Rag Rugging for Beginners: Make Textile Home Decorations
A course by Elspeth Jackson (Ragged Life)Textile Artist and Rug Maker
A course by Elspeth Jackson (Ragged Life), Textile Artist and Rug Maker
Transform old clothing and textile cut-offs into colorful home accessories using creative rag rugging techniques
Through rag rugging, you can transform any clothing or fabric you have lying around into unique works of art. For textile artist and rug maker Elspeth Jackson, it’s a meditative craft that offers the opportunity to express yourself with minimum waste. She runs her own craft business, Ragged Life, and has published two books in which she shares her expertise.
In this online course, Elspeth teaches you how to use your old clothes and textile offcuts to create beautiful home decorations. Discover innovative rag rugging techniques to create your own custom rug from start to finish. Ready to get hooked on a new craft?
What will you learn in this online course?
20 lessons & 14 downloads
Rag Rugging: Its History and Techniques
7 minutes, 55 seconds
Materials and How to Source Them 1
17 minutes, 22 seconds
Materials and How to Source Them 2
10 minutes, 11 seconds
Inspiration and Practical Tips for a Successful Rug 1
12 minutes, 59 seconds
Inspiration and Practical Tips for a Successful Rug 2
8 minutes, 53 seconds
Sketching the Design and Choosing the Colours
20 minutes, 9 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin the course by getting to know textile artist and rug maker Elspeth Jackson. Discover the creative journey that led her to start her own sustainable craft business, Ragged Life, along with the influences that inspire the work she creates.
Dive into what rag rugging is, the techniques used, and the history of the craft. Then look at the tools needed for the course. Elspeth shares where to find inspiration for your projects, along with her practical tips for creating successful rugs.
Plan and sketch out your design before choosing your colors. Learn how to cut your hessian fabric to size and secure the edges to protect them over time. Then see how to transfer your design onto the hessian and discover tips and tricks for cutting and preparing your fabric and clothing.
Time to start your rug! Begin building your design with the shaggy technique to create the border of your piece. Then fill in the background using the short shaggy technique before putting the finishing touches to your rug using the loopy technique.
Learn how to care for your rugs, clean, and repair them. To finish the course, Elspeth talks about how to apply the knowledge you’ve learned throughout the course to create other accessories, from wall hangings to upholstered furniture.
What is this course's project?
Create a rag rug using three traditional British techniques: the shaggy, the short shaggy, and the loopy techniques.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in learning to create unique home accessories through sustainable crafting.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is required to take this course.
In terms of materials, you will need old clothing, hessian (burlap), rug tools, scissors, and other basic materials specified by the teacher in the course.
Reviews
- 2 months ago
Me parece un curso muy interesante y útil. La profesora explica de forma muy clara. Comparte muchas ideas y consejos que aportan un gran valor. Lo recomiendo
- 1 year ago
Me ha encantado el curso. Está explicado muy en detalle para que resulte fácil realizar lo aprendido. Me parece muy práctico, sin necesidad de muchos materiales complicados. Únicamente creo que habría que cuidar más los subtítulos al español.
- c2227sPLUS1 year ago
Rag Rugging is super easy and requires no prior experience—perfect for beginners! Plus, it's very affordable, you do not need a lot of tools. It's a lot of fun, and I really appreciate that it involves recycling materials, making it both creative and eco-friendly. The instructor is outstanding—clear, passionate, and incredibly helpful in explaining each step. I also love that it's something you can easily teach your kids and enjoy together as a family activity.
- 1 year ago
This class is fantastic! I am a quilter, and I have lots of scraps. Now I know how to use them! Please have more classes from this teacher because she has more uses of scrap fabric.
- 2 years ago
I just love this course! The teacher is so interesting and covers everything about rag rigging. I really recommend it.
Since then, Elspeth has taught thousands of crafters how to upcycle their textile waste through rag rugging and sells everything from pre-printed hessian to rug ragging tools. She also works with local mills to prevent their textile offcuts from going to landfills as part of her commitment to sustainability. Elspeth has published two books in which she shares her expertise on the craft, Rag Rugs, Pillows & more and Rag Rug Techniques for Beginners, and has appeared on TV both in the UK and globally. In 2019, she also won the Mollie Makes Best Established Business Award.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Rag Rugging: History, Techniques, and Inspiration
- Rag Rugging: Its History and Techniques
- Materials and How to Source Them 1
- Materials and How to Source Them 2
- Inspiration and Practical Tips for a Successful Rug 1
- Inspiration and Practical Tips for a Successful Rug 2
- U3
Getting Ready
- Sketching the Design and Choosing the Colours
- Hemming the Hessian (Burlap)
- How to Transfer the Design onto the Hessian
- Preparing Your Material 1
- Preparing Your Material 2
- U4
Shaggy, Short Shaggy, and Loopy Techniques
- Building the Design: Shaggy Technique 1
- Building the Design: Shaggy Technique 2
- Short Shaggy 1
- Short Shaggy 2
- Loopy Technique and Finishing Touches 1
- Loopy Technique and Finishing Touches 2
- U5
Taking Care of Your Rug and More
- Care and Maintenance
- Applying Your Skills Elsewhere
- FP
Final project
- Rag Rugging for Beginners: Make Textile Home Decorations
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Rag rugging is a craft that transforms old fabrics into decorative rugs and accessories. This course is beginner-friendly and covers all the basics, from fabric selection to finishing techniques, so no prior experience is needed.
You’ll need hessian (burlap) as a rug base, old clothing or fabric offcuts, a rag rug spring tool or hook, scissors, and optional non-slip backing. The course explains how to source, prepare, and use these materials effectively.
Yes, the course teaches multiple traditional British rag rugging techniques, including shaggy, loopy, and short shaggy styles, so you can create a range of textures and designs.
Absolutely! The course emphasizes sustainability and demonstrates how to upcycle old clothes and textile offcuts into beautiful, unique rag rugs and home accessories.
You’ll learn to create rugs, wall hangings, cushions, clothing, and more using rag rug techniques. The course includes inspiration for practical and decorative projects beyond floor rugs.
The course guides you through selecting durable, flexible fabrics that don’t fray easily, and explains how to test and prepare them for rag rugging to ensure your projects last.
No previous textile or sewing experience is needed. The course is designed for complete beginners and guides you step-by-step through every stage of the rag rugging process.