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Ok gals, I know you are all smart and come up with a million ideas.
Last year I was making rugs using selvage ends tucked into the slots on large rug canvas. The rug slippy goop you paint on the back of rugs secured the loops on the back and this made a fine rug. I passed along this to a couple gals who made them to sell, and a few of you even mailed me your selvage ends to pass along to them. Thank you!
My question is this. That method is time consuming as all get out, and I am looking to use strip of fabric to make into rugs ect. I have seen the crochet methods and tried it, but i can never get it to lay flat. I have also done the braid of three strip and then sew it together, but again, not laying flat and nice.
So my question is this. How have you done rugs using strips of fabric that is fairly quick and nice looking. I want to teach this to a couple gals who are unemployeed and hopefully they sell them and make a bit of cash. Thanks gals for your input!

That sounds like a good idea for a way to earn a little cash. I don't have any suggestions about how to make them but have you tried googling? I entered "making rugs from fabric strips" in the search box and there were a lot of sites that came up.

My Mom made braided rugs - large ones - from strips of fabric for our living room floor. Her first one had quite an impressive "belly button". For subsequent ones she sat on the floor to keep the rug flat as she sewed on the rounds. I imagine for smaller rugs just keeping them against any flat surface, a table top for instance, as you sew would help keep them flat. As I recall she had a large, flat needle that she used to do the sewing with something like a ladder stitch - under a strip of fabric on one braid then under a strip on the adjoining one.

my quilty friend is helping another friend learn to make one now. Crocheting it.
i believe she is using the large grey plastic hook. (K?)
i will see them both tomorrow, will take pictures and see about the pattern. The one she is working on is going to be oval.

She made me this cute mug rug, and as you can see, i already have gotten some coffee in it.

it is a great idea to teach them to make rag rugs!

I'm a crocheter when it comes to fabric rugs. Love the relaxation, frustration and pleasure when it is done. I don't seem to have a problem with it laying flat; that's usually because the stitches are too tight or the stitch increases are off.

Here's some patterns/ideas from Tipnut.

http://tipnut.com/crafty-rugs-mats/

And I know I've seen somewhere that someone has sewn the strips together like a stripe or sting block and attached them to a backing (old towel, etc) for the bathroom or kitchen. Making blocks as for a strings quilt would make some neat patterns. I'll keep looking for it.

I've seen some hooked rugs that looked like they were simple torn strips of fabric. Using a hook and canvas will keep it flat. I crochet so tight that it's major exercise when I crochet with fabric. My DD knit a wonderful bath mat.

Here is the picture of the rag rug my friend Linda made..first one and first time crocheting!

all good ideas.....i am looking into a couple of them...thanks

The Crazy Mom Quilts blog just posted about making knitted fabric rugs and what size needle she uses.

She did a nice job on it! here is the link

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot...making-it-right.html

On the to-do list

Thanks for posting the link, Kim.