A
toothbrush rug is a rug is an ancient form of Nålebinding,
a Danish word meaning “binding with a needle”. It pre-dates
knitting and crocheting.
The
original complex technique was brought to the United States by
immigrants long ago. It was modified during the 1930's to the easy
method that we use today. This is thought to have been done by
WPA workers in Minnesota.
It
became popular in the USA during the depression and during World Wars
when fabric became scarce and expensive. The
tool then was made from the handle of a toothbrush.
It takes approximately 9 yards of material to make a 2 foot by 3 foot
rug.
Here
is why they are better than braided, or crocheted rugs.
●
They
last for years, 20-30 years
●
They
will not unravel if it develops any holes
●
They
are machine wash and dry. I lay mine down
when
they are slightly damp so they air dry flat.
●
They
are reversible, meaning you can get twice as
much
wear before cleaning.
●
They
are made from re-cycled fabric, they will not shrink
fade,
or distort when washed
●
Eco-friendly,
practical and beautiful
Here are some rugs I have made
If you are interested in making your own Toothbrush Rug, I have made a video to get you started.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K4snhQdum0
