ReNews Rugs -Recycled Newspaper Bag Rugs
These rugs are made from our Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newspaper bags I've collected them from friends and neighbors. If I did my math right, a 38" x 36" rug used 220 bags!
This is a sampler rug, to show you different ways to weave the bags into the blue cotton warp. The weft (bags) need to be attached to each other somehow or the rug might not be as stable.
The thicker rows on the right have bags that were heat fused (with an iron). I didn't like this method as much because the plastic can get hard & really didn't want to put in more energy usage in the making of the rug.
The middle method was just tying the bags in knots. I kind of like the bubbles it creates - creating occasional "pops" when stepped on!
The thinner rows on the left side of the picture used bags that were cut down the middle from the open end and opened up. The ends were left hanging at the selvages (sides of the rug) and later sewed with a zig-zag stitch to make sure they stay in place. The "fluffy" ends are cute.
I've had the "sampler rug" in my mud room for a few months now. It survived big boots scraping snow off on it, and even the dog...and after many! times in the washing machine, looks as good as new....I'd say they are every bit as sturdy as a cotton rag rug! PLUS, every once an awhile, stepping on it makes a "pop" sound...a cool feature if I must say so myself!
This rug is 36" wide x 38" long. The close up is on the right. With this rug, I only used the dark green bags and tied them together in small knots, so you'll get a little bit of that "popping" . This rug is $50 and is available. I will be making more of these, especially in the 24" wide width.