I know that a lot of my readers are big knit blanket fans, but I’ve always been more fond of a good knitted rug. Hear me out here!
First of all, free knit rug patterns are generally smaller than blankets. That means you can start and finish one faster and you won’t have another dreaded work in progress lurking about.
Secondly, you don’t need any fancy yarns for rugs. Sturdy cotton works the best (and is much cheaper than wool). But really any yarn that you have in your stash would probably do the trick! (And yes, scrap yarn knitted rugs are totally a thing and they’re just as amazing as they sound!)
One last thing that I absolutely love about free knit rug patterns is that you really don’t have to sweat the small stuff. If you notice that you made a mistake a few rows back, oh well. It’s only for standing on after all, and the floor is a little too far away for scrutiny. Mistake away!
So how do you knit a rug anyway? Just pick one of these amazing free knit rug patterns and get started! We’ve got knit circle rug patterns, knit rectangle rug patterns, knit scrap rug patterns, cable knit rug patterns, chunky knit rug patterns, and there’s even a few whimsical rug patterns thrown in that are sure to make you smile! Scroll down and see for yourself.
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25 Free Knit Rug Patterns for Every Room
Tender Foot Spa/Bath Mat
Made with only basic stitches, the Tender Foot Bath Mat was created for the designer’s husband who didn’t like stepping on garter ridge bumps – so she designed a rug with a Stockinette stitch center for him! You can easily modify the size of this rug by adding or subtracting stitches or rows. You hold two strands of yarn together for a super quick knit.
Designer: Haze Werner
Yarn: Two strands worsted (#4) held together or bulky (#5)
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Rag Doily Rug
This semi circular rug is made with recycled sheets! What a fun way to repurpose something that otherwise might be thrown away. Once you’ve made the yarn, you knit a fun doily pattern using the recycled sheet yarn. I love this idea!!
Designer: Julie Weisenberger
Yarn: Recycled Sheets (equivalent to Super Bulky #6)
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Banguibain Bath Mat
Think outside the box with a squishy spa bath mat knit with two colors. The super bulky yarn makes for a very sturdy and squishy rug. The soft texture of the stitches here is absolutely perfect for a bath mat that’s both comfortable to walk on and will actually soak up a fair amount of water, plus the color work makes it amazingly beautiful. The tassels on the end give it a professional look.
Designer: Ame-Peyrinaud Guilaine
Yarn: Hooked Ribbon XL (Super Bulky #6)
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Welcome Home Herringbone Rug
A textured herringbone pattern and fringed edges make this rug look store-bought. No one will ever believe you knit this yourself! Knit with three strands of cotton worsted weight yarn held together, this project knits up in no time.
Designer: Erin Black
Yarn: Three strands worsted held together
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Big Stitch Knit Rug
Wow, look at the texture on this rug! Since this yarn is so thick this is a quick project, even though it is a bit on the larger size for a knitted rug. It’s created with an easy slip stitch pattern to give it that wonderful texture.
Designer: Purl Soho
Yarn: Bag Smith’s Big Stitch Alpaca (Super Bulky Yarn #6)
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Rag Bath Mat
Here is another wonderful rag rug made with recycled yarn!! This one is also made from “yarn” that is from torn strips of fabric, from sheets or other thinner fabrics. I really love the idea of upcycling like this and can’t wait to try it out.
Designer: Julie Weisenberger
Yarn: Recycled fabric (Super Bulky Weight #6)
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Country Rug
This easy rug pattern uses only simple knit and purl stitches to create a durable rug out of Handicrafter Cotton yarn. Choose a rustic color scheme like the one pictured for a cottage or cabin or modernize with a more neutral color.
Designer: Yarnspirations
Yarn: Handicrafter Cotton Country Colors (Worsted Weight #4)
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Lofty
This rug uses a very unique stitch pattern to create this stunning, squishy texture – but don’t worry, there is a video tutorial to help you along the way. This chenille yarn makes this soft rug perfect for placing beside your bed.
Designer: Universal Yarn
Yarn: Universal Yarn Bella Chenille
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Moonlight Reflection
Who says knit rug patterns can’t be every bit as beautiful as store bought rugs? This show stopping rug design is knit in a circle to begin, then shaped with short rows and stripes with garter stitch.
Designer: Drops Design
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Paris (Aran Weight #4)
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Farmhouse Rug
Knit with cotton yarn, this was designed as a small rug for the bathroom so that when you stepped out of the shower your wet feet were comfortable. Cotton yarn is also easy to machine wash and dry, making this an excellent choice for a bath mat. It’s worked all in basic stitches.
Designer: Eva Miehe
Yarn: Schachenmayr Catania Grande (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free rug knitting pattern! (Make to sure to click English!)
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One Skein Shoe Rug
Elevate a simple shoe rug with textures and cable. I love the stitch definition you get with this worsted weight yarn. The best thing about super patterns like this is how easy it is to customize the size. It would be easy to add more textured stitches on each side, double the cable panel in the middle, or even add in some Stockinette to make it wider.
Designer: Art Fiend
Yarn: (Worsted Weight #4)
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Sea Snail Bath Mat
Brighten any space with a richly striped and circular sea snail rug! This bath mat is knit in a spiral and joined as you go. The spiral is achieved by short row shaping techniques.
Designer: Joyce Fassbender
Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy (Worsted Weight #4)
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Big Lake Rug
Add a touch of vintage charm to any room with the big lake rug. It’s hard to believe that you can achieve this symphony of texture with just basic knitting stitches. Knit with jumbo yarn on size 100 needles, this project works up in no time.
Designer: Nancy Ekvall
Yarn: Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok Jumbo (Jumbo Weight #7)
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Colour Wheel Carpet
Rainbow colors look chicer than ever thanks to this fun spiral knit pattern. This stylish knit rug is made with stripes, garter stitch and short rows. You’ll be working with 3 strands of yarn at once for a quick knit.
Designer: Drops Design
Yarn: 3 strands Garnstudio DROPS Paris (Aran held together = Super Bulky Weight #6)
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Upcycled T-Shirt Rug
I love the idea of recycling old t-shirts into rugs. This super simple garter stitch rug can be used in any room of the home and is a wonderful use for old t-shirts you no longer wear or ones that have holes. You can also make this rug with pre-made t-shirt yarn.
Designer: Gail Neumann
Yarn: Upcycled t-shirt yarn (Super Bulky #6)
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“I Don’t Know What Happened to Your T-Shirt” Rug
Here’s another super fun t-shirt rug that uses a special cast on to work from the center out! I love the idea of using different colored shirts for a striped effect as seen in the sample knit above., or again you can use store bought t-shirt yarn.
Designer: Andre Sue
Yarn: Upcycled T-Shirts (Super Bulky Weight #6)
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Tapiton
This great smaller rug would be perfect by a doorway or in a bathroom. It is made with just basic stitches and two strands of DK yarn held together to achieve a bulky yarn weight. I love the small fringe on the ends, too.
Designer: Sabine Falgari
Yarn: 2 strands DK held together (2 strands DK #3 = Bulky Weight #5)
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Rustic Mat
Created with sport weight yarn and size 4 needles, this mat isn’t a quick make but it sure is pretty. Use it as a small bath mat, mat under a vase or even as a cleaning cloth. You can easily adjust the size to make a larger mat if desired.
Designer: Edita Radic
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Loves You 7 (Sport Weight #2)
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Twist Rug
This free knit rug pattern features an easily affordable cotton yarn, textured stitches, and a nice fringed edging. The worsted weight of the cotton yarn gives you a nice solid rug surface. Plus, the yarn is durable and machine washable too!
Designer: Yarnspirations
Yarn: Lily Sugar N Cream Twists (Worsted Weight #4)
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Cabin Rug
I’ve always loved this simple rug pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. Knit in Wool Ease Thick and Quick, this project works up super quickly and adds a nice touch to any entryway or beside a bed.
Designer: Lion Brand
Yarn: Wool Ease Thick & Quick (Super Bulky Weight #6)
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Underfoot Rug
Who says modern rugs have to be white? I love free knit rug patterns that use lots of colors like this beautiful underfoot rug. Can you say stashbuster?! You can use up all your odds and ends of yarn to make this stunning rug or use a multicolor yarn with white like they did in the sample.
Designer: Mary Jane Protus for Coats & Clark
Yarn: Red Heart Grande (Super Bulky Weight #6)
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Woven Look Rug
Here is another stunning knit rug that looks woven. This rug pattern has a matching afghan so you can create a matching set. I really think it would look lovely in modern shades of grays or teal with white!
Designer: Patons
Yarn: Patons North America Decor (Worsted Weight #4)
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Boot Jute Doormat
This clever doormat is designed to trap mud and dirt before they get in your house. Knit with garden twine and jute, this doormat is sure to stand up to the wear and tear a rug by the door gets.
Designer: J. Erin Knits
Yarn: Garden Twine (Super Bulky Weight #6)
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Very Simple Rug
Basic stitches and stripes go hand in hand with this fabulous crafty rug. With garter stitch texture you can see and feel, and a sturdy fabric knit with aran weight yarn, you can’t go wrong with this free knit rug pattern.
Designer: Dooley and Spud
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (Aran Weight #4)
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Bear Rug
Be extra fabulous with this plush rug that looks like a bear. I love free knit rug patterns that have multiple uses. This simple single knit design would look right at home on a nursery floor, as a loveable blanket pal or just about anywhere you want cute bear decor.
Designer: Schachenmayr
Yarn: Schachenmayr Bravo (Super Bulky Weight #6)
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Have you ever made a knitted rug before? If not, then I hope this collection of free knit rug patterns has inspired you to make your first one! Which free knitting pattern are you going to try? Tell me all about it in the comments below!
If you already have one or more knit rugs on the books, share your best tips and tricks with the newbies in the comments below. Also, please feel free to share any great free knit rug patterns that you have used before that we missed.
Ain’t no party like a knitting round-up party because the knitting round-up party doesn’t stop! See you here next week for another fabulous round of free patterns. Hit that follow button so you don’t miss out!
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Also check out our collection of free crochet rug patterns!
Happy Knitting!
Amanda
Thank you for the Rug Patterns. I need a new bath mat and these patterns gave me ideas. Sometimes we just need a little nudge to get started.
Now I just have to decide which stash I go to; old or torn bed sheets, T-shirts that are no longer worn for a variety of reasons, or the cotton yarn storage tub full of incomplete skeins.
You are so kind to do all the internet research and then present the bundles of ideas for our pleasure and action.
Thanks so much! I’m so glad you are enjoying these patterns. I have a great time choosing my favorites to add. I’m definitely going to try making a rug with old sheets – it’s a wonderful idea and I need a couple of rugs. 😀
Are these knitted rug patterns available in a book?
I’m sorry, no, they aren’t because they are all from different websites and different designers.