How to Make a T-Shirt Rug: A Complete Step-by-Step Tutorial

If you have a pile of old T-shirts sitting in your closet that you can’t bring yourself to throw away, this project was made for you. A T-shirt rug is one of those satisfying DIY crafts that checks every box — it’s budget-friendly, eco-conscious, beginner-accessible, and the finished product is genuinely beautiful. Whether you want a braided rug for your entryway, a cozy addition to a bedroom, or a colorful bathroom mat, this tutorial will walk you through everything you need to know to create one from scratch.

By the end of this guide, you’ll understand how to prepare your T-shirt fabric, choose the right method for your skill level, work through the process step by step, and finish your rug so it lasts for years. Let’s get into it.

Why Make a Rug Out of T-Shirts?

Before we dive into the how-to, it’s worth appreciating why this project has become such a beloved staple in the upcycling and crafting community.

Old T-shirts are made from jersey knit cotton, which is an ideal rug material for a few reasons. It’s soft underfoot, it doesn’t fray when cut (which eliminates hemming and simplifies the entire process), and it’s washable. Jersey knit also has a natural stretch to it, which gives braided and crocheted rugs a wonderful plush density when worked tightly.

From a sustainability angle, this project keeps textiles out of landfills. The fashion industry is one of the largest contributors to global waste, and extending the life of clothing — even in a new form — is a meaningful act. You’re not just making something pretty; you’re making something purposeful.

And the cost? Practically nothing. If you have a stockpile of worn-out shirts, graphic tees whose time has passed, or clothes that no longer fit, your materials are already in your home. Even if you need to supplement with thrift store finds, T-shirts are among the cheapest textiles you can buy secondhand.

What You’ll Need

The supplies list for this project is short, and most of what you need you likely already own.

T-shirts: Plan to use anywhere from 8 to 20 adult-sized T-shirts depending on the size of rug you want to make. Larger shirts yield more fabric. Avoid shirts with a lot of printed graphics or thick vinyl heat-transfer designs, as these areas don’t cut into strips as cleanly and can feel stiff in the finished rug. Plain cotton or lightly printed shirts work best.

Scissors: Sharp fabric scissors make a significant difference here. Dull scissors will drag through the fabric and make your strips uneven. If you have a rotary cutter and cutting mat, even better — it speeds things up considerably.

A ruler or measuring tape: Consistency in strip width matters for a neat final result.

A flat surface: You’ll need space to lay shirts flat and cut them. A large table is ideal, but a clean floor works fine.

For braiding: Nothing else required beyond your strips and two willing hands.

For crocheting: A large crochet hook, typically size N (9mm) or larger. Some crafters prefer size P or even Q for a looser, more relaxed weave.

For a no-sew loomed rug: A wooden frame loom or even a simple cardboard loom made at home.

Safety pins or clips (optional): Helpful for securing the start of your braid while you work.

Non-slip rug pad or fabric glue (optional): For finishing the underside of your rug so it doesn’t slide on hard floors.

Preparing Your T-Shirt Fabric

This is the foundational step, and doing it well makes everything that follows much easier. The goal is to cut your shirts into long, continuous strips of fabric.

Step 1: Lay the shirt flat.

Fold your T-shirt in half lengthwise so the two side seams align. Lay it flat on your cutting surface. Cut off and discard the hem at the bottom and the sleeves at the armholes — you won’t use these pieces for your main strips, though you can save the sleeve fabric for thinner accent strips later.

Step 2: Cut horizontal strips.

Starting from the bottom (the open end, not the folded side), cut horizontal strips about one to one-and-a-half inches wide, cutting all the way across the shirt but stopping about an inch before you reach the folded edge on the left side. Do not cut all the way through on that side. This is the key to creating a continuous strip rather than a pile of individual loops.

Continue cutting strips all the way up to the armpits of the shirt, leaving the top shoulder portion aside.

Step 3: Open the strips into one long continuous piece.

Unfold the shirt slightly so you can see the uncut portion on the left side — it looks like a short fringe attached at the fold. Tilt the shirt so that column of connected fabric is facing you. Now, cut diagonally from one strip’s end to the next, going from the top of one cut to the bottom of the adjacent cut. If you work through this in order, you’ll find that the entire shirt unravels into one long, spiraling strip of fabric.

Step 4: Stretch the strips.

Pull each strip gently along its length. Jersey knit will naturally curl inward at the edges when stretched, turning each strip into a soft rope-like tube of fabric. This curling is a feature, not a flaw — it creates a rounder, tidier strip that braids and crochets beautifully.

Repeat this process with all of your shirts, and join strips together by cutting a small slit near the end of one strip, cutting a small slit near the beginning of the next, looping one through the other, and pulling tight. This creates an almost invisible join that holds firmly.

Method One: The Braided T-Shirt Rug

The braided rug is the most traditional method, and it produces a dense, durable result with a classic look. It requires no tools beyond your hands and is genuinely beginner-friendly.

Getting started:

Gather three strips of fabric. If you want a multi-colored rug, choose three different colors — the braid will show each one clearly and create a lovely striped pattern. Knot or pin the three strips together at one end.

Braid as you would braid hair: right strip over the center, left strip over the new center, and repeat. Keep your tension consistent — not so tight that the fabric puckers, not so loose that the braid is floppy. A medium, firm tension produces the best results.

As you run out of one strip, join a new one using the slit-and-loop method described earlier. Continue braiding until you have a very long braid — you’ll need at least several feet to begin coiling, and the longer your braid, the larger your rug.

Coiling and sewing:

To shape the rug, you’ll coil the braid and stitch the coils together. Lay the end of your braid flat on a table and begin coiling it in a tight oval or circle. Thread a large needle with a sturdy thread (upholstery thread or strong cotton thread works well), or simply use a strip of T-shirt fabric itself as your stitching material.

Stitch through adjacent loops of braid, pulling the two coils tightly together as you go. Work around the entire rug, adding more braid as needed by continuing to braid and coil simultaneously. Keep the rug flat as you stitch — if it starts to cup or buckle, your stitches are too tight or your coils are too compressed. Lay it flat on the floor periodically to check.

When you’ve reached the size you want, taper the end of your braid by trimming one strand short, then a few inches later trimming another, finishing with just one strand. This creates a gradual taper instead of an abrupt end. Tuck the end underneath and stitch it firmly in place.

Method Two: The Crocheted T-Shirt Rug

Crocheting a T-shirt rug produces a slightly different texture — a bit more open and woven looking, especially beautiful in a bathroom or bedroom. If you know basic crochet, this method will feel familiar. If you’ve never crocheted before, don’t be discouraged: the stitches used here are the simplest in all of crochet.

The basic stitch to know:

This rug uses single crochet almost exclusively. Insert your hook through a stitch, yarn over (pull the strip through), yarn over again, pull through both loops on the hook. That’s it. One stitch. You’ll do hundreds of them.

Starting the rug:

To make an oval rug (ideal for entryways and in front of kitchen sinks), begin with a foundation chain. Chain 20 stitches (or more for a longer rug). Single crochet into each chain stitch across. At the end of the chain, crochet three more stitches into the very last stitch to curve around. Now work back along the other side of the foundation chain. At the starting end, again crochet three stitches into the same starting stitch to curve. Join with a slip stitch to the first stitch. You now have your first oval.

Continue working in rounds, single crocheting around and increasing at each short end of the oval to keep the work flat. Increase by crocheting two stitches into the corner stitches at each end. Keep adding rounds until the rug reaches your desired size.

To make a round rug, begin with a magic ring or chain four stitches and join into a ring. Work six single crochets into the ring. In the next round, crochet two stitches into each stitch around (12 stitches total). Continue increasing every other round to keep the circle flat, and add rounds until your rug is as large as you’d like.

Finishing:

When you reach the size you want, cut your strip leaving a six-inch tail. Pull the tail through the last stitch to secure it. Thread the tail onto a large blunt needle and weave it back through several nearby stitches to hide and secure the end. Trim any excess.

Method Three: The No-Sew Woven Rug

If you prefer not to sew or crochet, weaving your T-shirt strips on a simple loom is a wonderfully meditative and effective alternative. The result has a flat, woven texture similar to a traditional rag rug.

Making a simple loom:

You can make a loom from a large piece of cardboard or a wooden frame. Cut evenly-spaced notches along the top and bottom of your cardboard, about half an inch apart. These will hold your warp (the vertical threads).

Thread a single long strip of fabric through the notches, pulling it down through one notch, across the bottom, and up through the adjacent notch on the other side. This creates a series of parallel vertical strips — your warp. Tape or pin the ends at the back to secure.

Weaving:

Cut your remaining T-shirt strips into manageable lengths. Thread one strip onto a large tapestry needle or simply weave it over and under the warp strips using your fingers. When you reach the end of one row, loop around the last warp strip and weave back in the opposite over-under pattern. This is called tabby weave and it’s the simplest weave structure possible.

Pack each row down tightly as you go using a wide-toothed comb or your fingers. The tighter you pack, the thicker and more durable your rug will be.

When you’ve woven your desired length, carefully remove the rug from the loom by slipping the warp strips out of the notches. Knot adjacent pairs of warp ends together tightly so the weaving doesn’t unravel. Trim the fringe to a consistent length, or tuck it under and stitch it down for a clean edge.

Tips for a Beautiful Finished Rug

A few final thoughts on getting the best result from any of these methods.

Color planning pays off. Before you start cutting, sort your shirts by color family and think about whether you want a gradient effect (moving from light to dark shades of one color), a bold multicolor look, or a neutral palette. Laying shirts out side by side lets you visualize the finished piece.

Consistent strip width matters. Strips that vary widely in width will create a lumpy, uneven rug. Take your time with cutting, or use a rotary cutter and quilting ruler for precision.

Keep the rug flat as you work. Both braided and crocheted rugs can start to curl or cup if you’re adding too few increases or pulling your stitches too tight. Lay the rug on a flat surface every 20 minutes or so to check its shape.

Wash before use. Give your finished rug a gentle machine wash on a cool cycle before placing it on the floor. This relaxes the fibers, softens any stiffness, and sets the shape. Reshape it while damp and let it air dry flat.

Add a non-slip backing. On hard floors, T-shirt rugs can slide, especially thinner woven ones. A non-slip rug pad cut to size works perfectly, or you can apply lines of puff paint or silicone caulk in a grid pattern on the underside of the rug, let it dry completely, and this creates a grippy texture that keeps the rug in place.

Caring for Your T-Shirt Rug

The good news is that T-shirt rugs are among the easiest to care for of any handmade textile. Because they’re made from cotton jersey, they’re machine washable. Use a gentle cycle with cold water and mild detergent. Avoid hot water, which can cause the fabric to shrink slightly and may loosen stitching over time.

Air drying is preferable to machine drying — lay the rug flat and allow it to dry fully before placing it back on the floor. If you do machine dry, use a low heat setting and reshape the rug while it’s still warm.

Spot clean small stains as they happen with a damp cloth and a bit of dish soap. This prevents stains from setting and reduces the number of full washes the rug needs over its lifespan.

With reasonable care, a well-made T-shirt rug can last for many years and actually becomes softer and more comfortable with each wash. It’s the kind of handmade item that improves with age.

Final Thoughts

Making a T-shirt rug is one of those projects that rewards you on multiple levels. There’s the immediate satisfaction of transforming something old into something new and useful. There’s the quiet pleasure of working with your hands, especially in the rhythmic repetition of braiding or crocheting. And there’s the lasting reward of a beautiful, functional piece in your home that cost almost nothing and kept fabric out of a landfill.

Whether you go with a braided oval for the front hallway, a crocheted round rug beside the bed, or a woven rectangle for the kitchen, you’re making something that reflects your own creativity and resourcefulness. No two T-shirt rugs look exactly alike, because no two people have the same collection of old shirts — and that’s exactly what makes this craft worth doing.

Gather your old T-shirts, grab your scissors, and get started. You’ll have something beautiful under your feet before you know it.