How to Make a T-Shirt Rug: A Complete Step-by-Step Tutorial
There’s something deeply satisfying about taking a pile of worn-out t-shirts and turning them into something you can actually use. A t-shirt rug is one of those projects that checks every box: it’s eco-friendly, budget-friendly, surprisingly durable, and it gives you a finished product that looks genuinely beautiful in your home. Whether you want a chunky braided rug for your bathroom, a woven piece for your entryway, or a coiled mat for beside your bed, this tutorial covers everything you need to get started, make it through the process, and end up with something you’re proud of.
This guide is written for beginners, but experienced crafters will find plenty of useful tips along the way, including how to choose the best fabrics, how to cut your strips evenly, and how to fix common mistakes. By the time you finish reading, you’ll have all the knowledge you need to make your first t-shirt rug — and probably your second and third as well.
Why T-Shirt Rugs Are Worth Making
Before diving into the how-to, it’s worth talking about why this project has become such a popular DIY endeavor. The answer starts with the material itself. Old cotton t-shirts are incredibly versatile. They’re soft, they stretch, they don’t fray when cut, and they wash beautifully. Unlike woven fabrics, knit jersey (the material most t-shirts are made from) curls inward when you cut it into strips, which means those strips naturally form a round, cord-like shape without any extra work on your part.
From a sustainability standpoint, making a t-shirt rug is one of the most meaningful things you can do with clothing that’s past its prime. Instead of sending worn-out shirts to a landfill, you’re extending their life by years — possibly decades. A well-made t-shirt rug can last a very long time, especially if it’s placed in a low-traffic area and washed occasionally.
Financially, the project is almost free. If you’re using shirts you already own, your only real costs might be a tapestry needle or a crochet hook, both of which run just a few dollars. Even if you need to buy shirts, secondhand stores are full of them at incredibly low prices.
And then there’s the creative side. T-shirt rugs can be made in almost any color combination, which means you can design something that fits your home perfectly. Neutral grays and whites make for a clean, modern look. Bright rainbow strips feel playful and energetic. Earth tones create a warm, cozy vibe. The design possibilities are almost endless.
What You’ll Need
Getting your materials together before you start will save you a lot of time and frustration. Here’s what to gather.
T-shirts are obviously the main ingredient. For a small rug (roughly 18 by 24 inches), plan on using six to ten large t-shirts. For a medium rug (about 24 by 36 inches), you’ll likely need fifteen to twenty shirts. Larger rugs require even more, sometimes thirty or more shirts depending on how thick your strips are. Cotton and cotton-blend shirts work best. Avoid heavily synthetic fabrics like polyester if you can, as they don’t stretch and curl the same way, though they can work in a pinch.
Scissors should be sharp. This matters more than you might expect. Dull scissors make cutting strips tedious and tiring, and they tend to produce ragged edges. A good pair of fabric scissors will make the whole process much faster and more enjoyable.
A cutting mat and rotary cutter are optional but highly recommended if you plan to make multiple rugs. The combination lets you cut through several layers of fabric at once and produces very consistent strip widths.
A ruler or measuring tape helps you cut even strips, especially if you’re new to this.
A large tapestry needle (also called a yarn needle) is needed if you’re sewing your braid together to form a coiled rug. Look for one with a large eye that can accommodate thick strips of fabric.
A crochet hook in a large size (size N or P, or even larger) is needed if you want to crochet your rug rather than braid it. This method produces a beautiful, tightly woven result.
A loom or cardboard frame is useful if you want to try weaving, which is another popular technique for t-shirt rugs.
Preparing Your T-Shirts
The preparation stage is where many people rush and then regret it later. Taking a little extra time here will make everything downstream easier.
Start by washing all your shirts if they haven’t been washed recently. This pre-shrinks them and removes any oils or residues that can make cutting and working with the fabric more difficult.
Next, lay each shirt flat on your cutting surface. Cut off the hem at the very bottom of the shirt — this part doesn’t stretch the same way the rest of the fabric does, so it doesn’t work well in strips. Then cut straight across below the armpits to remove the upper portion of the shirt including the sleeves and neckline. You’re left with a simple tube of fabric.
Now, cut that tube into horizontal strips. The width you choose depends on the technique you’ll be using and the thickness you want. For braiding, strips that are about one inch wide tend to work well. For crocheting, you can go slightly narrower, around three-quarters of an inch, or wider for a chunkier look. For weaving, strips of one to two inches are common.
When you cut through the tube (without unrolling it), each cut produces a loop, not a straight strip. Some people prefer to work with loops directly, while others cut each loop open to create one long straight strip. To create one continuous long strip from a single shirt, there’s a clever method worth learning: instead of cutting all the way across the tube, leave each cut attached on one side (alternate which side), then unfold the tube and cut on the diagonal at the connecting points. This gives you one very long, continuous strip from a single shirt, which is incredibly useful for crocheting.
Once all your strips are cut, stretch each one gently between your hands. This causes the fabric to curl inward and form a round cord-like shape. It also makes the strips slightly longer. Do this for all your strips before you start your project.
To join strips together when you run out, use the “no-sew” method: fold the end of one strip over the end of the next strip, cut a small slit through both layers, then pull the end of one strip through both slits. Pull snugly to create a flat, secure knot that doesn’t add much bulk.
How to Make a Braided T-Shirt Rug
Braiding is the most traditional method and the easiest to learn. The result is a classic coiled oval or round rug that looks wonderful in a bathroom, bedroom, or beside a reading chair.
Start by securing three strips together at one end. You can tie them in a knot, use a safety pin to pin them to a chair or table, or simply hold them tightly as you work. Then braid these three strips exactly as you would braid hair — right over center, left over center, repeat — keeping the tension as consistent as you can. The tighter and more even your braid, the better your finished rug will look.
As you run out of one strip, join a new one using the method described above. Keep braiding until you have a very long braid — several yards long. The exact length needed depends on how large you want your finished rug to be.
Once your braid is long enough, it’s time to coil and sew it. Start by coiling the beginning of your braid into a tight flat spiral. Use your tapestry needle and a strip of t-shirt fabric as thread to sew adjacent rows of braid together. Pass the needle through the braid on one side, then through the braid on the adjacent coil, and pull snug. This stitch is sometimes called a lacing stitch. Work your way around and around, sewing as you go and continuing to coil the braid.
For an oval rug, start with a straight length of braid (rather than a spiral) and coil around that straight section. This produces an elongated oval shape that works beautifully for entry mats or kitchen rugs.
When you’ve reached the size you want, cut your braiding strips, taper the ends to reduce bulk, and sew them securely into the back of the rug. Your rug is done.
How to Make a Crocheted T-Shirt Rug
Crocheting a t-shirt rug produces a slightly different texture — one that’s a little more structured and grid-like. Many people find this method even more satisfying because you can see the rug taking shape stitch by stitch.
You don’t need to know advanced crochet for this project. The basic chain stitch and single crochet are all you need for a simple rectangular rug.
To start a rectangular rug, create a foundation chain by making a series of chain stitches until your chain is the length you want for the short side of your rug. Then single crochet back across the chain, turn your work, and continue single crocheting back and forth until the rug reaches your desired length. That’s really all there is to it at the basic level.
For a round rug, start with a magic ring or a small loop chain, then crochet in rounds rather than rows. Each round needs a few extra stitches added at even intervals to keep the rug flat (otherwise it will form a bowl shape instead). A common formula is to add six extra stitches per round when working in single crochet, though you may need to adjust this slightly based on your tension and strip width.
Use a large crochet hook — size N (9mm) at minimum, and often larger. Because t-shirt fabric is much thicker than yarn, you need a hook that can handle the bulk.
Change colors whenever you want by switching to a new strip in a different color. If you’re working in rows, changing colors at the beginning of a row produces clean, horizontal stripes. Random color changes throughout produce a more eclectic, scrappy look that’s also very charming.
How to Make a Woven T-Shirt Rug
Weaving produces a very flat, tight, firm rug with a beautiful grid pattern. It requires a loom, but you can make a simple one out of a wooden frame and nails, or even from a large piece of sturdy cardboard.
Set up your loom with warp strips running vertically (or in one direction). These are the strips you string across the loom first, pulled taut and secured at both ends. Then weave your weft strips horizontally, going over one warp strip, under the next, over the next, and so on, alternating the pattern with each row. A simple over-under weave produces a classic plain weave structure.
Push each row of weaving tightly against the previous one using a wide-toothed comb or a weaving fork. The tighter you pack the rows, the denser and more durable your rug will be.
When the rug is finished and removed from the loom, the warp ends will stick out. Tuck these under the weaving and secure them, or tie them off in small knots. The result is a firm, flat rug with a lovely handmade texture.
Tips for Making Your Rug Last
A well-made t-shirt rug can last for years, but there are a few things you can do to extend its life. First, add a non-slip backing. You can buy non-slip rug pads or fabric spray, or you can use a piece of non-slip shelf liner cut to the shape of your rug and sewn or glued to the back. This is especially important for rugs placed on hardwood or tile floors.
Washing your rug is easy — most t-shirt rugs can go right into the washing machine on a gentle cycle with cold water. Lay it flat or hang it to dry rather than putting it in the dryer, as the heat can cause the fabric to shrink unevenly or cause your stitching to loosen over time.
Store extra strips in a basket or bag so you can repair or extend your rug later if needed. Occasionally, a braid might come loose or a crocheted stitch might pop. Having matching fabric on hand makes repairs easy.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The most common mistake beginners make is using strips that are too narrow. Narrow strips make a flimsy rug that doesn’t hold its shape well. Err on the wider side, especially for your first project.
Another common issue is uneven tension. In braiding, this means some sections are tighter than others, which causes the rug to buckle or curl. Try to maintain the same tension throughout, and don’t pull the strips too hard as you braid.
Skipping the stretching step (where you pull each strip to make it curl into a cord shape) can result in a rug that looks flat and fabric-like rather than the plush, rounded look that makes t-shirt rugs so appealing.
Finally, many people underestimate how many shirts they’ll need and run out partway through. It’s always better to collect more shirts than you think you need before you begin. You can always use the extra fabric for your next project.
Making It Your Own
One of the most enjoyable parts of this project is the design phase. Think about the color palette of the room where the rug will live. A bathroom with white and gray tiles might look beautiful with a rug made from navy, white, and pale gray shirts. A child’s bedroom is the perfect place for a rainbow rug made from every color of the spectrum. A rustic living room might call for warm browns, reds, and oranges.
You can also play with patterns by carefully alternating colors in a planned sequence rather than joining strips randomly. A herringbone pattern, a stripe pattern, or a spiral of gradually changing colors are all achievable with a little planning and patience.
Consider incorporating shirts that have sentimental value — old team jerseys, concert shirts, or shirts from childhood — into a rug made specifically for a bedroom or reading nook. It becomes not just a functional object but a piece of memory and meaning.
Final Thoughts
A t-shirt rug is a project that rewards patience and creativity in equal measure. It doesn’t require expensive materials, specialized training, or a lot of space to work in. What it does require is a pile of old shirts, a few basic tools, and the willingness to spend some hours making something with your hands.
The process itself — cutting, stretching, braiding, crocheting, or weaving — is meditative in its own way. Many people find it deeply satisfying to sit and work with their hands while listening to music or a podcast, watching the rug grow with each round or row. And when it’s done, you have something real and useful and handmade to show for that time.
Start small if you’re nervous. A small bathroom mat or a doormat is the perfect first project — it’s fast enough to finish in a weekend and big enough to feel like a real accomplishment. Once you’ve made one, you’ll almost certainly want to make another. That’s how most t-shirt rug enthusiasts end up with rugs in every room of the house, and a permanent collection of old shirts waiting to be transformed.
