Mrs. Plum's Braided Rug Pattern
Mrs. Plum is a skilled rug braider. She learned as a child, from her Grandmother.


Mrs. Plum shows two of her braided rugs to the girls.

Supplies needed:
  • Three colors of embroidery thread. Do not separate strands.
  • Pin
  • Tacky Glue
  • Toothpick
  • Fabric for backing

For this rug we used Orange as the main color, Blue and Green as the other two colors.


You can use these patterns or create your own.

Cutting Instructions:

Cut:
3--36" lenghts of color #1
3--36" lengths of color #2
3--36" lenghts of color #3

 

 

1. Braid three lengths as follows:
1st braid: 2 #1 and 1 #2
2nd braid: 2 #2 and1 #3
3rd braid: 1 #1 and 2 #3

2. Trace the oval or circle onto the wrong side of your backing fabric. Do not cut out yet. Coat this on the wrong side with glue.

3. Starting with the 1st braid, begin to lay it down carefully, starting at the outside of the shape.

4. Work it around as many rows as you like, making sure to end off where you started. Add the other two braids in any order you like. Keep working in towards the center.

5. When you get to the center, lay the braid as flat as possible to fill in the last spots.

TIPS

  • Use the toothpick to spread the braid onto the glue, and move it into position. This keeps your fingers from getting gluey, and spreading it onto the top of the rug.
  • Always start at the outside, so that you can maintain the shape of your rug.
  • Don't braid too tightly. Looser braids will lay nice and flat.
  • Save the ends of the braids you cut off, to use in other rugs.
  • Stablize the ends of the embroidery thread when braiding, by using a pin or tack. This makes your braid even.