Recycled Rug Poufs

By: Heather of Dollar Store Crafts

Want to know how to make a bean bag chair from some inexpensive rugs? Check out these recycled rug poufs from Heather Mann and you can make chic poufs for your home using materials from the dollar store!

Recycled Ruf Poufs

Materials:

3 nylon throw rugs
Acrylic yarn
Crochet hook
Sewing machine & thread
Something to stuff it with

Notes:
First of all, some nylon throw rug discussion. If you don't like these cheap rugs, you can use slightly more expensive rag rugs (from Ikea or Target, about $3-5 each). When working with the rugs, avoid cutting them up at all costs, as they won't hold together when the nylon strings that hold them together are cut up. Likewise, be gentle when working with the long edges of the rugs.

Instructions:

Sew the rugs together: Sew two rugs, right side together, along the fringed side. Make sure they are sewn securely.
Add the third rug to the other side of one of the rugs, sewing right sides together along the fringed side. Make sure the seams are all on the same side of your long rug.
Sew the two ends of the two outside rugs together, sewing right sides together along the fringed side.
You now have a tube. It's a very short tube with very large openings.
Crochet/gather the top of the tube:Using a medium-large crochet hook and regular acrylic yarn, insert hook in top edge of rug tube and slip stitch around the top of the tube, with a stitch about every half inch. On your second row, decrease by the following method: Draw up a loop in next stitch. Again, draw up a loop in the next stitch. (There should now be 3 loops on the hook.) Yarn over hook. Draw yarn through all 3 loops on the hook. (One decrease made). Draw string as tight as possible between each decrease stitch. Continue around the rug until it's gathered all up. This might take four or five rows around.
If you don't crochet: Use yarn and a large plastic needle to weave in and out of the edge of the tube, drawing as tightly as possible. Cut a cover for the puckered area out of complimentary-colored circle of felt, wool felt, or a felted sweater and sew over pucker.
Gather the bottom of the tube:You can gather the bottom of the pouf in the same way as above, but stuff the pouf before the hole gets too small. I actually created a drawstring effect on the bottom of my pouf so I could stuff and unstuff it at will. Instead of gathering all the way to the center of the circle, I left it open and threaded a string through the edges so I could tie it closed.
Stuffing the pouf: For the sample, I stuffed it with a large fleece blanket and towels, but you can buy a body pillow and use the stuffing inside it for a cheap alternative to fiberfill. Or stuff it with recycled packing peanuts, or your large collection of plastic grocery sacks (if you don't mind the plastic crinkly sound effect!).

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Weberme

Nov 17, 2017

What! Really. Made from dollar store rugs. This recycled rug poufs make a gret added seating in a room and a great way to store your blankets too. You could put a strong cord woven through the end to pull it open and close the rug. So easy and stylish. Great tutorial and cool project.

Crafty Suz

Aug 19, 2017

Wow, I never would have thought to do this. What a great idea. You know, this would be a great way to store extra clothing or blankets etc. from the off season. This would be especially helpful in a home or camp with a short supply of storage or seating. This will be easy on the budget for a college student or people with a new apartment or home.

princess6860504

Jun 11, 2017

So. so cool! I just adore the black and white stripes! I cannot believe that I can make this rag rug pouf using crochet. What a great weekend project for a rainy day or frigid winters indoors. I'd sure have fun finding and choosing my rugs at the store! You could almost mix three different rugs to get a really funky, eclectic look.

mdeysenroth0627

Mar 07, 2017

I love this idea! I have a whole bunch of fiberfill left from re-making my sofa-back cushions with foam. Now I know what to do with it!

Mistress of All Ev il

Dec 11, 2015

This would look great in my new apartment. I might also make one for my little sister who's going off to college soon. Super psyched that there's an option for those of us who don't crochet.

bobbylonardo 50143 99

May 11, 2014

With the exception of the plastic bag idea, I think these things would be very heavy and difficult to move around.

cjhallford 7567297

Jun 20, 2013

These would be great for dorms or small apartments by tying one end closed so that extra blankets, etc. could be stored inside instead of old stuffing, etc. stuff the stuff into trash bag before stuffing the poof to keep the stored things clean, and enclose a fabric softener sheet to keep the stored stuff smelling sweet........

Teariana Designs

Jan 21, 2012

Great for kids who don't care how soft the cushion is, I am sure there are other inexpensive things for those of who do. I also used the crinkly bag idea before for my cats, but I out thought myself and cut the bags into strips not realizing it wouldn't be as crinkly or take up as much space as the whole bags do. Oh, well you live and you learn. Hmm? though. I do have a ginormous plethora of grocery bags. I keep forgetting to bring my reusable one's.

Ado Annie

Nov 30, 2011

I really like green projects like this. For a different look the long edges could be overlapped and sewn with a tight zigzag stitch along the inside of the fringe. This would leave three fringe lines on the outside of the pillow for decoration.

eliquir

Apr 26, 2011

What size rugs are these? I was at Walmart today, so I looked at some rugs, just to see, and it seems like they would be too small. Meaning, really wide tube, but really short to make a beanbag chair, even for kids.

hicup98 6471149

Mar 14, 2012

the poufs that are being talked about here, are more of an ottoman than a bean bag. they are very much in style right now and super expensive. they can be used as extra seating if it is needed but is more of an ottoman.

Amy Leisure

Apr 26, 2011

Great idea. I like that you've stuffed it with old blankets too.

tlollini 3909613

Nov 27, 2012

I didnt know who to reply to, but I have made these great poofs, only I stuffed them with fabric scraps from my sewing projects, old miss matched socks that have been hanging around the laundry room looking for their mates. I still say the grimlins ate the mates! I took old pillows, washed them and used them--there is everything and anything inside my poofs! Love them! Oh...I put a zipper in mine and closed up the drawstring area and added a large button to cover the tops. My next poof is going to be made from blue jeans! Cant wait!