I have wanted to crochet a mat for the entrance of my apartment for a long time. For me, the perfect crochet rug pattern would use yarn already in my stash, upcycle clothing or fabric, or combine yarn and material into one project. Life got in the way though and I never got around to replicating the rug I saw ages ago, but now I have more time on my hands.
Unfortunately, I wish the reason for having more time and staying home was under better circumstances because the virus is causing mayhem all around the world. And we are asked to remain home so we don’t become part of the statistic. It’s easy to feel helpless and anxious for fear of the future, but we all must encourage each other and create a healthy distraction for the time being.
For many, our healthy distraction is crochet (and if it isn’t, then it soon will be). It is y’all that inspired me to create this list of crochet rug patterns. You may wonder, “why a rug?” Let me tell you my four reasons.
- A rug can transform a room into a more cozy place.
- Your imagination can run wild the color and shape combinations.
- There is no need to visit a craft store. Use what you have at home.
- Free up some space in your closet and/or yarn stash.
These 11 crochet rug patterns are the perfect project for spring cleaning and being quarantined at home. I hope they inspire you to use what you have to create something beautiful for your own home!
Upcycled Denim Rag Rug by My Moppet
Over the years I have accumulated many pairs of jeans that are no longer wearable. When I was younger, I practiced my hand sewing with old jeans and made purses. Unfortunately, those are not very stylish any more, so my jeans have sat in my closet taking up space for longer than necessary. I am so glad I came across this pattern!
Cintia, the creator behind the blog My Moppet Makes, created the wonderful Upcycle Style: Denim Rag Rug. The pattern uses old denim jeans and any cotton DK, sport or worsted weight yarn you have on hand.
Basically, you cut the denim into long strips and twist it together like rope. Then you crochet your cotton yarn around the denim to create a rug. But don’t worry, she has all the steps laid out in the pattern with photos to help you follow along.
The denim gives a nice dark contrast to the bright colors Cintia used. But you could use any colors you want to create a different look. This is the best project to upcycle jeans that I have come across so far. Who is going to join me in creating this wonderful rug?!
Crochet Scrap Fabric Rug by My Moppet
Yes, I put two patterns back to back by the same lady Cintia from the blog My Moppet. But seriously y’all, this is such a great pattern. You can find her Coil + Crochet Scrap Fabric Rug on her blog. Look at that picture, does she not inspire you to make a crochet rug?!
I was stunned by the photo when I found out the colored part is pieces of fabric. She spaced them out so well and created a fun looking rug. If you are interested, all you need are a few things: twine, tons of fabric, scissors, and crochet hook. The fabric is cut into long strips and made into a “rope,” similar to the denim rug project. And the twine is crocheted around the fabric rope to make a circle. Her post has a more detailed description on how to make it.
This project is perfect for using up an old sheet, old clothing, or other fabric you have in your craft closet. And, if you are anything like me, you always have twine around (it works great for gift wrapping). So this project should not cost you much, if anything, and you can use up items taking up space.
Coastal Indoor Rug by Maria’s Blue Crayon
I like this rug because of the texture. The fringe adds an extra flare that I really enjoy. The Coastal Indoor Rug would be a perfect addition to any kitchen or bathroom.
The author, Maria, used Caron Cotton Cakes yarn, which are self-striping, to complete her project. But you could create the same striped look with leftover cotton yarn that you have on hand. Play with the colors and create the same look, or change up the colors to match your kitchen.
The instructions are written on the blog post. The same few rows are repeated for the entire rug and the fringe is added at the end. She also provides guidelines for shortening or lengthening the rug.
The simplicity of this rug captures my attention, and the texture makes it look more complicated than it is. I love the beach vibes too. I may have to make one when I eventually buy a house.
Textured Jute Rug by Megmade With Love
I love the look of this rustic door mat. The materials are weather-proof and it requires only one material, jute. The Textured Jute Rug is a pattern made by Meg and you can find it on her blog by clicking that link.
Jute is a common material to have in my stash of crafting supplies. I use it a lot for gift wrapping. I also believe hemp would work for this project too. Just in case you don’t have jute. Remember, the purpose of this is to use what you have! Just be sure to use a material that is weather-proof.
The rug design is simple to follow. Only one stitch is used throughout the project, and there are pictures to guide you through how to add the fringe. If you are in need of a welcome mat or need a house warming gift, this is the perfect project to use up jute if you have that in your supplies.
One thing to be cautious of with this particular rug is the roughness of the jute. The fiber is coarse and less pliable which can make it harder to work with. But that end result looks so worth it to me.
T-Shirt Rug by Morale Fiber
Can you believe that rug is made with old t-shirts?! Gorgeous. That’s all I can say about this pattern. The Morale Fiber T-Shirt Rug looks like a sandy beach littered with tiny pebbles. And I can’t get enough of it.
The main thing I love about this project is the combination of upcycling old t-shirts and using up a neutral colored yarn to achieve a new look. I’m sure we all have old t-shirts that we just can’t get rid of for whatever reason. And neutral colors of acrylic and cotton are staples in many of our yarn baskets. This project is perfect for cleaning out the closet and adding new life to the floor.
The pattern is simple to follow and rather short. If you have never made t-shirt yarn before, it’s easier (and way cheaper than store bought) than you think. The designer links to a great blog post that shows you exactly what to do. The stitch pattern is also easy, it is nothing but single crochets. And the woven look of the t-shirt yarn is created in a simple manner that is outlined in the post.
Years ago I found a tutorial on how to make old t-shirts into yarn. So I decided to make a crocheted rug out of the yarn. It was a fun project, but hideous when I was finished. I had no idea how to combine the colors I had into a cohesive piece of fabric, and combining the t-shirts with yarn never crossed my mind. If I were to do this project over, I would definitely try this pattern out!
Upcycled Crochet Rug by King Soleil
The Upcycled Crochet Rug by King Soleil is a pattern made with sheets. No yarn is used, but again, clean out that closet and use old sheets to create something new for the home.
The article is a bit lengthy, but I promise the content is worth it. There are so many tips thrown in that you don’t want to miss. Like, how many sheets do you need? She suggests 2 king size sheets as a good start, but you must also think about how thick or thin you want the rug. This will determine more or less the amount of “yarn” you need. That is just one example of the helpful tid bits she has.
The post is also nice because she gives directions on how to cut the sheet into strips and form them into manageable pieces to crochet. Then she goes into the details on how to actually crochet the rug. There are even troubleshooting tips if your rug isn’t laying flat.
And if you are at a loss for inspiration, take a look at the many photos she has spread throughout the post. You are bound to come up with something. The rug designs are so fun and full of colors. I hope she inspires you to upcycle your sheets into a fun rug!
Natural Stripes Rug by Yarnspirations
This rug would be a fun little addition to a bathroom or kitchen. The Red Heart Natural Stripes Rug by Yarnspirations is a pattern available for download on their website. It is free too!
They chose to use Red Heart Eco-Cotton Blend yarn, but any cotton yarn would work. Choose 4 balls from your stash and get started. Have fun with the color combinations and make it your own with the yarn you have.
The pattern layout is straightforward and easy to follow. And the stitches themselves are super easy. You just repeat the same stitches for each row. The fringe is added at the end by knotting it to the edge.
This project is a winner for its simplicity and clean look.
Scrap Yarn Rope Bath Mat by Mama In A Stitch
How fun is this little bath mat? It could be used with any color combination to match your bathroom. Check out what yarn you have on hand and go read Mama In A Stitch’s post, How To Crochet A Scrap Yarn Rope Bath Mat.
The scrap yarn would be best if the fiber content is 100% cotton. The cotton is absorbent, which is ideal for a bath mat. This pattern also requires clothesline. This is probably not a material most of us have on hand. However, it is inexpensive, making it a budget-friendly project.
Why did I choose this pattern if it requires you to purchase additional materials? First, clothesline is cheap. Second, the author of the pattern mentioned she only had a little clothesline left over for the size of rug she made. Which means you could opt to make a bigger rug and have zero clothesline left over. So you get to turn your scrap yarn into a useful bath mat for just a few dollars. Seems like a good project to me!
Half Circle Crochet Rug by Chaleur
If your scrap yarn pile isn’t big enough to make a full sized rug, why not try a half circle rug instead? The Quick & Easy Half Circle Crochet Rug by Chaleur looks so comfy and inviting.
The rug is supposed to work up really quickly because you hold 5 strands of worsted weight yarn together as you make the stitches. The designer suggests to use 5 skeins of yarn for this, although you probably won’t use them all. The colors are up to you. And if you wanted to use less yarn, I’m sure it would look just as cozy.
I really like the look of the rug. The half circle rug would look great at the back door. But I also think this rug would be super comfortable for the kitchen too. I’m sure my feet would love all that cushion.
Rag Rugs by A Handmade Life
Sorry the quality of this picture isn’t great. It is a little fuzzy because the photo on the blog was small. I hope you can see the detail on the rug enough to appreciate it though.
The pattern for Rag Rugs is an old one from 2008, but I like the look of it. It upcycles old sheets, something we are all bound to have. This pattern does not use any yarn, because the sheets are turned into “yarn,” but it would free up some space in the closet.
In order to achieve the rag rug look that will last a long time, a little prep work is necessary. The sheets must be cut into strips, sewn together for a long continuous strip, and ironed to keep the edges inside. Once that is complete, the fun can begin by crocheting the “yarn” into the shape and dimensions of choice. The detailed directions on how to prep the sheet yarn are given in the blog post.
Thank y’all for checking out these fun, easy, and stash-busting crochet rugs. I hope you can scrounge up enough yarn to make one of these!
Happy crocheting.