- 1). Cut two pieces of heavyweight backing fabric four inches wide and to the length of your finished rug.
- 2). Sew three strips of three-inch wide braiding fabric together along the top edges with a sewing machine. The length of the fabric depends on how long you want your rug and the material you use. The strips should be roughly one and half times the length of your finished rug.
- 3). Sew the three fabric strips to one of the backing strips so the braiding fabric is perpendicular to and on top of the backing fabric.
- 4). Braid the three strips of braiding fabrics by spreading out the strips in front of you. Pass the left braiding strip over the middle one and leave it in the middle. Pass the right strip over the middle strip and make it the new middle piece. Keep doing this until the strips are fully braided.
- 5). Sew the braid closed at the end and attach the loose end to the second backing strip. This end should be attached in the same as the other end. You should now have the shape of an E without the middle horizontal arm.
- 6). Continue to braid strips in groups of three and sew them to the backing strips in the same way. The braids should be attached very close to each other so there are no gaps between them.
- 7). Thread a heavy-duty needle with upholstery thread in a coordinating color to the braids.
- 8). Sew the braids together on the backing-fabric side by passing the needle through the first and second braids, and sewing down to the end. Sew each seam between the braids until the rug is one solid piece.
- 9). Trim any loose threads and stray pieces of fabric.
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