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How To Make A Canvas Work Rug

Kirstie's Handmade Britain

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How To Make A Canvas Work Rug

Would you like to try making the canvas work rug featured in Kirstie's Handmade Britain? Follow our simple instructions below to find out how it was done.

By Kirstie Allsopp

Plastic canvas, size 7 HPI

Tapestry wool or double knit wool in various colours

Hessian thread or cotton to match the colour of the hessian

Hand needle, size 22

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Skill

This is fiddly but not impossible for a beginner.

Budget

Tapestry or double knit wool costs around £asdfasd

Time

Beginners should leave themselves at least a weekend – obviously the bigger the rug, the longer it will take to complete.

Step One: Copy The Pattern

First start by designing your pattern - it can be the same as ours or similar - or you can create your own. Then, copy your pattern onto graph paper, adjusting where necessary to the size of your canvas, remembering to keep the pattern symmetrical.

Step Two: Start To Stitch

Starting at the bottom, begin to work in half cross stitch with two strands of wool together, keeping an even stitch tension.

Step Three: Fasten Off

When fastening off at the back make sure that you do not pull the wool through the back of the stitches too tightly.

Step Four: Consult The Graph

As you work up the canvas, keep checking the pattern with your graph to make sure that the shapes and colours are correct and that all the half cross stitch is going from left to right.

Step Five: Over Sew The Sides

When you have completed the canvas you need to over sew the left and right hand sides. The top and bottom will have a fringe.

Step Six: Back The Rug

To back the rug, take the hessian and cut a piece approximately 1cm wider and longer than the rug. Be careful when doing this as it frays and stretches easily. Sew onto back of rug, turning under the 1cm hem, with thread or two strands of cotton. Make sure that no hessian shows along the edges.

Step Seven: Add The Fringe

For the fringe, cut some wool into 9cm lengths, you will need one strand for each hole.

Step Eight: Tie Off

Thread a length into your needle. With the right side of the rug facing upwards pass the needle from the bottom part way through a hole then pass it back through the same hole producing a loop. Take needle off and pass the two ends through the loop and pull tight. When that end is done turn rug around and do the same at the other edge.