Home » So Crafty

My Toothbrush Rugs

marsha32 by marsha32

A Toothbrush Rug For Me!

I was excited when one of the older women in our church had brought in her toothbrush rugs to show us. I wanted to learn how to make them, and so did several other women of the church.
We meet each month for sewing club at church. We sew from 10 am to 3 pm, taking a lunch break together in the middle. Normally we make quilts and lap throws that are donated to the Domestic Violence Center and the Good Samaritan Home.
Since so many were interested in learning how to make the rugs, we decided we would like to take the following months club time for the gal (Goldie is her name) to teach us. She agreed.

These are called toothbrush rugs because of the modified toothbrush used to make the rugs. We all worked to round up toothbrushes that would work to make the tools. You need to put a hole in the handle end, cut off the brush part and make that end pointed. A kind gentleman in our congregation volunteered to modify our toothbrushes for us.

I couldn't wait to learn how to make these rugs and I've been hooked on them ever since!

We recently bought our own home and have a really nice rec room in the basement. I am currently working on making a toothbrush rug for the floor down there. I will share my progress here as I work on it. It's going to be the largest one I've made yet!

****All photos on this page are copyright Lensmaster Marsha32 unless stated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. ****

How To Start a Toothbrush Rug

To start a toothbrush you you will take 3 strips of the cloth you are using and braid them together. The length of the braid depends on the size of rug you are wanting to make, but is really your choice all the way around. You then sew the ends of each of the braid to secure the braid. Do NOT cut off the ends of the material. You will cut off 2 of the ends of your braid, leaving one strip of material to start your rug.

I have a video of me working the stitches and will add another of me starting a rug when I start another one. I am including a link list in this lens so that you can find instructions from others as well.

My Modified Toothbrush Tool

Strips I am Using for this Rug

These are the strips I have left that I am working in to this rug. Obviously to get to the size I want, I will have to get into my strip stash and add more.

My Toothbrush Rug 4/22/11

My progress as of April 22, 2011. I have a long way to go before it's as big as I want it for the basement floor. I chose to mix the strips up in this one rather than working the colors in rounds.

Me Putting a Few Stitches in My Rug

powered by Youtube

A Toothbrush Rug I've Already Made For Our Home

This toothbrush rug I made out of t-shirt strips. In this rug I did the colors in rounds. This rug is sitting in front of our dryer.

Find Toothbrush Rug Books on Amazon and the Tools Too!

..

..
Loading

Internet Resources to Help You Learn

Springfield Greene County Library
Picture instructions
You Tube Braid Start
this video will show you how to start the rug with a braid
Complete Video Instructions
This is a different method than I use, but it looks easy enough that I would like to try it some day.
eHow instructions
eHow article on toothbrush rug making

This Video Shows You How To Attach the Strips

powered by Youtube

This Is Where The Finished Rug Will Go

Notes From Me---

My first 2 rugs were flops....I thought I had listened to her when she told us about adding stitches so the rugs would stay flat. After the first one I looked online and thought I knew then where to put 2 stitches in instead of one. Nope that didn't work.

Here is the trick of knowing where to put in the extra stitches. Any time your needle is not going in to the stitches straight, it's time to put the extra stitch! So if your needle is pointing to the side, put 2 stitches in that loop.

It works! My rugs have laid flat ever since. See photo below for what your needle will look like when you need to add a stitch.

Needle Looks Like This When You Need to Add a Stitch

My Toothbrush Rug as of May 14, 2010

Getting Larger!

Other projects are taking presidence right now, but it's moving along. I am in hopes that the strips I currently have out to work in will make it the size I want it to be.

Books on Other Types of Rug Making

Loading

OMG! Still Working June 29, 2011


p.s. That is our kitten, Molly, wanting in on the action of my photo.

This Wonderful Blog Shows You How!

Click each blog post link below to see step by step instructions on how to make a rug, including photos!
Day To Day Adventures: Making a Rag Rug Part 1
Help to get you started
Day to Day Adventures: Making a Rag Rug Part 2
Put the strips together and get started
Day to Day Adventures: Making a Rag Rug Part 3
starting the stitches
Day to Day Adventures: Making a Rag Rug Part 4
increasing stitches so you don't end up with a bowl

Final for Now 7/8/11

Plans changed a bit with my daughter, her boyfriend, and her 5 children moved in to our house early July. The rug is not as large as I planned since the room in the basement has now been turned in to a living area. I haven't sewn off the end, instead it is pinned on the back. I fully intend to add more to it once our home is our own again. It's now in the entry way of our home.

p.s. I also want to note that I've already washed this rug 2 times and it stands up super well to washing and drying.

About Me

.
Loading

I Loved Learning to Make These and Still Love Making Them!

Do you love a hand made rug?

valheart1, I, CRAFTING zazzle_bumpersticker
valheart1, I, CRAFTING by whalen05
Make bumper stickers on zazzle.

  • NTxWriter May 18, 2012 @ 8:25 am | delete
    Great idea for using rags. My sister-in-law used to make crocheted rugs from rags and they were beautiful. I have a couple of them around the house that she made and they really stand the test of time.
  • lollyj May 15, 2012 @ 7:29 am | delete
    I love hand made rugs, but don't have the patience or talent to make them. :))
  • BuddyBink May 4, 2012 @ 6:39 pm | delete
    Very interesting. Looks a bit like crocheting. Also, gives me an idea of what to do with all my old t-shirts. Thanks
  • Ruthi May 4, 2012 @ 9:58 am | delete
    Not that your toothbrush rug and demo is lumpy, but I just had to selct this page for Lumpy Rug Day! And you have my blessings and a bit o' sunshine for the kitty on your rug!
  • vallain Mar 26, 2012 @ 4:32 pm | delete
    Nicely explained. My mom and dad used to make wagon wheel rugs from rags. The strips are tied across a wagon wheel frame, then more strips are woven through those.
  • klash5 Mar 26, 2012 @ 7:43 am | delete
    I like these, I never knew they were called toothbrush rugs. My grandmother used to make rugs similar to these. I think she called them rag rugs.
  • webkangaroo Mar 3, 2012 @ 10:19 pm | delete
    wow -- never even heard of these before. pretty cool!
  • karmicchristian Jan 24, 2012 @ 6:57 am | delete
    This real cool! The interesting name got me in and am not disappointed!
  • ElizabethJeanAllen Jan 17, 2012 @ 5:35 pm | delete
    I really like that! I'm going to try it. The boys have so many old t-shirts. I would like to recycle them.
  • 23squidoo Jan 1, 2012 @ 10:05 pm | delete
    I've never heard of toothbrush rugs before. How creative!
  • kathysart Dec 29, 2011 @ 10:15 am | delete
    WOW.. who knew? Thanks for the info, so cool.
  • aesta1 Dec 2, 2011 @ 9:19 am | delete
    The rug is great even after two washing. What a great thing to do.
  • vbright105 Nov 26, 2011 @ 4:48 pm | delete
    That's clever. I crochet these types of rugs with a Q hook. Very nice idea. Thanks for sharing
  • RenaissanceWoman2010 Nov 26, 2011 @ 4:33 pm | delete
    I love these rugs! This is the first time I have heard of them. I'd love to make at least one for my home. Thank you for introducing me to this fabulous project. Appreciated!
  • skiesgreen Nov 26, 2011 @ 4:16 pm | delete
    Lovely innovative idea and well presented lens. Thanks for sharing. It might be something for the future when I stop getting online, Hugs
  • Load More
Show All

This So Crafty page written by

marsha32

My name is Marsha and I am now a married woman, as of July 30 2011, residing in Kansas. I have 1 child left at home. We are a home school family.
I have... more »

Create something new! Show off your work! Time to get So Crafty!

Connect with So Crafty

This author recommends...