Knotted Knit Bathroom Rug — Crafty Staci

There’s something deeply satisfying about stepping out of a warm shower and landing on something soft, handmade, and completely your own. If you’ve been looking for a bathroom rug project that feels achievable but looks absolutely stunning, the knotted knit bathroom rug is exactly what you’ve been waiting for. This is one of those projects that sits perfectly at the intersection of functional and beautiful — the kind of thing your guests will notice, compliment, and immediately ask you where you bought it. You’ll smile and say you made it yourself.

Welcome to Crafty Staci, where we believe that the best things in your home are the ones you craft with your own hands. Today, we’re diving deep into everything you need to know about making a knotted knit bathroom rug — from the materials and tools you’ll need, to the step-by-step process, tips for customization, care instructions, and so much more. Whether you’re a seasoned knitter looking for a fresh project or a beginner who wants something manageable and rewarding, this tutorial is written with you in mind.

Let’s get started.

Why a Knotted Knit Bathroom Rug?

Before we jump into the how-to, let’s talk about the why. There are a lot of bathroom rug patterns out there — crochet rugs, woven rugs, braided rugs, and more. So what makes the knotted knit version special?

For starters, the texture is unlike anything you can buy at a big box store. The knotted technique creates a dense, cushioned surface that feels luxurious underfoot and holds up to daily use remarkably well. The knots give the rug a kind of loopy, plush pile that’s both visually interesting and tactilely satisfying. Every time you step on it, you get that soft, springy give that regular flat rugs simply can’t offer.

Beyond texture, making your own bathroom rug gives you complete creative control. You choose the colors, the size, the yarn fiber, and the overall feel. Want something that matches your neutral, spa-like bathroom aesthetic? Go with cream and soft gray tones. Want something that pops against white tile? A bold terracotta or navy will do the trick beautifully. The point is, you’re not limited to whatever happens to be in stock at the store. You’re the designer.

There’s also a sustainability angle that’s worth mentioning. If you use cotton yarn or upcycled fabric strips, you’re creating something durable and earth-friendly. A well-made handcrafted rug can last for years with proper care, which means less waste and more value over time.

And honestly? There’s just something wonderful about the process itself. Knitting is meditative, satisfying, and a genuinely restorative hobby. Making a knotted rug gives you long stretches of rhythmic, peaceful crafting time. It’s good for the soul.

Materials You’ll Need

Let’s talk supplies. Here’s what you’ll want to gather before you sit down to cast on.

Yarn: For a bathroom rug, you want something that’s absorbent, durable, and easy to wash. 100% cotton yarn is the gold standard here. It’s absorbent, it handles moisture without developing mildew the way synthetic fibers can, and it washes and dries beautifully. Look for a bulky or super bulky weight cotton for the best results — thicker yarn means faster knitting and a denser, more satisfying pile.

Some crafters love using fabric strips cut from old T-shirts or bedsheets as their “yarn.” This is a fantastic zero-waste option and produces a sturdy, colorful rug with a slightly different texture. If you want to go that route, cut your fabric into strips about one inch wide and roll them into balls before you start.

Needles: You’ll want large knitting needles to match your yarn weight. For bulky cotton, US size 13 (9mm) or US size 15 (10mm) needles work well. If you’re using super chunky yarn or fabric strips, go even larger — US size 17 (12.75mm) or US size 19 (15mm) will make the process faster and give you a beautifully open base fabric for knotting.

Scissors: A sharp pair for trimming knots to a uniform length.

Tapestry needle or crochet hook: Useful for weaving in ends and adjusting knots.

Ruler or measuring tape: For checking your gauge and keeping your knot lengths consistent.

Non-slip rug pad or grip spray (optional but recommended): Bathroom rugs live on slick tile floors, so adding a non-slip layer to the underside is a smart safety move.

Understanding the Knotted Technique

Before you start knitting, it helps to understand how the knotting works, because this project involves two distinct stages: knitting the base fabric and then adding the knots.

The base of your rug is a simple, open knit fabric — usually garter stitch or a simple stockinette worked loosely enough that you can push additional yarn lengths through the stitches. Think of the knitted base the way you’d think of a latch hook canvas — it’s the foundation into which you’ll anchor all the texture.

Once your base is knitted, you’ll cut lengths of yarn (or fabric strips) and use a simple lark’s head knot (sometimes called a reversed lark’s head knot, depending on the pile direction you want) to attach them through the knitted fabric at regular intervals. You push the folded center of a yarn length through a stitch, then pull the loose ends through the loop. That’s it. Then you trim all your knots to a uniform length and you have a beautiful, plush pile rug.

It sounds almost too simple, but the results are genuinely stunning. The density of the pile depends on how many knots you add and how closely you space them. For a thick, lush rug, you’ll want to add a knot to nearly every available stitch in your base fabric. For a lighter, more casual texture, you can space them every other stitch or every two stitches.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Knit Your Base

Using your large needles and base yarn (this can be a thinner, less expensive yarn since it won’t be visible in the finished rug), cast on the number of stitches you need for your desired width. A standard bathroom rug is roughly 17 by 24 inches, but you can size up or down to suit your space.

As a general guideline, cast on about 20 to 24 stitches for a 17-inch-wide rug when using bulky yarn on US 15 needles, but always do a small gauge swatch first to confirm your own numbers.

Work in garter stitch (knit every row) until your piece reaches the desired length. Garter stitch lays flat, doesn’t curl, and creates a stable, even grid of stitches that makes knotting very manageable. Bind off loosely when you reach the desired length.

Weave in your ends with a tapestry needle.

Step 2: Cut Your Pile Yarn

Now it’s time to cut the yarn lengths you’ll be using for the pile — the knotted part that creates the plush surface.

Decide how long you want your pile to be. A finished pile length of about 1.5 to 2 inches is a nice balance between plush and practical. Since each piece of yarn will be folded in half before knotting, cut your lengths at roughly 4 to 5 inches. This gives you a 2-inch pile after folding and knotting, with a little extra to trim neatly.

Cut all your lengths at once by wrapping yarn around a small piece of cardboard that’s 4 to 5 inches wide, then slicing across one end. This speeds the process up considerably.

Step 3: Add Your Knots

Lay your knitted base flat on a table. Working row by row, fold a cut yarn length in half and use a crochet hook (or your fingers) to push the folded loop through a stitch in the base fabric from front to back. Pull the two loose ends through the loop and tighten gently. That’s your first knot.

Continue across each row, adding a knot to each stitch or every other stitch depending on how dense you want the pile. Work your way from one end of the base to the other until the entire surface is covered.

Take your time with this step — it’s repetitive and meditative, and it’s where the real magic happens. You’ll watch the flat knitted fabric transform into something that looks and feels like a completely different object.

Step 4: Trim the Pile

Once all your knots are in place, use sharp scissors to trim the pile to a consistent length. Hold the scissors parallel to the rug surface and work in small sections, checking frequently to make sure everything is even.

If you want a perfectly uniform pile, use a ruler to measure as you go. If you prefer a more relaxed, organic look, eyeballing it works just fine.

Step 5: Add a Non-Slip Backing (Optional)

Flip your finished rug over and apply non-slip grip spray to the back, or cut a non-slip rug pad to size and attach it with a few hand stitches around the perimeter. This step is especially important for bathroom rugs, which sit on slippery tile and see a lot of wet foot traffic.

Color Ideas and Design Inspiration

One of the most fun parts of this project is choosing your color palette. Here are a few combinations that work beautifully for bathroom rugs.

Neutral and Natural: Cream, ivory, oatmeal, and soft taupe create a serene, spa-like atmosphere. Pair these tones with light wood accents and white fixtures for a look that feels effortlessly calm and elevated.

Bold Contrast: A deep navy pile on a white base, or a rich forest green on cream, makes a strong visual statement that anchors the room. Bold rugs work especially well in bathrooms with otherwise simple, minimal decor.

Playful Stripes: Use your knotted rug to work in multiple colors. Add stripes by alternating pile colors every two or three rows. The stripes don’t have to be perfectly even — a loosely alternating pattern has a relaxed, handmade quality that feels charming rather than sloppy.

Monochromatic Tones: Working in two or three different shades of the same color creates a sophisticated, layered look. Try light pink, dusty rose, and deep mauve together, or pale sage, eucalyptus, and deep olive for a botanical feel.

Rainbow and Gradient: If you’re working with leftover yarn from other projects, a scrappy rainbow rug is a fantastic stash-buster. Cut pile pieces from every color you have and mix them randomly for an eclectic, maximalist result, or arrange them in a gradient from one end of the rug to the other for something more intentional.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

A few pieces of advice that will make your finished rug look its best and last as long as possible.

Wash your yarn before knotting if possible. Cotton yarn can shrink slightly in the wash, and pre-washing ensures your rug won’t change shape dramatically the first time you clean it.

Keep your knots consistent in tension. Too tight and the base fabric will pucker; too loose and the knots will shift around. A gentle but firm pull is what you’re going for — snug enough to stay in place, but not so tight that it distorts the fabric.

Work in good lighting. Knotting is easier to see and do accurately when your work is well-lit. Good lighting also helps you catch any uneven areas in your pile before you’ve gone too far to fix them easily.

Don’t rush the trimming step. Trimming the pile evenly is what takes a rug from looking handmade in a rough way to looking handmade in a beautiful, artisanal way. Take your time, work in sections, and step back frequently to look at the overall surface.

Consider the scale of your space. A large rug needs more yarn and more knotting time, but it can make a genuinely dramatic impact in a bigger bathroom. A small accent rug is faster and uses less material, and it works beautifully in a powder room or beside a pedestal sink.

Caring for Your Knotted Knit Rug

A handmade rug deserves thoughtful care. Here’s how to keep yours looking beautiful for years.

For cotton yarn rugs, machine washing on a gentle cycle in cold water works well. Use a mild detergent and avoid hot water, which can cause cotton to shrink or colors to bleed. Lay flat to dry or tumble dry on low — avoid high heat.

For fabric strip rugs, hand washing is gentler and helps preserve the knot structure. Submerge the rug in cool water with a small amount of gentle soap, squeeze gently (don’t wring), rinse thoroughly, and lay flat to dry.

Shake your rug out regularly to remove dust and debris, especially since bathroom rugs collect hair and lint over time. A good shake outside every week or two keeps things fresh between washes.

If a knot comes loose, it’s easy to re-tie. Just re-fold the yarn end, push it back through the base stitch, pull the ends through the loop, and tighten. Good as new.

Making It Your Own

This pattern is genuinely a template rather than a rigid set of rules. Once you understand the basic technique, you have the freedom to experiment as much as you like.

Try a circular base instead of a rectangular one. Knit a circular medallion using circular needles and short rows, then cover the entire surface with knots for a round rug with a softer, more decorative feel.

Experiment with mixed materials. Combine cotton yarn with strips of cut jersey fabric for a rug with a mixed texture that’s visually interesting and very unique.

Add a fringe border. Instead of knotting all the way to the edges, leave the perimeter of your base bare and add longer fringe pieces along the short ends for a bohemian, decorative touch.

Play with pile length. Instead of trimming everything to the same length, cut some knots shorter and some longer to create a textured, sculpted surface with dimension.

Why Handmade Rugs Beat Store-Bought Every Time

There’s a reason handmade home goods have been having such a long, sustained moment in the design world — and it goes beyond trends. A handmade rug carries something a mass-produced one simply cannot: the evidence of someone’s time, care, and creativity. Every knot in your bathroom rug was placed by your hands. Every color choice reflects your taste. The scale fits your specific space because you made it that way.

There’s also the quality argument. Well-chosen yarn, carefully knotted and properly cared for, will outlast a cheap store-bought rug by years. You know what’s in it. You know it wasn’t made with shortcuts. And when it eventually does wear out — which it will, someday — you can unmake it, recycle the yarn, and make something new.

That kind of relationship with an object is increasingly rare and increasingly precious.

Final Thoughts

The knotted knit bathroom rug is one of those projects that I come back to again and again, and not just because the results are beautiful. I come back to it because making one is genuinely enjoyable. It’s the kind of project you can pick up in the evening, work on while listening to a podcast or watching something, and set down feeling like you actually accomplished something real.

If you’ve never made a handmade rug before, this is a wonderful place to start. And if you’re a seasoned rug-maker looking for a fresh technique to add to your repertoire, I think you’ll find the knotted knit method genuinely rewarding.

Give it a try. Take photos of your progress. Share your finished rug in the comments or tag Crafty Staci when you post on social media — I love seeing what you all create. And remember: the best rug for your bathroom is the one that came from your own hands.

Happy crafting.