Here are directions for the crochet rug we taught at the Sewing Expo.

Materials

• Five pounds of selvages makes one 2’x3’ rug
  Size S crochet hook
  Scissors
  Yarn needle
• Gauge
  Loose. Very loose. If you work tighter the rug will be firmer, however it can become very difficult to work through the stitches if you are too tight.

Getting Started

Find the end of the selvage, or cut a section to make a starting point. Wind the selvage into balls, splicing the ends together if you come to an end. If it gets too tangled, you can cut it and splice the ends together.

Making the Rug

• Splicing
  Pull the weft yarns out of the warps for the 2 inches at the end of each selvage strand. Place all 4 ends together and tie an overhand knot. Trim ends even with selvage fringe.
• Technique: Single Crochet
  Start:
  Chain 10-24 Stitches. The number of stitches in your chain will determine the shape of your rug. Starting with just a few will give you a rounder shape; more will create a longer oval.
  Row 1:
  Single crochet in second chain from hook and each chain across to last chain.
  Do not turn the work, instead chain 1* and work the other side of your beginning chain.
  This is the first round or row.
  *Adjustments: If you are using thick selvage, or think you need a little more room on the end, chain 2-3 stitches off the end of row 1.
• Shaping:
  Continue: Repeat around chain, increasing at ends of rug until reaching desired size.
  Note: Sometimes you will need to adjust your increases to shape your rug.
  If rug begins to ruffle you are increasing too much.
  If rug begins to bowl you are not increasing enough.
• Ending:
  Taper the wool by dropping one of the two selvage strands, and crochet two more stitches. Cut the selvage and pull through. Use a yarn needle to weave in the ends.
• Care:
  Dry clean or hand wash. For hand washing, soak in mild soap and tepid water in tub. Drain tub, refill with cool water to rinse soap. When soap is rinsed out, run through the spin cycle of washing machine to remove most of water then lay flat to dry in ventilated area.