Crocheting T-Shirt Rugs: A Step-By-Step Guide
There is something deeply satisfying about transforming a pile of old t-shirts into something you can actually walk on. Crocheting t-shirt rugs has become one of the most beloved upcycling crafts for good reason — the technique is approachable for beginners, the materials cost almost nothing, and the results are thick, durable, and genuinely beautiful. Whether you have a drawer full of faded concert shirts, kids’ clothing that no longer fits, or a collection of thrift store finds, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to make a stunning t-shirt rug from scratch.
What Is a T-Shirt Rug?
A t-shirt rug is exactly what it sounds like: a rug made by crocheting strips of fabric cut from old t-shirts. Because knit jersey fabric (the material most t-shirts are made from) naturally rolls inward when cut into strips, you end up with a yarn-like cord without having to do anything extra. This self-curling property is what makes t-shirt fabric so ideal for rug making. The finished product is soft underfoot, machine washable, and surprisingly sturdy given how casually the whole project begins.
T-shirt rugs can be crocheted in circles, ovals, squares, or free-form shapes. They work beautifully in bathrooms, kitchens, entryways, children’s bedrooms, and under pet beds. The thicker the strips you cut, the chunkier and more cushioned your finished rug will be. The thinner the strips, the finer and flatter the weave. You have a lot of creative control, and once you understand the basics, you can adapt the pattern endlessly.
Why Crochet Instead of Knit or Braid?
Many people make braided t-shirt rugs by simply plaiting strips together and sewing the braid into a coil. That method is fast and requires no tools, but crocheted rugs have a more consistent structure, tend to lie flatter, and give you more flexibility in shaping. Knitting with t-shirt yarn is also possible, but crochet works better for chunky projects because each stitch is more compact and the finished fabric holds its shape more reliably when laid on the floor.
Crocheting also lets you join colors and switch between t-shirts mid-project with minimal effort, which is handy when you are working with fabric scraps that run out quickly. The single crochet stitch — the foundation of most t-shirt rugs — is one of the simplest stitches in all of crochet, which means this is a project you can reasonably start with no prior crocheting experience.
Gathering Your Materials
Before you cut a single strip of fabric, you want to have everything assembled and ready. Here is what you will need.
T-shirts: Plan to use between 10 and 20 adult-sized t-shirts for a small to medium bath rug (roughly 18 by 28 inches). For a larger area rug, you might need 30 or more. Thicker, heavier jersey fabric yields thicker yarn. Athletic or cotton-blend t-shirts work better than very thin, tissue-weight shirts, which can tear during crocheting. Avoid woven fabrics like button-down shirts, which do not stretch and will not curl properly.
Scissors: A sharp pair of fabric scissors makes a significant difference. Dull scissors will fray your cuts and make the process frustrating. If you have rotary cutting tools and a mat, those work well too.
A large crochet hook: You will want a hook in the range of 12mm to 20mm, or even larger if your strips are very thick. Many crafters use a 15mm or 16mm hook for standard-weight t-shirt strips. If you plan to make t-shirt yarn regularly, it is worth investing in an ergonomic handle, since the repetitive motion of pulling thick fabric can tire out your hands.
Measuring tape or ruler: Helpful for keeping your strips consistent in width.
Fabric glue or a tapestry needle and thread: For joining strips and weaving in ends at the beginning and end of your rug.
Optional — a cutting guide or cardboard template: Some crafters cut a piece of cardboard to their desired strip width and use it as a ruler while cutting, which speeds up the process considerably.
Preparing Your T-Shirt Yarn
This step is often called “making t-shirt yarn” or “t-yarn,” and while it sounds technical, it is essentially just cutting your shirts in a specific way so the strips link together into one long continuous strand.
Start by laying your t-shirt flat on a table. Cut off the hem at the bottom and the sleeves and neckline at the top, so you are left with the main tube of the shirt. Save your scraps — even the sleeves can be cut into short strips and used for joining later.
Now cut the tube horizontally into strips, working from the bottom toward the top. The width of your strips determines the thickness of your yarn. For a plush, chunky rug, cut strips about 1 to 1.5 inches wide. For a flatter, finer rug, go with strips around 3/4 inch wide. Keep your cuts as parallel and even as possible, though a bit of variation is completely fine in a finished rug.
Each strip, when you pull it gently between your fingers, will roll on itself and become a rounded cord. That is your t-shirt yarn. If you want one long continuous strand rather than a pile of loops, use the following technique: lay your tube flat, and instead of cutting all the way through each strip, stop your cut about an inch from the left edge, leaving a small uncut margin. When you have cut all your strips this way, open the tube into a spiral, then angle your final cuts to connect each strip to the next in a spiral pattern. This gives you one very long continuous strand — ideal for crocheting without constantly joining new pieces.
If the spiral method feels confusing at first, do not worry. You can simply cut loops and join them as you go using a simple fabric knot or by looping one strip through the end of another (a technique called the lark’s head join). The joins become nearly invisible once crocheted into your rug.
Wind your finished yarn into a loose ball or skein as you go to keep it from tangling. Label your balls by color if you are planning a multi-colored rug.
Choosing Your Rug Shape and Pattern
The round rug is the most popular shape for beginners because it is worked in a continuous spiral from the center outward. Oval rugs are great for entryways and bathrooms. Square or rectangular rugs require you to work back and forth in rows with turns at each end.
For this guide, we will focus on the round rug worked in single crochet, which is the most forgiving and the most commonly recommended shape for first-time t-shirt rug makers.
Before you begin crocheting, decide whether you want a solid color rug, a striped design, or something more freeform with patches of different colors. Solid rugs are easiest — just use all the same color or keep mixing colors without worrying about placement. Striped rugs require switching colors at regular intervals. If you want a more deliberate pattern, sketch it out before you start so you have a visual reference.
The Basic Crochet Stitches You Will Need
If you are new to crochet, spend a few minutes getting comfortable with these two foundational movements before you begin your rug.
The chain stitch forms the basis of most crochet projects. To chain, you make a slip knot on your hook, then pull your working yarn through the loop on your hook. Each pull through creates one chain. A chain of stitches looks like a little braid.
The single crochet stitch is the primary stitch you will use throughout this project. Insert your hook into a stitch, pull up a loop so you have two loops on the hook, then pull your working yarn through both loops at once. That is one single crochet. It is a tight, dense stitch that creates a firm fabric — exactly what you want in a rug.
Step-by-Step: Crocheting Your Round T-Shirt Rug
Step 1: Make a magic ring. The magic ring (also called a magic circle or adjustable ring) is the best way to start a round project because it closes tightly at the center, eliminating any hole. To make one, wrap the tail end of your t-shirt yarn around two fingers to form a loop. Insert your hook through the loop, pull up the working yarn, and chain two. This chain-2 counts as your first stitch.
If the magic ring feels too fiddly with thick fabric, you can chain 4 stitches and join them into a ring with a slip stitch instead. The result is similar.
Step 2: Work the first round. Into the ring, work 6 single crochets. After your 6th stitch, join with a slip stitch to the top of your first stitch (or the chain-2 if you started that way). Pull the tail of your yarn to close the ring tightly. You should have a small, flat hexagonal disk.
Step 3: Begin increasing. To keep your rug flat as it grows, you need to increase — meaning you work 2 stitches into the same space regularly. The general rule for a flat circle in single crochet is to add 6 stitches every round. So your second round has 12 stitches, your third has 18, your fourth has 24, and so on.
To work round 2, make 2 single crochets in each stitch from the previous round (12 stitches total). For round 3, alternate between 1 single crochet in the next stitch and 2 single crochets in the stitch after that, repeating all the way around (18 stitches total). Continue this pattern, adding 6 stitches each round, with the increases spread more evenly apart as the circle grows.
Step 4: Keep working outward. Continue crocheting in rounds, increasing as needed. If your rug starts to ruffle or wave, you are increasing too much. If it starts to cup upward like a bowl, you are not increasing enough. Lay your rug flat every few rounds and adjust accordingly — t-shirt yarn is forgiving and you can gently tug or ease the shape as you go.
Step 5: Switching colors. When you want to introduce a new color (a new t-shirt), join your new strip at the end of a round or at any point mid-round. To join, simply loop the end of your new strip through the end of your old strip using a lark’s head knot, or tie them together with a square knot close to the work. Trim the tails to about an inch and tuck them behind your stitches as you crochet over them. With thick fabric, joins are rarely visible in the finished rug.
Step 6: Finishing your rug. When your rug reaches the size you want, cut your yarn, leaving a tail of about 6 inches. Pull the tail through the last loop on your hook and tug to tighten. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle (or simply fold it and use fabric glue) and weave it into the underside of the rug. Do the same with any other loose ends. Give your rug a gentle tug and smooth it flat.
How to Make an Oval Rug
An oval rug starts differently than a round one. Instead of a magic ring, you begin with a foundation chain. The length of your chain determines the length of your finished rug. For example, a chain of 10 stitches will give you an oval that is roughly 10 to 12 inches longer than it is wide.
Work single crochets along one side of your chain, then continue around the end and back up the other side, increasing at each curved end (similar to how you increased in the round rug). Continue working in rounds, increasing at the curved ends each time to keep the oval flat. The flat sides of the oval require no increases — you simply crochet one stitch per stitch along those straight portions.
Making a Rectangular Rug
For a rectangular rug, you work in rows rather than rounds. Make a foundation chain as long as you want your rug to be wide. Turn your work at the end of each row and single crochet back in the other direction. Continue until your rug is as long as you want it.
Rectangular rugs do not require any increasing. The challenge with this shape is keeping your tension even so the rug lies flat rather than curling at the edges. Working a border of single crochets around the perimeter of the finished rectangle helps considerably.
Tips for Success
Work with consistent tension. Because t-shirt yarn is stretchy, it is easy to crochet too tightly, which makes the rug stiff and causes it to cup. Aim for a relaxed grip and let the fabric move naturally through your hook.
Use a hook size that gives your rug a soft, slightly open texture rather than a dense, stiff one. If your stitches feel very hard to pull through, go up a hook size.
Sort your t-shirts by color family before you begin cutting. Having pre-sorted balls of yarn means you can grab a new color intentionally rather than at random.
Save all your scraps, even tiny ones. Short pieces can be knotted together and used for accents or borders. Nothing needs to go to waste.
Wash your finished rug in a mesh laundry bag on a gentle cycle with cold water. Most t-shirt rugs hold up well through many washes, especially if your stitches are tight enough. Line dry or tumble dry on low.
Non-slip rug backing can be applied to the underside using iron-on grip fabric or a few lines of puffy fabric paint, both of which prevent the rug from sliding on hard floors.
Creative Variations to Try
Once you have made one basic round rug, the possibilities open up quickly. Try making a set of three matching rugs in graduated sizes for a bathroom. Experiment with plaid or chevron patterns in a rectangular rug using alternating colors in each row. Use only white and gray t-shirts for a minimalist Scandinavian look, or go the opposite direction and pull out every wild color you own for a bohemian, maximalist piece.
Rope rugs (where you braid t-shirt strips before crocheting with them) add extra texture and thickness. You can also mix t-shirt yarn with commercial rope, cotton twine, or even strips of denim for interesting textural contrasts.
For children’s rooms, spell out initials or create simple shapes like stars or hearts using color changes in a square rug. Because t-shirt yarn is washable and soft, these rugs are perfect for play areas and nurseries.
A Sustainable Craft Worth Starting Today
Crocheting t-shirt rugs is more than a fun weekend project — it is a genuinely sustainable practice that gives new life to textiles that might otherwise end up in a landfill. The average American throws away around 70 pounds of clothing and other textiles each year, and fast fashion has made that number worse. Every rug you make from old t-shirts is a small but meaningful step in the opposite direction.
Beyond the environmental angle, there is the simple pleasure of making something real with your hands. A t-shirt rug carries the history of its materials — the shirts you wore to concerts, the ones your kids grew out of, the ones you bought on vacation years ago. Displayed on a bathroom floor or in an entryway, the finished rug is both useful and personal in a way that nothing store-bought ever quite manages to be.
So gather your old shirts, grab a big hook, and give it a try. Your first rug might be a little uneven. It might ruffle at the edges or have joins that show more than you’d like. That is completely fine. By your second or third rug, you will have found your rhythm, and you will wonder what took you so long to start.
