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toothbrush rug is made with a stitch similar to a buttonhole stitch
around a fabric core. The rug resembles a braided rug, but
requires only half the fabric. A
crocheted rug takes the same amount of fabric, but the toothbrush rug is
softer than a crocheted rug.
I strongly suggest that
you make your first rug with 100% cotton dress weight fabric (calicoes) because it
so much easier to learn on this type of fabric. After you
learn how to make a rug, you can use recycled fabric such as old sheets,
fabric remnants from other projects, wools, double knits, old curtains,
sale fabric such as panels used to make animals or dolls or fabric from
the flat fold table.
The only kind of fabric I wouldn't suggest is
lightweight, sheer fabric or slick fabrics, such satin. Bargain velour or polar fleece would
make a very soft rug for a bedroom or bathroom.
Attention
Quilters!
Use up those fabrics that
you look at and say to yourself, "Why did I get that? I
can't stand that fabric." or "What am I going to do with
that backing fabric? I'll never use that on the style of quilts I
make now." Those fabrics are perfect for toothbrush rugs and
you won't have to sell them in your garage sale for pennies.
Or have you been given a
bunch of fabric that you can't part with, but you just can't
think just what to do with it. Use it to make a beautiful toothbrush rug
and use it in your home or give it as a gift.
Make a rug to match or
blend in with a quilt you've made for yourself or your son or daughter.
Send them off to college with a rug and a wall hanging for the dorm room
to make it feel more like home.
The rugs wear like iron
and with care can become heirlooms.
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