In order to make a poked rug, you want the correct tool. A prodding tool has a wooden handle and a pointed end ( that’s not sharp ) made out of metal or wood. Instead of a special tool, you may use a big knitting needle, anywhere from size ten to 15. Employ a rug canvas or a burlap base for the rug, then cut it larger than the dimensions of the finished rug. It should be roughly 2 inches bigger around. In order to cover the raw edges, sew or fold and hem the perimeters of the burlap.

Heavy woolen fabrics that are used for coats or blankets are routinely used for prodded rugs. However, fabrics such as denim, acrylic, corduroy, felt or similar sorts of fabrics may be used. If you use lighter weight fabrics, you need to cut the strips twice as wide. A merit of making a prodded rug is that you may use up your bits of fabrics since the strips used in the rugs are quite little.

If you’re creating a prodded rug from a heavy woolen used on burlap, cut the strips three / four inches wide and 3 inches long. If you’re employing a heavy woolen on rug canvas and heavy cotton fabric, cut the strips 1 in. wide and 3 inches long. For lighter weight fabrics, cut the strips 2 inches wide and three inches long.

To Make the “proddie” ( poked rug ), work from the back side of the rug and, using your poker ( knitting needle ) push each end of the fabric strip thru to the front.

If you’re working on burlap, you’ll need to employ a quilting frame or tack the burlap to a wooden frame until the majority of the center is done. The reason for the reason being because burlap is flexible. Use the poker to push a hole into the burlap near the rug’s center, then take one strip of fabric and push one end through the hole using the poker. Then take the poker and make a 2nd hole just some threads away from the first hole and push the other end of the fabric strip through the second hole. Reach below the rug and pull on the ends to fit them snugly in effect. Next, take another strip of fabric and poke one end into the same hole as the last strip. Then move over some threads and poke another and push the other end of the strip thru it. The following fabric strip goes into the same hole as the last one. Do not place the holes so close together that the burlap is distorted. Space the holes about half in. apart. Work in rounds of strips all of the way around the center of the rug. Also, do not leave any empty spaces or you’ll need to go back and fill them in later, which would make the process much more difficult.

It is simple to work proddies on rug canvas because they contain even holes, plus you do not need to use a frame as the canvas is already stiff. Work in rows beginning at the center and working toward the edges. Use the poker to bump one end of the fabric strip thru a hole, then push the other end through the subsequent hole. Tug a little on the ends to make certain that the strip is snugly prepared. Then push the subsequent strip end thru the next hole and the second end through the next hole, for example. Don’t skip any holes and do not put 2 strips thru the same hole. It is less complicated and faster to start with canvas for your first rug.

To worry for a prodded rug, don’t chuck it into the washing machine. In order to remove the mud, the prodded rugs may be shaken, vacuumed with an upholstery tool or beaten with a carpet beater.

If the rug has gotten highly dirtied or stained, you will put the rug in a washtub or tub that is totally full of halfhearted water and liquid fabric soap. ( These are the sole eventualities in which the rug should be washed. ) Squeeze the rug ( don’t wring it ) and work the soapy water thru it. Then drain the soapy water and refill the tub with halfhearted water. Rinse the rug by swishing it, then drain the tub and repeat with clean water. Do this till the soap is out. Lay the rug flat to dry on something similar to a chunk of screen or sweater drying rack.

you’ll decide that you wish to make your own prodding tool, rather than using a knitting needle. Get a wooden egg at a craft store, or use an old darning egg. ( Some of the darning eggs already have handles which will simplify the process because you can just skip to the bit where the end of the dowel is cut and sharpened. )

Drill a hole in the end of the egg that’s large enough for a 7 / sixteen or [*FR1″> -inch dowel and about 0.5 inch deep. Fill the hole with wood glue and push the dowel in and seal it. Then wipe off the excess glue. Cut off the dowel about two inches from the egg and whittle the end ( you may use a pencil sharpener for a pleasant point ). Keep in mind the end should be pointed rather than sharp. Sand the egg and the dowel to make them smooth. Rather than using the dowel, you may use the cut-off end of a knitting needle, if you prefer. Buy carpet runners.