T-Shirt Yarn Rug Crochet Pattern | E’Claire Makery
There is something deeply satisfying about turning old T-shirts into something beautiful. If you have been eyeing a pile of worn-out shirts and wondering what to do with them, this T-shirt yarn rug crochet pattern is exactly what you need. This project is beginner-friendly, uses chunky T-shirt yarn that works up quickly, and results in a thick, cushy rug that can anchor a room and bring warmth underfoot. Whether you are crocheting your very first rug or you are an experienced maker looking for a fresh home décor project, this guide from E’Claire Makery will walk you through every single step.
Why T-Shirt Yarn Is Perfect for Rugs
Before we dive into the pattern itself, let’s talk about why T-shirt yarn — also called zpagetti yarn, fabric yarn, or jersey yarn — is one of the best materials you can choose for a crocheted rug.
T-shirt yarn is made by cutting or tearing knit jersey fabric (like the fabric used in T-shirts) into long strips, which are then balled or spooled up. The result is a thick, stretchy, flat-ish yarn that behaves very differently from traditional wool or acrylic. When crocheted at a tight gauge with a large hook, it creates a dense, heavy fabric that holds its shape beautifully under foot traffic. It doesn’t pill the way wool can, it is easy to wipe clean, and it has just enough give that walking on it feels like stepping on a thick knit blanket.
From an environmental perspective, making a rug from upcycled T-shirt yarn or from commercially produced T-shirt yarn made of fabric remnants is a wonderful way to keep textiles out of landfills. If you want to take this project a step further, you can make your own T-shirt yarn at home from shirts you were going to donate or discard, which we will cover briefly below.
The durability of T-shirt yarn is also worth mentioning. A well-crocheted T-shirt yarn rug can last for years, standing up to heavy daily use in hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms. Unlike thinner rag rugs, the thickness and density of this style of rug means it stays in place and feels luxurious underfoot.
Making Your Own T-Shirt Yarn vs. Buying It
You have two main options when it comes to sourcing your material: making your own or purchasing commercial T-shirt yarn.
If you want to make your own, gather old T-shirts in colors you love. Remove the hem and cut the body of the shirt horizontally into strips about one inch wide, cutting through both layers at once. When you open up each strip, you will have a loop. To join the loops together, snip a small cut at the end of each loop and interlock them, pulling one end through the other to create a slipknot join. Continue until you have a long continuous strip, then roll it into a ball. The more stretch the shirt has, the thinner the strip can be — and as you pull the strip during winding, the edges will curl inward, creating a more rounded, cord-like yarn.
Commercial T-shirt yarn is available in craft stores and online in a wide range of colors, from neutral naturals to bold primaries and soft pastels. It typically comes in balls or coils weighing around 250 to 500 grams per unit. For this pattern, the yarn weight falls into the super bulky or jumbo category (weight 6 or 7), and it is usually labeled accordingly.
For a standard bathroom or entryway rug measuring approximately 20 by 30 inches, you will generally need around 500 to 800 grams of T-shirt yarn, depending on your gauge and the size you are making. For a larger area rug, plan on closer to 1.5 to 2 kilograms.
Materials You Will Need
Here is a simple supply list to gather before you sit down to crochet:
Yarn: Approximately 500 to 800 grams of T-shirt yarn in your chosen color or colors. You can work with a single solid color, alternate between two colors for stripes, or change colors frequently for a fun scrappy look.
Hook: A size N/15 (10mm) or P/16 (11.5mm) crochet hook works beautifully with most commercial T-shirt yarns. Some makers prefer going up to a 12mm or even a 15mm hook to get a looser, more pliable fabric. If you are making your own T-shirt yarn from thinner shirt fabric, you may want to start at 10mm and adjust from there.
Scissors: A good pair of sharp fabric scissors for cutting yarn ends and weaving in tails.
Tapestry or yarn needle: You will need one large enough to thread T-shirt yarn, which can be tricky since the yarn is wide and flat. A blunt-tipped tapestry needle with a large eye works well, or you can use a latch hook.
Non-slip rug pad or fabric puff paint (optional): If you plan to use your rug on a hard floor, adding a non-slip backing or dots of fabric puff paint to the underside will keep it in place and protect both the rug and your floor.
Gauge and Sizing
Getting your gauge right is important for this project, especially if you are trying to hit a specific finished size. With a 10mm hook and medium-weight T-shirt yarn, a typical gauge is around 8 to 10 single crochets over 4 inches. With bulkier yarn or a larger hook, that number drops to around 6 to 8 stitches over 4 inches.
Because T-shirt yarn is stretchy and can behave differently from ball to ball, always crochet a small swatch before beginning. Work about 15 to 20 stitches and crochet 4 to 5 rows, then measure. This will tell you exactly how your particular yarn and hook combination will behave, and you can adjust the number of foundation chain stitches accordingly to reach your desired width.
This pattern as written is designed for a rectangular rug approximately 20 inches wide by 30 inches long, which is a versatile size for a bathroom, a kitchen sink mat, or an entryway runner. You can easily scale it up or down by adjusting your starting chain.
The Pattern: T-Shirt Yarn Crochet Rug
Skill Level: Beginner to Easy Intermediate
Stitch Abbreviations:
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet
- sl st = slip stitch
- st = stitch
- rep = repeat
- sk = skip
Foundation
Make a foundation chain of 45 chains (or adjust based on your gauge swatch to reach approximately 20 inches in width). Keep your tension even but not too tight — T-shirt yarn has a tendency to get stiff and difficult to work through if the chain is too snug.
Row 1: Starting in the second chain from the hook, sc in each chain across. You should have 44 single crochets. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 2: Sc in each stitch across. Ch 1 and turn.
Continue repeating Row 2 until your piece measures approximately 30 inches long, or your desired length.
To finish, fasten off and leave a tail of about 6 inches for weaving in.
Working in Color Stripes
If you want to add stripes to your rug, changing colors is simple. When you reach the last stitch of the row before a color change, pull through with the new color on the final step of that stitch (the final yarn over and pull through for the single crochet). This gives you a clean color transition. Cut the old color and leave a 4 to 6 inch tail, which you will weave in later.
For a classic two-tone stripe pattern, try alternating colors every 4 rows. For a more playful scrappy look, change colors every 1 or 2 rows.
Optional Reverse Single Crochet Edging
Once your rectangle is complete, adding a simple border elevates the finished look and reinforces the edges. A reverse single crochet (also called crab stitch) border is a beautiful, practical choice for this rug.
After fastening off your last row, join your yarn (either in the same color or a contrasting one) to any corner of the rug. Working from left to right rather than the usual right to left, insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and pull through. You will have two loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through both loops. This is one reverse single crochet. Continue all the way around the perimeter of the rug, working 3 reverse single crochets into each corner to turn.
When you return to where you started, join with a slip stitch to the first stitch and fasten off.
Finishing Your Rug
Weaving in the ends of T-shirt yarn is a little different from weaving in ends with regular yarn. Because the yarn is wide and somewhat stiff, threading it through a tapestry needle can be cumbersome. One trick is to thread just the very tip of the yarn tail through the needle, then weave the needle through several stitches on the wrong side of the rug. For extra security, change directions and weave back through a few stitches before trimming the tail close.
Another option is to tie the yarn tails in secure double knots on the wrong side of the rug and trim close. This works especially well with T-shirt yarn because the slight stickiness of jersey fabric keeps knots from slipping.
Once all ends are woven in, give your rug a good blocking. Lay it on a flat surface, spray lightly with water, and smooth it out to your desired dimensions. Allow it to dry completely before placing it on the floor. T-shirt yarn rugs generally do not need aggressive blocking, but a light misting and reshaping will help even out any curling at the edges.
Care Instructions for Your T-Shirt Yarn Rug
One of the big advantages of T-shirt yarn is that it is machine washable. However, there are a few guidelines to keep your rug looking its best for a long time.
Wash your rug in cold water on a gentle cycle. Avoid washing it with anything that has zippers, buttons, or rough edges that could snag the fabric. Use a mild detergent. Skip the fabric softener, as it can break down the fibers over time and make the rug feel slippery.
For drying, the safest option is to lay it flat on a clean surface or a drying rack and allow it to air dry. If you choose to tumble dry, use a low heat setting and check on it frequently. High heat can cause jersey fabric to shrink and warp the shape of your rug.
Spot cleaning works well for minor spills. Simply blot the area with a damp cloth and a small amount of gentle soap, then rinse and allow to air dry.
Customizing This Pattern
One of the best things about this pattern is how easily it can be adapted. Here are a few ideas to make the project your own.
Round rug variation: Instead of starting with a foundation chain, begin with a magic ring and work single crochets in the round, increasing regularly to keep the fabric flat. A round rug makes a beautiful accent piece under a coffee table or in a reading nook. To avoid rippling or cupping, make sure your increase rate is steady — for single crochet worked in the round, the standard increase formula adds 6 stitches per round.
Textured stitch options: While single crochet gives you the densest, most durable fabric, you can experiment with half double crochet for a slightly taller stitch that still holds its structure well. Some makers love using the moss stitch (alternating single crochets with chains and skipped stitches) for a more open, textured look.
Placemat or bath mat mini version: Scale the pattern down to about 14 by 18 inches for a placemat, or use a thinner T-shirt yarn and a 6mm hook to get a finer fabric that works beautifully as a bath mat. The same basic principle — foundation chain, repeated rows of single crochet, edging — works at any scale.
Woven-in fringe: If you love a boho aesthetic, cut strips of T-shirt yarn about 10 inches long and fold each in half. Use your hook to pull the folded loop through the edge stitch of the rug, then pull both ends through the loop and tighten. Add fringe along both short ends of the rug for a playful, casual look.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Curling edges: If your rug is curling at the edges, your tension is likely too tight. Try going up a hook size and working your stitches more loosely. Adding an edging border also helps to anchor the edges and reduce curling.
Uneven tension: T-shirt yarn is stretchy, so it can be easy to pull stitches too tightly at the beginning of a row. Try to insert your hook fully and give yourself a little ease before pulling through. Practicing with a swatch before starting the rug is the best way to get a feel for the yarn.
Rug sliding on hardwood floors: Apply a thin layer of fabric puff paint in a zigzag or dot pattern to the wrong side of the rug and allow it to cure completely before placing the rug on the floor. This acts as a low-cost non-slip backing. You can also purchase pre-cut rug grip pads in most home goods stores and cut them to size.
Running out of yarn mid-row: If you are using commercial T-shirt yarn, try to join new yarn at the beginning of a row rather than in the middle. If you must join in the middle, pull the new yarn through on the last step of the last stitch in the same way you would change colors, then weave in both tails securely.
Why You Will Love This Project
Crocheting a T-shirt yarn rug is one of those satisfying projects that produces visible results quickly. Because you are working with a super-bulky material on a large hook, rows build up fast, and you can complete a standard bath mat-sized rug in a single afternoon. There is something meditative about the repetitive rows of single crochet, and when you lay the finished rug on the floor for the first time, the sense of accomplishment is genuinely wonderful.
This project is also a beautiful gateway into home décor crochet for anyone who has mostly made garments or accessories. Rugs are forgiving — slight variations in tension read as handmade character rather than mistakes — and they are endlessly useful. A handmade rug also makes a thoughtful and impressive gift that looks far more complex than it actually is.
The E’Claire Makery community would love to see what you make with this pattern. If you stitch up a T-shirt yarn rug, share a photo and tag us so we can celebrate your finished project. Happy crocheting!
Pattern and content created by E’Claire Makery. Please do not reproduce or sell this pattern as your own. You are welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern with credit given to E’Claire Makery.
