How to Make a Handmade Amish Knot Rag Rug: A Complete Step-by-Step Tutorial

There is something deeply satisfying about turning old fabric scraps into something beautiful and functional. Amish knot rag rugs — also called toothbrush rugs or Amish knot rugs — have been made by hand for generations, and the technique is surprisingly accessible to beginners while still offering plenty of complexity for experienced crafters. Whether you want a colorful accent rug for your entryway, a soft mat for your bathroom, or a meaningful handmade gift, this tutorial will walk you through every step of the process from gathering your materials to finishing your final knot.

If you have never tried this craft before, you are in for a genuine treat. The method requires no sewing machine, no loom, and no complex equipment — just fabric strips, a large-eyed needle or a homemade toothbrush needle, and a little patience. Let’s dive in.

What Is an Amish Knot Rag Rug?

The Amish knot rug gets its name from the traditional Amish communities that popularized this style of rug-making as a way to repurpose worn clothing, feed sacks, and household linens. Nothing was wasted. Scraps that could no longer serve their original purpose were cut into strips and knotted together into dense, durable floor coverings that could last for decades with proper care.

Unlike braided rugs, which are plaited and then sewn together, Amish knot rugs are created by looping and knotting fabric strips through each other in a pattern that forms a tight, textured surface. The result looks somewhat like a series of figure-eight knots laid flat, and when done correctly, the surface is so dense that the rug resists slipping and holds up beautifully to daily foot traffic.

The craft is also called the toothbrush rug because a traditional technique involves using an old toothbrush with the bristle end cut off and a hole drilled through the handle to use as a needle. Today, craft stores carry large plastic needles specifically designed for this project, and you can also use a bent metal needle with a wide eye. Any of these tools will work.

Choosing Your Fabric

The first decision you will make is what fabric to use, and this choice will define the look, feel, and durability of your finished rug.

Cotton and cotton blends are the most popular choice for beginners. They are easy to cut, knot well, and come in an enormous variety of colors and patterns. Old T-shirts, cotton button-downs, and cotton knit fabrics all work beautifully. Because cotton knit fabric does not fray when cut, it is especially forgiving and produces smooth, rounded strips.

Denim creates extremely sturdy rugs and has a wonderful worn look, particularly when you mix light and dark washes. Old jeans and denim jackets are perfect candidates. Keep in mind that denim is heavier, so the rug will be denser and the knotting will require a bit more effort.

Wool makes incredibly warm, luxurious rugs with a natural texture that looks gorgeous in rustic and farmhouse-style interiors. Thrift store wool coats and blankets are excellent sources. Wool does fray, so you may want to cut strips slightly wider to account for the edges softening over time — this actually adds to the rustic aesthetic.

Flannel and fleece are soft underfoot and great for bathroom mats. Both are forgiving to work with and come in cozy patterns.

One thing to avoid is fabric that is too loosely woven, too stretchy, or too thin. Sheer fabrics and very delicate materials will not hold the knots well and may tear under the stress of repeated use. If you are unsure, hold the strip firmly between both hands and give it a tug — it should have some resistance without snapping.

Mixing fabric types is absolutely fine and often adds beautiful variety in texture. Many experienced rug makers find that combining a few different materials gives the finished rug a rich, layered look that is impossible to achieve with a single fabric type.

How Much Fabric Do You Need?

This is the question every beginner asks, and the honest answer is that it depends on your fabric type, strip width, and rug size. As a general guideline, plan on using roughly one pound of fabric strips for every square foot of finished rug. A small oval rug measuring about 18 by 30 inches will typically require between three and five pounds of fabric strips.

If you are working from old clothing and linens, gather far more than you think you need. It is much better to have leftovers for a future project than to run short in the middle of a rug and struggle to match your colors.

Preparing Your Fabric Strips

Once you have gathered your fabrics, it is time to cut them into strips. This preparation step takes time, but it is meditative work and sets the foundation for everything that follows.

The standard width for Amish knot rug strips is between three-quarters of an inch and one and a half inches. For most projects, one inch is a comfortable starting width. Thinner strips produce a finer, more delicate texture. Wider strips create a chunkier, more rustic look and go faster to work with.

For woven fabrics like cotton shirting or flannel, cut your strips on the straight grain of the fabric (parallel to the selvage). This reduces fraying and helps the strips maintain their shape. Use sharp fabric scissors or a rotary cutter with a cutting mat for clean, consistent strips.

For T-shirt fabric and other knit materials, cut strips on the cross grain (perpendicular to the selvage) and they will naturally curl into rounded tubes as you work, which looks wonderful in a finished rug.

To connect your strips into long working lengths, you have a few options. The most common method is to tie a simple overhand knot at each end. You can also cut small slits at the ends of overlapping strips and loop them through each other to create a flat join, which some crafters prefer because the connection is less bulky. Experiment with both and see which you prefer. As you become more experienced, you will likely develop a strong preference.

Wind your connected strips into loose balls to keep them from tangling while you work.

Tools You Will Need

Beyond your fabric strips, gather the following before you begin:

A toothbrush needle or large blunt-tipped tapestry needle with a wide enough eye to thread your fabric strips through. If you want to make your own toothbrush needle, take an old toothbrush, cut off the bristle head, and use a drill or a heated awl to make a hole in the flat end of the handle. Sand any rough edges smooth. This homemade tool works beautifully and is a satisfying part of the craft tradition.

Sharp fabric scissors for cutting and trimming. A rotary cutter and mat are helpful if you are preparing large quantities of strips.

A tape measure or ruler.

A non-slip rug pad if you plan to use the finished rug on a smooth floor (optional but practical).

How to Start Your Rug: Creating the Foundation

The foundation of an Amish knot rug is a simple loop that you will build around. This is the part that trips up many beginners, so read through this section carefully before you begin.

Take one strip of fabric and fold it in half to find the center. Hold the center point and tie a simple loose knot, leaving a loop of about two to three inches at the top. This loop is your anchor point — the very beginning of your rug.

Thread your needle with one of the two working ends of the strip. The loop you just created will function as your first stitch hole. Push the needle through the loop from back to front, pull the threaded strip through, and then loop it back and push the needle through again, forming your first knot.

Each subsequent row of knots is worked by pushing the needle through the loop formed by the last knot on the previous round. You are essentially building a chain of interlocking loops, knotting one strip through another in a continuous spiral.

This sounds more complicated in words than it is in practice. If you watch your hands as you work the first few knots, the structure becomes intuitive very quickly. Most crafters find that after about ten minutes, the rhythm clicks and they can work almost without thinking.

Working in the Round: Building Your Rug

Amish knot rugs are typically worked in an oval or circular shape, built outward from that central knot in a continuous spiral. The shape you choose depends on how you handle the corners of your foundation.

For an oval rug, work several knots in a straight line for your starting foundation before turning to work back in the opposite direction, then continue spiraling outward from there. The length of that initial straight section will determine the length of your oval — a four-inch foundation makes a small oval, while a ten-inch foundation makes a longer, more rectangular shape.

For a circular rug, start with just the single center knot and work outward in a spiral from the very beginning, adding extra knots at regular intervals as needed to keep the rug lying flat.

The key to keeping your rug flat — one of the most common challenges beginners face — is managing your tension and adding increase knots as the rug grows. As each round gets longer, you need to add additional loops occasionally so that the outer edge has enough fabric to lie flat. If your rug starts to cup upward, you are not adding enough increases. If it ripples or ruffles, you are adding too many. Aim for a surface that lies completely flat with no curling or waves.

As a rough guide, add an increase (an extra knot in the same loop) approximately every five to seven knots on oval rugs, adjusting as needed. With circular rugs, you will add increases more frequently in the early rounds and less often as the rug grows larger.

Joining New Strips

You will inevitably run out of one strip and need to join in a new one. This is completely normal and happens constantly throughout the project.

When your working strip is about four inches from its end, tie it to the beginning of your next strip with a firm overhand knot. Trim the tails to about half an inch and tuck them toward the underside of the rug as you continue working. With practice, you can position these joins so they are nearly invisible on the surface of the rug.

Alternatively, use the slit-and-loop method described earlier for an even flatter join. Both techniques are effective, and most finished rugs mix both depending on where in the work a join falls.

Color Planning and Design

One of the most enjoyable aspects of making an Amish knot rug is deciding how to arrange your colors. There are no rules here — only possibilities.

The simplest approach is to work randomly with whatever scraps you have, creating an organic patchwork effect. This is the traditional spirit of rug-making, and the results are always charming and unique.

If you prefer a more intentional design, try working in concentric bands of color by switching strips at the start of each new round. This creates a bold striped effect that is visually striking and easy to plan. Another popular option is to gradually transition from one color family to another across the rug, moving from warm tones at the center to cool tones at the edges, for example.

You can also create simple geometric shapes or spirals by carefully planning when you switch colors. More experienced makers sometimes create checkerboard patterns, starbursts, or even representational designs, though these require more planning and precision.

Finishing Your Rug

When your rug has reached your desired size, you need to finish the edge cleanly so it does not unravel.

To finish, work your last round of knots and then cut your working strip leaving a tail of about six to eight inches. Thread this tail onto your needle and weave it securely through the last several knots on the underside of the rug, passing back and forth through multiple loops until it is firmly anchored. Trim any excess close to the surface.

Go around the outer edge of your finished rug and check for any loose tails from color joins. Weave these in securely on the underside as well.

Give the rug a gentle tug in all directions to settle the knots, and lay it flat on a clean surface to check that everything is lying evenly.

Caring for Your Finished Rug

Amish knot rugs are wonderfully durable, but they do need a little care to stay in good condition.

For routine cleaning, shake the rug outdoors or vacuum it on a low setting. Spot-clean stains with a damp cloth and mild soap as soon as they occur. For a more thorough cleaning, hand-wash the rug in cool water with gentle detergent, press out the excess water without wringing, and lay it flat to dry in a well-ventilated space. Avoid putting the rug in a machine dryer unless it is made entirely of cotton or denim and you are certain all the strips can handle the heat.

Store any extra rugs rolled rather than folded to prevent permanent creases.

Tips for Success

Keep your tension consistent throughout the project — too tight and the rug will cup; too loose and it will be floppy and wear unevenly.

Work in good light so you can see your knots clearly and catch any mistakes early.

Take breaks when your hands tire, especially when working with denim or other stiff fabrics.

Keep a small crochet hook nearby for pulling stubborn strips through tight knots.

Do not worry about perfection in your first rug. The slight irregularities in a handmade piece are part of its beauty and tell the story of the hands that made it.

Why Make an Amish Knot Rug?

In a world of fast-manufactured goods, there is something genuinely countercultural about sitting down with a pile of old fabric scraps and slowly knotting them into something beautiful and useful. Amish knot rug making is sustainable, economical, and profoundly satisfying. It keeps textiles out of landfills. It produces something durable that can outlast most store-bought rugs many times over. And it connects you to a long tradition of resourceful, skilled handwork that has been passed from generation to generation.

Once you finish your first rug, you will almost certainly find yourself looking at old clothing, worn-out sheets, and thrift store finds with completely new eyes. The material is everywhere. The technique is simple enough to teach a child and interesting enough to keep an experienced crafter engaged for years. And the finished rugs are genuinely beautiful in a way that no machine-made product can replicate.

Start small, stay patient, and enjoy the rhythm of the knots. Your hands will remember what to do long before your mind catches up — and before you know it, you will have something worth putting your feet on every single day.