DIY Upcycled Crochet Rag Rug from Old T-Shirts: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
There is something deeply satisfying about turning something old and forgotten into something beautiful and functional. If you have a pile of worn-out, stained, or outgrown t-shirts sitting in a corner of your closet, you are sitting on a goldmine of crafting material. A crochet rag rug made from old t-shirts is one of the most rewarding upcycling projects you can take on, whether you are an experienced crocheter or someone who has never picked up a hook in your life. The result is a thick, cozy, colorful rug that you made with your own hands — and the planet is a little better off for it too.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know: gathering your materials, preparing your t-shirt yarn, choosing your colors, learning the basic stitches, and crocheting a rug that will last for years. By the time you finish reading, you will feel ready to start, and once you start, you will probably wonder why you ever threw old t-shirts away.
Why Make a T-Shirt Rag Rug?
Before we dive into the how, let’s talk about the why. The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries on the planet, and textile waste is a massive part of that problem. In the United States alone, roughly 11 million tons of textile waste end up in landfills every year. When you upcycle old t-shirts into a rug, you are giving worn fabric a second life and keeping it out of that waste stream.
Beyond the environmental benefits, t-shirt yarn — sometimes called “tarn” by crafters — is genuinely wonderful to work with. It is soft, stretchy, and forgiving, which makes it ideal for beginners. It works up quickly because of its thickness, so you can complete a small rug in a weekend or a larger one over the course of a few evenings. And because you are essentially creating your own yarn from scratch, every rug you make is completely unique. Nobody else in the world will have the exact same combination of colors, textures, and patterns.
There is also the cost factor. Buying yarn for a large rug can be expensive. Making your own from t-shirts that were headed for the trash is essentially free. If you do not have enough old shirts yourself, ask friends and family to donate theirs, or stop by your local thrift store and pick up a bag of jersey knit shirts for just a few dollars.
What You Will Need
Getting started requires very few supplies, and most of what you need you may already own.
T-shirts: You will need a good collection of them. For a standard bath mat sized rug (roughly 24 by 36 inches), plan on using between 8 and 12 adult-sized t-shirts, depending on the size of the shirts and how tightly you crochet. For a larger area rug, gather 20 or more. Stick to 100% cotton or cotton-blend jersey knit fabric if possible — these stretch beautifully when cut into strips. Avoid shirts with stiff graphics, thick seam tape, or polyester-heavy blends, as these do not cut and stretch as nicely.
A large crochet hook: You will want a size N (9mm) or P (10mm) hook at minimum. Many crafters who work with t-shirt yarn prefer an even larger hook — size Q (16mm) or S (19mm) — for a looser, more plush result. If you are a beginner and find large hooks awkward, start with a size N or P and see how you get along. You can find large crochet hooks at any craft store or online.
Scissors: Sharp fabric scissors make a huge difference when you are cutting strips. Dull scissors will fray your fabric and frustrate you. If you have a rotary cutter and a self-healing mat, even better — they will speed up your preparation time significantly.
A ruler or cutting guide: Optional but helpful for keeping your strips a consistent width.
A tapestry needle or large blunt needle: For weaving in ends when you finish.
A flat surface: You will want somewhere to lay out your work as you go to check that the rug is staying flat and even.
How to Make T-Shirt Yarn
Preparing your yarn is the most time-consuming part of this project, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes almost meditative. Put on a podcast or your favorite playlist and enjoy the process.
Step 1: Wash and dry your shirts. Even if they are old and seemingly clean, give them a wash before you begin. This removes any residual smells and also pre-shrinks the fabric so your finished rug will not shrink later.
Step 2: Cut off the hem and the armpits. Lay the shirt flat on your work surface. Cut along the bottom hem of the shirt to remove that thick band of fabric. Then cut off the sleeves by cutting along the armpit seam. You are left with the main body of the shirt — essentially a tube of fabric.
Step 3: Cut your strips. Fold the fabric tube so both layers are even and smooth. Starting from the bottom of the folded tube, cut horizontal strips about 1 to 1.5 inches wide. Some crafters prefer wider strips (up to 2 inches) for a chunkier rug, and others prefer narrower ones (3/4 inch) for a finer texture. Experiment to see what you like. When you cut through both layers of the folded tube, you will have continuous loops of fabric rather than individual strips — this is what you want.
Step 4: Turn loops into one long strand. To connect your loops into a continuous length of yarn, take two loops and lay one over the other. Pull one end of the bottom loop up through the top loop, then stretch it gently to create a knot. Continue connecting loops until you have a long, continuous strand. Wind this into a ball as you go to keep things tidy.
Step 5: Stretch your strips. As you work, gently stretch each strip along its length. Jersey fabric curls in on itself when stretched, which gives your tarn a rounder, more yarn-like appearance and makes it easier to work with.
You now have your very own handmade yarn, ready to crochet.
Choosing Your Colors and Layout
One of the most fun parts of this project is planning your color scheme. You can approach this in several ways.
A rainbow rug is cheerful and uses up a variety of shirts without requiring any particular plan — just switch colors whenever you feel like it or when one ball of yarn runs out. A neutral rug made from whites, grays, and blacks has a more modern, minimalist look and tends to work in any room. A two-color striped rug is graphic and simple to execute. You can also aim for an ombre effect by gradating from light to dark shades of a single color.
If you want a more planned approach, lay out all of your shirts on the floor before you cut anything. Arrange them in the order you want to use them and take a photo as a reference. This gives you a visual preview of your finished color sequence.
Do not worry too much about perfection here. The organic, slightly imperfect nature of a handmade rag rug is part of its charm.
The Basic Stitches You Need to Know
If you are new to crochet, a rug project is actually a wonderful place to start because the large hook and thick yarn make it easy to see what you are doing. You only need to know a handful of stitches to complete this project.
Slip Knot: This is how you begin. Make a loop with your yarn, pull a bight of yarn through the loop, tighten it onto your hook. That is your starting point.
Chain Stitch: With a slip knot on your hook, yarn over (bring the yarn from behind the hook, over the top, and between the hook and your hand), then pull through the loop on your hook. You have made one chain. Repeat to make as many chains as needed.
Single Crochet (SC): Insert your hook into the designated stitch, yarn over and pull through (you now have two loops on your hook), yarn over again and pull through both loops. One single crochet made.
Slip Stitch (SL ST): Insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook in one motion. This is used to join rounds.
For a rag rug, you will primarily use single crochet, which creates a dense, sturdy fabric — exactly what you want underfoot.
How to Crochet a Round Rag Rug
A round rug is the most traditional shape for a crochet rag rug and is actually easier to execute than a rectangular one for beginners, because you do not have to worry about turning your work.
Starting the center: Make a magic ring (also called a magic circle). To do this, wrap the yarn around two of your fingers twice, insert your hook through both loops, grab the working yarn, and pull through. Chain one to secure. Work six single crochets into the ring, then pull the tail end tight to close the center. Join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet.
Round 2: Chain one. Work two single crochets into each stitch around. You will have 12 stitches. Join with a slip stitch.
Round 3: Chain one. Work two single crochets into the first stitch, then one single crochet into the next stitch. Repeat this pattern (increase, no increase) all the way around. You will have 18 stitches. Join with a slip stitch.
Round 4: Chain one. Work two single crochets into the first stitch, then one into each of the next two stitches. Repeat (increase, then two regular stitches) around. You will have 24 stitches. Join.
The pattern continues: Each round, you increase by adding one more regular stitch before each increase. In round 5, work the increase, then one regular stitch in each of the next three stitches. In round 6, the increase, then four regular stitches. And so on.
This pattern of regular increases keeps your rug flat. If you notice the edges starting to ruffle or wave, you have too many increases. If the rug starts cupping upward at the edges like a bowl, you do not have enough. Lay your work flat frequently to check and adjust.
Continue working in this spiral pattern, changing colors whenever you like, until your rug is the size you want.
How to Crochet a Rectangular Rag Rug
If you prefer a rectangular rug — perhaps for a hallway, a kitchen, or in front of a bed — the method is slightly different.
Foundation chain: Chain the number of stitches you want for the length of your rug. For a rug that is about 20 inches wide, start with a chain of 25 to 30 stitches (depending on your gauge and hook size). For a longer starting chain, your rug will be wider.
Row 1: Work one single crochet into the second chain from the hook, then one single crochet into each chain across. Chain one, turn your work.
Row 2: Single crochet in each stitch across. Chain one, turn.
Repeat row 2 until your rug is as long as you want. Changing colors between rows is the easiest approach for a striped rug. To do this, work to the last stitch of a row, complete the single crochet until you have two loops on your hook, then pull the new color through both loops to finish the stitch. Cut the old color, leaving a 4-inch tail to weave in later.
For a border, once your rug is the size you want, crochet a single round of single crochet all the way around the outside edge. This tidies things up and gives the rug a clean, finished look.
Finishing Your Rug
When your rug is the size you want, cut your yarn leaving a tail of about 6 inches. Pull the tail through the last loop on your hook to fasten off. Thread the tail onto your tapestry needle and weave it through several nearby stitches on the back of the rug to secure it. Trim the excess. Repeat this process for any other loose ends throughout your rug.
Give your finished rug a gentle hand wash in cool water with a small amount of gentle detergent. Squeeze out the water without wringing (which can distort the shape), then lay it flat on a clean towel and roll the towel up to absorb excess moisture. Unroll, reshape the rug with your hands, and let it air dry flat.
Tips for a Better Rug
Keep your tension consistent. If you crochet very tightly, your rug will be stiff and the edges may curl. Loosening your grip on the yarn can help, or try moving up a hook size.
Work on a non-slip surface. Placing a non-slip rug pad underneath your finished rug is a great idea for safety, especially on hard floors.
Do not throw away the selvages. The sleeve and hem pieces you cut away at the beginning can be cut into shorter strips and used as filler in the center of a round rug, or saved for a smaller project like a coaster or a potholder.
Mix textures intentionally. Combining shirts with slight variations in fabric weight adds subtle texture to the rug and keeps it from looking too flat.
Make extra yarn before you start. Running out of a particular color mid-project is frustrating if that shirt is long gone. Cut all your strips from a single shirt before you start using it.
Care and Maintenance
One of the best things about a t-shirt rag rug is how easy it is to care for. Because the material is cotton, the rug is machine washable. Use a gentle or delicate cycle with cold water. If your rug is large and takes up too much of the machine, take it to a laundromat and use a large front-loader. Tumble dry on low, or air dry flat to preserve the shape.
Over time, the rug will soften and become even more comfortable underfoot. With proper care, a well-made t-shirt rag rug can last for decades.
Ideas for Using Your Finished Rug
A round rug works beautifully as a bath mat, in front of a kitchen sink, or as an accent rug in a bedroom or nursery. A rectangular rug is ideal for a hallway, an entryway, or layered over carpet in a living room. Smaller versions make charming pet beds — just crochet a circle large enough for your dog or cat to curl up on.
You can also make a set of matching coasters or trivets using the same technique on a tiny scale, or crochet a small version as a wall hanging by adding a crocheted loop at the top and slipping a dowel through it.
Final Thoughts
A crochet rag rug made from old t-shirts is more than just a craft project. It is a small act of sustainability, a practical skill you can return to again and again, and a genuinely lovely thing to have in your home. Every time you look at it, you will know you made it yourself — out of something that might have otherwise ended up in a landfill.
The beauty of this project is that it scales with your experience. A beginner can make a simple, single-color round rug in a weekend and feel the enormous pride of completing something useful. A more experienced crafter can explore colorwork, textured stitches, tapestry crochet patterns, or even combine t-shirt yarn with other materials for interesting hybrid effects.
So gather your old shirts, grab a hook, and get started. Your floors — and the planet — will thank you.
