Has anyone hand-braided rugs?

[mtblujeans]

Has anyone been handy enough to hand-braid rugs? I saw some pics of little coasters that were like mini hand-braided rugs and I would love to try making them but I am quite intimidated!

 

[piratesmate]

I had started a rug when I was in college, but never finished it. I couldn't afford the wool at the time. LOL My parents had gotten me a set of tools that you put the woolen strips into & they would fold the edges into the center for you. It was much easier than doing it by hand.

However, for coasters I wouldn't use the wool. I have a small "hot pad" (to put casseroles on at the table - can't think if that's the right word this AM) that I've been using as a coaster at my desk. It's way too small for using with casserole dishes. Anyway, it's much tighter than most woolen rugs I've seen. It's made with what I call butcher's twine...heavy white/off-white cord - very coarse looking. It's braided very tightly so it loses that loose feeling it has when you just hold a single piece of it.

You'll just need to make sure you keep the braid flat - no twists in it. Then you just sew it into a coil with a whip stitch.

 

[mtblujeans]

Thank you. I'll give it a try.