried this out on a small piece of extra fabric and it turned a bit yellow so I didn’t do that step.

 



I would recommend picking up some Scotchgard to protect the fabric from spills and stains.



scotchguard

 



All in the all this project cost $55

 



$25 for the fabric plus shipping


$20 for the rug gripper


$10 for the drop cloth

 



I already had thread at home for the the sewing machine and the spray glue.

 



If you haven’t already you can check out the rest of room here.



* I've gotten a couple of emails/comments asking about the weight of the fabric I used. This fabric is on the heavier side. I added the drop cloth because I wanted added weight to it. I would say the weight of the fabric I picked is about the same as the dropcloth.

I used a normal needle on the sewing machine.

I thought of using fusible interfacing, but it would have been more expensive than spray glue that I already had. If you don't mind ironing on the floor and have interfacing available then totally use it. I think it would work well.

With the three layers once it's sewn up it's actually really sturdy. It stays in place really well and with the scotchguard you have added protection.

I'm participating in DIY Day on ASPTL

123 comments:

  1. Wow. This is probably the most awesome thing i've seen lately. I NEVER thought to DIY a rug, and am always astounded by how $$$ they are, and therefore continue to use rugs I dislike! I have visions for my office....Thanks for the tutorial!
    -Kim

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  2. that's pretty incredible and I love how you make it seem so easy :)

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  3. Wow, I thought you bought that rug. I didn't realize you made it! Awesome!

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  4. Amazing! I would have never thought to make my own rug, and you make it sound like something I might actually be able to do. And the apartment looks FANTASTIC by the way.

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  5. wow! this is prob the easiest way to get my own chevron rug...i always like when i have seen others do it, but this makes it look good and acheivable....well done!

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  6. Thanks so much for sharing about the cookies! My husband is going to be so excited when I surprise him with them.

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  7. That is amazing! Did you have to use a bigger needle on your machine? I might have to try this.

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  8. one of the best DIY I have seen in a long time... i love it and am going to have to try it. really i have no more word for how fantastic I think this is...AMAZING!!!

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  9. just checked ikea's website and they have rug grippers for under $10 don't know how the quality is but drops the price down a bit...

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  10. You are seriously my diy hero! This is gorgeous!

    Hmm, just one more reason for me to drool over the interiors section of the fabric store - I never have anything to reupholster, but I might have to make a rug!

    The room as a whole looks beautiful, by the way. Lucky sis!

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  11. oh i LOVE IT!
    i could use some of your skills...
    your blog is adorible by the way

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  12. Wowza. I love it. I may have to steal this for my bedroom!! Awesome job.

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  13. get diy idea! Such an affordable option, you givnig my all kinds of ideas :)

    and adding stain resistant is perfect

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  14. Unbelievable! I have seen DIY chevron rugs done with spray paint but this is awesome!! How smart are you? Fabulous job lady!!

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  15. i wish you had accidently made two identical rugs and were desperately trying to get rid of 1...I would be a sweet friend and take it off your hands.

    It turned out sooo great. You did a fantastic job & I will be making one someday. When "someday" rolls around I'll be sure to email you some pics!!

    <3
    Jen

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  16. Camila, the rug and room look great! You did such a good job!! Daniela and the girls are lucky ladies! Come to DC soon!!

    ps. Aleene's Spray Glue would be better if it was Aileen's hehe.

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  17. This is absolutely brilliant and probably my new favorite DIY project ever!

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  18. Totally AWESOME !!! I am so inspired to create a rug with fabric now, you rock my world girl !!!!

    xoxo
    Kate

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  19. Everything looks so amazing! You will have another UES project soon :)

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  20. Love it. Nice pictures too. I would never have thought to use fabric like that for a rug. Now my mind is whirling with options. I'm going to do one for my ever in-progress office. :))

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  21. That is amazing! I had no idea that a rug could be DIY'ed. Plus it's beautiful and doesn't look like a DIY project.

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  22. Wow, as everyone else has said! This is great, love the way it looks in the room. I got a kick out of the opening paragraph of this post! :)
    Janell

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  23. I SOOO wish I had seen this sooner! I have been agonizing because I couldn't find a rug that matches the decor for my craft room. This would be perfect!

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

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  24. Could you use fusible interfacing instead of the glue, since you've got the iron out anyway? Looks great and I may steal the idea for my son's room.

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  25. One of the best diy ideas I've ever seen. This one will be copied by the masses. How generous of you to share the idea.

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  26. Camilla, I bow down in admiration! Hats off to you, girl. It looks FANTASTIC!

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  27. Such a great DIY- I am totally going to have to try this with some fabric I love- you are always coming up the best ideas!

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  28. You are pretty amazing. I am so impressed with your design prowess! I love your taste. I spend 90 minutes this weekend going through your blog and have found so many great things through you!

    Thank you for sharing!

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  29. Awesome! I may do this as an inexpensive way to freshen up my apartment!

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  30. Awesome tutorial.. I am going to try to do this in my house! THANK YOU

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  31. Girl, you are UH-MA-ZING! I think it's a brilliant idea, and it looks fantastic! Kudos on another killer DIY!

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  32. Wow! Awesome project. I might have to try this one.

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  33. This is a really great DIY! We're going to be getting a new house soon and this is certainly something I'm going to do! For like every room in my house!

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  34. might have to steal this idea — it turned out amazing!

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  35. Wow I can't believe this one. What a great DIY. You can change your rug with every season. Really well done.

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  36. wow great diy!! i've never thought about making a rug but it looks great! and there are soooo many more cool fabric options compared to rugs!

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  37. Love it Camilla! Let us know how it holds up. Great idea!

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  38. I would love to try this...I have an obsession with Chevron.

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  39. I am so amazed! I can't wait to do this now... my mind is whirling with runners and new kitchen mats.

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  40. This is an awesome post!!!! I need rugs for my new house! Instead I will be making some! I am soooo excited!

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  41. BRIL-LI-ANT. Seriously. I LOVE IT! What a clever idea! I can't wait to recreate it one of these days. Go you!

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  42. That is so clever! I'm definitely going to try this one day.

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  43. You are a genius!! I would never have thought of this!! It looks absolutely perfect and I love the design. I will definitely try this!!

    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  44. It looks incredible Camila -- I'm so impressed!

    I'd think an outdoor fabric would be a good choice for this kind of project as well...maybe you could even skip the Scotch guard?

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  45. that is pure genius!! i have been searching for just the right rug {that didn't break the bank} for our bedroom - and i think i just found my answer!!! i will definitely be attempting this, thanks so much for sharing! i am a new follower and i even blogged about and credited your genius-ness!! :) Check it out!
    http://firstcomeslovethencomesmarriagethen.blogspot.com/

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  46. Are you kidding me?? this is so amazing!!

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  47. Incredible idea! I cannot wait to try this at home. Now if only I can find a large plot of unoccupied floor space...

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  48. fabulous. best DIY project i've seen in a LONG time, plus i love the choice of fabric you went with!

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  49. um...this is pretty dang awesome!

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  50. Awesome except for the Scotchguard. It's DEADLY toxic.

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  51. Camila this is AWESOME!!!! I am beyond impressed.

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  52. What a great DIY. I have been looking for options for our dining room rug since it needs to be at least 12x15. I never thought about using fabric to create exactly what I need. And I can piece together several pieces to get just the size I need.

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  53. I love this project! Thanks so much for this, I'll be linking.

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  54. Love, Love, Love this!! We featured you at Someday Crafts, so come on over and grab a button!!

    www.somedaycrafts.blogspot.com

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  55. Oh my goodness! I was thinking of even just using a plain drop cloth in one room - but this takes the vote! Love it! Did you use an indoor/outdoor fabric? I think that is what I will try to do as we have a dog, kiddos, husband - well, you know how it is! Thanks for sharing!

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  56. So excited to cover some yucky carpet. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  57. this is really impressive! would like to try in my home office, i need a weird sized rug. anyway, love the fabric and the finished result!

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  58. OMG! This is totally awesome! Love the chevron print you chose, fabulous job.

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  59. Where was this a few weeks ago before I spent $500 on our new living room rug?

    Good news is I still need a rug for the dining room & I def. think I'm going with this idea!

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  60. Amazing! I can't wait to go and make my own! This is going to be exciting.

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  61. Kerri@TreschiclifestyleJuly 1, 2010 at 4:52 PM

    Love the rug! Cannot believe you did it yourself (I only say that because I cannot do anything like that - at least I do not seem to have the patience!)

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  62. Kerri@TreschiclifestyleJuly 1, 2010 at 4:53 PM

    Love the rug! Cannot believe you did it yourself (I only say that because I cannot do anything like that - at least I do not seem to have the patience!)

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  63. this is absolutely amazing. i have been scouring for the perfect chevron rug and never thought to just make it! ahhhh brilliant. thanks so much :)

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  64. so brilliant! i saw this posted on Apartment Therapy and hopped on over here. Very creative.

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  65. love this rug idea!!! i'm featuring you in the next week or so!!

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  66. Wow, I most definitely have to give this a try!

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  67. Um, you are my hero! Now I will make a gabillion rugs!

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  68. Such a wonderful idea! I would make it for my home. But I have dog and cat. Could I vacuum that rug? Or wash it in the washing machine?
    Thank you!
    Mara

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  69. I find your DIY chevron rug fantastically done! I never knew that you can use those to create something like that. In my case, I only have an area rug that's usually stained by my dog's poo, but thankfully, there are various carpet cleaners (Portland, Oregon located) that can manage to get rid of hard to remove stains.

    I am very lucky that one of my friends has recommended me to the guys who does awesome carpet cleaning in Portland, and I also do the same to my other friends who shares the same problems as I do.

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  70. Wow! I've been wanting a chevron rug but hesitating on the price. I love what you did. Did you consider making it washing machine friendly? I'm wondering if I fused the top two layers together and hemmed it, if I could machine wash that and if it would stay put on the rug liner...
    You've got me thinking!

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  71. such a good idea, thank you for the tutorial!! I am definitely going to do this if we successfully buy the house we're after...! :)

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  72. This is awesome! I never would have known you made this! I'm looking for a zig zag rug for my dining room- if I knew how to use my darn sewing machine I might of given this a try ;)

    xo- Carmel

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  73. I am definitly making this rug. I need a rug with a wider width? Can you suggest a site for similar fabric, but wider width.

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  74. This is awesome! We have been trying to find a rug large enough for our living room without going broke...

    My question is, could you piece fabric together to make a large rug? We need something about 10x14 or close to.

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  75. Thats a great DIY. I like how it looks easy and might not be expensive depending on the materials you choose. A tip a carpet cleaner in Tampa gave me is to think about the cleaning of the same when i choose the materials. He says some fabrics and materials might transfer color when cleaning.

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  76. Perfect and beautiful. I want to recreate a chevron rug and you make it sound like something I might actually be able to do. Thanks for sharing.

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  77. What a great idea! Doing a DIY Chevron Rug Round Up for my blog. Will definitely add this!

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  78. I'm a little late to your rug DIY party, but I am so excited! I just ran out and bought an upholstery remanent which has the perfect weight and texture. I've been looking for a rug for weeks for my office and now I have the perfect size and color for half the price! Love it! Thank you!!!

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  79. I'm a little late to your rug DIY party, but I am so excited! I just ran out and bought an upholstery remanent which has the perfect weight and texture. I've been looking for a rug for weeks for my office and now I have the perfect size and color for half the price! Love it! Thank you!!!

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  80. Thanks for a super DIY! The rug in the inspiration room for my guestroom is $1k and I'd never spend that much! My one concern is if the rug is stiff at all? Would I be able to easily roll it up when we move (hubby is military) without damaging it? Also, I found the perfect pattern, but it is chenille upholstery fabric...how do you think that would do on the floor?

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  81. amazing!! thanks for posting such a detailed description of it too (:

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  82. what a totally awesome, uniquely made rug!!! I LOVE it! (Coming to you via Hernando House!)

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  83. I wish I had the gumption to go with such bold color choices! One day...until day then I'll blog about it... I used this as a feature on my DIY rug roundup post [url]http://sheekgeek.org/2011/jessicasheekgeek/diy-home-rug-roundup[/url].

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  84. I wish I had the gumption to go with such bold color choices! One day...until day then I'll blog about it... I used this as a feature on my DIY rug roundup post at http://sheekgeek.org/2011/jessicasheekgeek/diy-home-rug-roundup

    Cheers,
    Jessica

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  85. Looks great! But how do you clean it?

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  86. Hey There, I LOVE this tutorial, I am about move and can't wait to make one for my new place. I also wanted to let you know that I have featured your project with a Twin Peaks twist in a blog post of mine over at www.odarlin.com . Keep up the awesome work, I can't wait to see what you come up with next!

    xoDominique

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  87. I have always loved doing things myself. I have never seen this project before now. I have painted rugs on linoleum but I love this idea much better. Thanks for sharing.

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  88. Great idea! I made one tonight, and it only took half an hour, and I had all the materials at home. I love it!
    http://mama-hen-jenn.blogspot.com/2011/06/diy-fabric-rug.html

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  89. This was a fairly simple project, but your directions helped a lot. I love this idea because it makes it so much easier to find a coordinating color for your decor. I made my own version with some outdoor canvas and used shelf liner for the backing, which works pretty swell. Thanks for sharing!

    http://creativeblossoming.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/diy-mosaic-wall-decor/#more-1316

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  90. this project is increadible...i am just blown away...I do have a quick question though...instead of using a sewing machine can you possibly use no-sew hem tape to secure the outside edges?

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  91. how much sewind did you do? Did you sew on just the edges? Did you do any sewing in the inside part of the rug to make sure it stayed secure all the way thru? Cheryl K

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  92. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  93. This is really a great idea. It's so cool that I shared the link on my blog: http://cinderelladuty.blogspot.com/. Thanks so much for posting!

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  94. Camila,

    You have made my night! Am looking for a rug idea for my son's pirate-themed room. He wants blue, so it looks like the ocean. You can imagine my delight at finding an idea that will let me get creative and save $$$ on what essentially will be a large blue playspot.

    Thank you so much!!!
    Melissa

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  95. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I? we came across. It extremely helps make reading your blog significantly easier.

    Regards:

    Carrara Tile

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  96. Just came across this via Apartment Therapy (a little late I know) and you literally saved me about $350. I was going to attempt a painted rug but this is by far more up my alley.

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  97. Great blog here! Also your web site a lot up very fast! What host are you the use of? Can I get your associate link in your host? I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
    Teak Corner Shower Seat

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  98. Whaa??? Your rug is just gorgeous, you've done a lovely job! I have this linked to my rugs post too today, for inspiration!

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  99. Wow, WOw, WOW!!! Just moved into a new home and the basement is going to be used as a playroom, sewing and craft area and additional living and office area. I've been looking for a couple weeks now for some rugs, even considered Craigslist. Always too pricey and a little sketchy...eeeek! This is more than perfect. For a week now I've been thinking, "Can't I just make my own rug?" Well, thank you, yes I can!!! Now, I will be able to do the entire basement for the cost of one large rug...actually, half of that large rug. Plus, I'll be able to have what I want! This is huge!

    I do have one question, did you sew the two yards of fabric together before placing it? I'm assuming you did but I just didn't see that instruction.

    Thank you and you will definitely be seeing this on my blog with a link-up to this tutorial. You just saved my sanity!

    Thanks again!

    Shanna
    mommacdesigns.blogspot.com

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  100. I totally love the idea of making your own floor cloth. I've been trying to steer away from rug and carpet because they trap dirt so easily. Now, have you tried washing your floor cloth? How did it turn out?

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  101. Danielle i also loved it and i m sure the owner of this blog will keep posting for us

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  102. I made my own and linked back to you!!!

    http://restlessrisa.blogspot.com/2012/08/diy-ikat-rug.html

    Thanks for the inspiration!

    <3

    Risa

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  103. I have a rug that I got for very cheap and instead of buying all the other stuff would I be able to use this rug to cover with chevron material, if so it has alot of dark colors so what could I lay under it to block out those to not show through the chevron fabric? Love this!!

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  104. Whether for home or commercial use, door entry mats come in an array of varieties. Shopping online for anti fatigue mats and other types is easier when you find the right online vendor.

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  105. They do may a poly"crilic" that is a water based, crystal clear sealer. Very low odor and won't yellow. I'm wondering how that would compare to the scotchguard. Has anyone tried it?

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  106. Thumbs up guys your doing a really good job. country braided rugs

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  107. I see you folded over the ends, and sewed, but what did you do to the long sides?

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  108. I love this idea because it makes it so much easier to find a coordinating color for your decor.
    Kitchen Countertops Long Island

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  109. The carpet cleaning services take into account the kind of carpet or rugs you have before we start cleaning them.

    Carpet Cleaning Toronto

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  110. For a country style space, a braided rug may be the fantastic selection. Even though it has a country really feel, an oval braid rug is also slightly sophisticated. Cautious vacuuming is usually a must with this sort of rug, given that a effective vacuum can loosen the threads that hold the braids together.

    Rug Cleaning Brisbane | Rug Cleaning Sunshine Coast

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  111. This is an awesome rug, pretty colors and print!

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  112. It looks great...can you tell me if it is comfortable to stand on? Im looking to make something like this to put by the sink for washing dishes. Thanks!

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  113. Wow, what a nice rug I would have never guessed that it was homemade. I might recommend this to be used with a portable display sometime.

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  114. You did it by yourself??? You are amazing! I'll never guess this rug is homemade!!! I love it!

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  115. There is now a new concern for the toxicity of Scotchgard. The ingredients in Scotchgard, manufactured by 3M since 1948, belong to a large family of chemicals that degrade to form a chemical called perfluorooctane sulfonate, or PFOS.

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  116. Wow, How is the rug holding up to traffic.

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  117. Thanks so much for sharing this. I've looked at all kinds of ways and lots of ideas on pinterest to make a long rug for a long entryway. ...too expensive to buy a long one. Looked at the painting of drop cloths etc., but THIS is the first one I know will work for me! Thanks!!

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