Runner rugs are great for hallways and terrific on stairs. Designer and decorative artist Mary Jennings finds a new use for a pretty runner that was headed for the trash by cutting it up and turning it into a pair of rugs for a redesigned bathroom. One part is fashioned into runaround rug that circles the commode (figure A); the remnants become a fringed vanity rug (figure B). Materials:
Runner rug
Brown kraft paper
Tape measure
Craft knife with sharp blade
Carpet tape
Glue gun and glue sticks or heavy-duty glue
- Make a kraft-paper pattern of the rug that will surround the commode. Cut the pattern to the desired length, keeping in mind that the width will be determined by the width of the runner.
- Fold the paper pattern in half lengthwise, and hold it against the runner to make sure the center line of the paper matches the center line of the runner.
- To cut a hole in the pattern to accommodate the commode, align the center fold of one end of the pattern with the center of the wall at the back of the commode. Hold the pattern in place against the base of the commode, and use the craft knife to cut along the base of the commode. Remove the center piece to use as a template when cutting the commode hole in the runner.
- Use the craft knife to cut the runner to the correct length. To cut the commode hole from the runner, tape the paper template of the commode to the runner, and cut around it with the knife. Before cutting, measure the distance between the wall and the commode again to make sure the carpet will meet the wall in back of the commode perfectly. Cut a slit at the back of the runner so it will fit around the commode, and set it in place.
- Use carpet tape to attach the two ends of the runner to create a fringed vanity rug. Use heavy-duty glue or a hot-glue gun to secure any loose fibers along the edges.
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