Quick and Easy instructions for crocheting or knitting a rug to protect your knees in the garden using an old sweatshirt. Total time to complete from start to finish is about two hours!

Materials:
One Extra Large (XL) Men’s Sweatshirt,
Crochet hook, size Q (15.75 mm) or
Knitting Needles, size US19 (15 mm).

Making the “Yarn”:
Remove and discard the hem and cuffs of the sweatshirt.
Remove and discard the seams at the sleeves.

Starting at the bottom of the sweatshirt, cut 1 inch (2.5 cm) into the fabric and cut one long strip of fabric working your way all the way up to the underarms of the sweatshirt. The top of the shirt can be discarded. (No need to measure, it’s okay if the strip isn’t exactly 1 inch or 2.5 cm wide in all places.)

Starting at the bottom of one of the sleeves, cut 1 inch (2.5 cm) into the fabric and cut one long strip, working your way all the way up to the top of the sleeve. Discard excess fabric at the top. Repeat with the second sleeve.

Join fabric strips together using No Sew Join #1. (See Link below.)

Using the instructions below, the approximate rug size is 9 X 17 inches or 22.9 X 43.2 cm. If you need to make the width of the rug smaller to fit between your garden rows, start by chaining fewer stitches for the crocheted rug.

Crochet Instructions:
Chain 16 loosely and single crochet until you do not have enough fabric to finish a complete row. Finish off and weave in loose fabric ends.

Knitting Instructions:
Cast on 10 stitches, loosely, and bind off when you have just enough fabric to finish the last row or have reached the desired width. Weave in loose fabric ends.

If you would like, make the last loop large enough to fit around the handle of your wheelbarrow so you can hang it up when not in use. Tie the base of the loop in a knot to hold in place.

Care Instructions:
Machine wash, hang in the sun to dry.

I purchased my crochet hook and knitting needles at my local craft store. They can also be found online at amazon.com.
Find a 6" Plastic Crochet Hook Size Q (15.75mm) at amazon.com


Find Luxite Single Point 14" Knitting Needles Size 19 (15.00mm) at amazon.com.


Have fun in the garden!