How to Make a Round Amish Knot Rug: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

There is something deeply satisfying about making something beautiful and functional with your own hands, and few projects capture that feeling quite like a handmade rug. The round Amish knot rug, sometimes called a toothbrush rug or a chair pad rug, is one of the most rewarding textile crafts you can take on at home. It requires no special equipment beyond a large blunt needle or a homemade toothbrush shuttle, uses strips of fabric you likely already have on hand, and produces a dense, durable rug that can last for generations. Whether you are a seasoned crafter or picking up a needle for the first time, this guide will walk you through every step of the process, from gathering your materials to finishing your last row.

What Is an Amish Knot Rug?

The Amish knot rug has roots in the frugal, resourceful traditions of Amish and early American homemaking. Generations of women made these rugs from worn-out clothing, feed sacks, and scrap fabric, turning what would otherwise be waste into something both practical and beautiful. The technique involves interlocking loops of fabric strips in a way that creates a surprisingly tight, knotted texture, giving the rug a braided appearance with a unique depth that sets it apart from other handmade rug styles.

Unlike braided rugs, which require sewing long fabric strips end to end and then coiling and stitching the braid, Amish knot rugs are worked in rounds using a simple interlocking loop method. The result is a flat, dense, reversible rug that holds its shape beautifully without any internal structure. The round version is perhaps the most popular form, though the same technique can be used to create oval or even rectangular rugs.

These rugs go by several names. You might hear them called toothbrush rugs because the original tool used was a toothbrush handle with a hole drilled through the end. You might also see them called chair pad rugs because smaller versions make excellent seat cushions. Whatever name you use, the technique is essentially the same, and once you learn it, you will find it almost impossible to stop making them.

Why Make a Round Amish Knot Rug?

Before diving into the how-to, it is worth pausing to appreciate why this particular craft is worth your time. There are several reasons that the round Amish knot rug deserves a place on your project list.

First, the cost is minimal. The best rugs are made from repurposed t-shirts, old denim, or any other stretchy or woven fabric you have sitting in a donation bin. Even if you purchase fabric specifically for the project, the amount you need is modest and inexpensive compared to a store-bought rug of similar quality.

Second, the skill level is accessible. The interlocking loop stitch has a learning curve of about ten minutes. Once your hands understand the motion, it becomes almost meditative. Many crafters describe working on Amish knot rugs as one of the most relaxing projects they have ever tried.

Third, the rug you produce is genuinely tough. Because the loops interlock and lock against each other, the structure is incredibly stable. A well-made Amish knot rug can survive years of daily foot traffic, dog naps, and repeated washing.

Finally, there is the matter of personalization. You choose the colors, the fabric types, and the size. You can make something perfectly coordinated with your home, or you can lean into the scrappy, improvisational spirit of the original tradition and let the colors fall where they may.

Gathering Your Materials

You do not need much to get started, and most of what you need you can improvise or make yourself.

Fabric: The most common choice is cotton jersey, the fabric used to make t-shirts. It has a natural stretch that helps the loops lock together firmly and gives the finished rug a pleasant softness underfoot. Old t-shirts, sweatshirts, and stretchy cotton sheets are all excellent candidates. You can also use woven fabrics like denim, flannel, or quilting cotton. These produce a stiffer, more structured rug with a different look and feel. Many people mix fabric types to use up their stash, and the results are usually charming.

For a finished rug that is approximately 24 inches in diameter, you will need roughly three to four pounds of fabric. For a larger rug around 36 inches, plan on five to seven pounds. These are rough estimates because the density of your weave and the width of your strips will affect how much material you use.

Fabric strips: You will need to cut your fabric into strips before you begin. For jersey knit fabrics, a width of about one to one and a half inches works well. The stretch of the knit means the edges will curl inward naturally, so you do not need to worry about raw edges showing. For woven fabrics, cut strips about one to one and a half inches wide as well. If you want the edges to be hidden, you can fold the strip lengthwise and press it before using it, though many makers simply leave raw edges for a more rustic look.

To cut strips efficiently from t-shirts, cut off the hem and any seams, then cut the body of the shirt into horizontal rings. When you stretch a ring of jersey, it curls into a continuous loop, which you will then cut at one point to create a long strip. From a large adult t-shirt, you can expect to get several strips each several feet long.

The needle or shuttle: You need a large blunt-tipped needle with an eye large enough to thread a folded strip of fabric through it. A large tapestry needle, a bodkin, or a rug needle all work. Many people prefer to make a toothbrush shuttle, which is simply an old toothbrush handle with the bristle end removed and a hole drilled or burned through the end. The flat shape of a toothbrush handle makes it easy to push through the loops. You can also buy a dedicated Amish knot rug needle online, which is essentially the same tool sold under a craft-specific name.

A working surface: Some people work with the rug in their lap, which works well once the rug has a bit of size to it. To get started, it helps to work on a flat surface or to anchor the beginning of the rug with a clamp or a weight.

Preparing Your Fabric Strips

If you are using t-shirts or other knit fabrics, cut them as described above into strips roughly one to one and a half inches wide. Do not worry about making every strip exactly the same length. Part of the appeal of this craft is that you simply join new strips as old ones run out, and the joins are hidden within the structure of the rug.

To join strips, use a simple square knot. Lay two strip ends perpendicular to each other, fold one over and through the other, then repeat in the opposite direction, and pull tight. Trim the tails close to the knot. With jersey fabric, the knot will be very small and will disappear into the rug.

You can prepare all your strips in advance and wind them into loose balls, or you can cut as you go. Many makers prefer to have a large bucket or bag full of strips ready before starting so they can work without interruption.

Starting Your Round Rug: The Center

The center of a round Amish knot rug is made by creating a small foundation ring. Here is how to do it.

Take one strip of fabric and fold it in half to find the center. Hold the center point between your fingers. You are going to create a small circle of loops that will form the very middle of your rug. There are a few different ways to start the center, and the method that works best often depends on the specific tutorial you follow or the needle tool you are using. Here is a reliable approach that many beginners find easy.

Take your strip and tie the two ends together, leaving a loop about three to four inches across. You now have a circular anchor. Thread your working needle with a new strip of fabric, pushing the folded end of the strip through the eye so you are working with a doubled length. Pull one end through the center of your anchor loop, then bring the needle back through the loop it just created before pulling completely through. This forms your first knot stitch. Continue making these loop-and-lock stitches around the anchor loop, working closely together, until the anchor is completely covered. You will typically fit about six to ten stitches around this first round, depending on how tightly you pack them.

The resulting small circle of stitches is your foundation. From here, everything else radiates outward.

Working the Rounds

Once your foundation center is established, you continue working in rounds outward. The basic stitch is always the same: push the needle through an existing loop, bring a new loop of your working strip through it, and lock the new loop in place by bringing the needle through its own loop before pulling tight. The challenge, and the art, of a round rug is increasing the stitch count appropriately so the rug lies flat.

As you move outward from the center, you will need to add extra stitches in each round to compensate for the growing circumference. If you add too few stitches, the rug will begin to curl upward at the edges and form a bowl shape. If you add too many, the edges will ruffle and wave. The goal is a rug that lies perfectly flat on the floor.

A general guideline is to add approximately six to eight stitches per round. However, this is not a rigid rule because the size of your strips, the tightness of your loops, and the stretchiness of your fabric all affect how many increases you need. The best approach is to lay the rug flat every few rounds and assess how it is lying. If the edge is starting to curl up, add an extra stitch or two in the next round. If the edge is ruffling, skip a stitch in the next round. With a little practice, you will develop an intuitive sense for when the tension is right.

To add a stitch in a round, simply work two interlocking stitches into the same loop from the previous round rather than moving on to the next one. These increases are essentially invisible in the finished rug.

Changing Colors and Joining New Strips

One of the joys of the Amish knot rug is that changing colors or joining new fabric is simple and unobtrusive. When one strip of fabric runs low, simply knot the end of the old strip to the beginning of a new one using a square knot, trim the tails short, and continue working. The knot will be buried inside the rug and nearly invisible.

To change colors deliberately, cut your working strip when it is about four inches long, knot on a new strip in your chosen new color, and continue. You can create broad color bands by working several rounds in the same color, or you can mix colors more randomly for a scrappy, traditional look.

Many makers plan their color arrangement in advance, working from a simple sketch or a color wheel. A classic approach is to work the center and first few rounds in a dark anchor color, then transition through medium tones to a light outer border. Another popular approach is alternating rounds of two or three colors to create a striped effect. But there is also tremendous charm in throwing caution to the wind and grabbing whichever strip is nearest to hand.

Tips for Keeping Your Rug Flat

Flatness is the central technical challenge of a round Amish knot rug, and it is worth revisiting this topic with a few additional tips.

Work at an even tension throughout the rug. Stitches that are pulled very tight will draw the rug in, while loose stitches will cause puffing. Try to find a consistent pull that keeps the fabric loops snug but not strangled.

Check your work frequently by setting the rug on a flat surface. It is much easier to correct a curling edge in the current round than to go back and undo several completed rounds.

Blocking can help if your finished rug has minor flatness issues. Wet the rug thoroughly, squeeze out excess water without wringing, then spread it on a flat surface and shape it by hand. Allow it to dry completely before moving it. Most fabrics will relax into the correct shape during this process.

If your rug has a persistent bowl or ruffle that blocking does not fully correct, do not be discouraged. First rugs almost never come out perfectly flat. The imperfection is part of what tells the story of a handmade object.

Finishing Your Rug

When your rug has reached the desired size, you need to finish the outer edge cleanly so it does not unravel. The simplest approach is to work one final round, then thread the last loop through the preceding loop in the same way you have been working, but instead of creating a new loop, tuck the tail of the strip through and pull it tight. Weave any remaining tails back through the nearest few stitches using your needle, then trim close.

Some makers prefer to finish the edge with a whip stitch using a needle and thread in a matching color, stitching around the perimeter to bind the last round securely. This adds a bit of extra durability and a polished look.

Caring for Your Finished Rug

One of the practical advantages of fabric rugs over wool or natural fiber rugs is that they can almost always be machine washed. Wash your Amish knot rug on a gentle cycle in cold water, then either tumble dry on low or lay flat to dry. Avoid high heat, which can cause shrinkage or distortion of the loops.

Over time, the loops may shift a little with heavy use. You can press them back into position with your hands after washing, while the fabric is still damp and pliable.

Variations and Next Steps

Once you have made your first round Amish knot rug, you will almost certainly want to make another. The technique adapts beautifully to different shapes and scales. An oval rug is made by creating a longer foundation row rather than a small center circle, then working rounds around that oval core and increasing at the curved ends just as you would for a round rug.

Smaller versions make wonderful chair pads, pot holders, or coasters. Larger versions can become substantial area rugs if you have enough fabric and enough patience. Some makers have created rugs several feet across using this technique, and the results are spectacular.

You might also experiment with different fabric weights and types to see how they affect the finished texture. A rug made entirely of denim will have a completely different character than one made from soft jersey knit. A mix of velvet, flannel, and cotton will create something with unexpected richness and depth.

The round Amish knot rug is, at its heart, a project about transformation. It takes scraps, remnants, and cast-offs and turns them into something lasting and lovely. It connects you to a long tradition of resourceful, creative homemaking. And when it is done, it will sit on your floor for years, quietly beautiful and entirely yours.