“I don’t know what happened to your” T-shirt Rug Pattern

I Don’t Know What Happened.pdf

For a video tutorial on how to turn your loved ones’ ugly t-shirts into yarn, click here.

After starting and ripping out this rug several times, I settled on a striped rectangle that radiates out from the center cast on.  The size of the rug you can make is only limited by the length of your circular needles (and the amount of yarn you have). It is worked over 2 circular needles. The rug pictured here used 2 48-inch cables with size 15 needles.

linked from indulgy.com

Judy’s Magic Cast On is used in order to have live stitches going in opposite directions.  Knitting around from needle to needle while increasing at each corner creates the flat rectangle that emanates from the center.  When you reach the end of a ball of yarn you can use this join technique to join the next ball of yarn.  Or, you can simply drop the yarn and start knitting with the next and weave in the ends when your rug is completed.

Skill Level- Beginner

Finished Measurements in inches–27 inches wide by 19 inches

Yarn- T-shirt yarn (homemade or store bought). The rug pictured used yarn from 11 adult size-large t-shirts or about 150 yds

Gauge- 1.5 stitches per inch in stockinette on 2 size-15 or larger circular needles.  Although, gauge isn’t critically important.

Needles- 2 long circular size-15 or larger needles. 48-inch cable is recommended.

Directions
Using Judy’s Magic Cast On, cast on 34 stitches (17 per needle).

Even Round:  On first needle, knit all stitches.  On second needle, the cast-on loops are twisted so knit all stitches through the back loops to untwist them.  After this round the stitches are worked normally.

Set Up Round: On first needle, kf&b, pm, kf&b, knit until 2 stitches remain on needle, kf&b, pm, kf&b. On second needle, kf&b, pm, kf&b, knit until 2 stitches remain on needle, kf&b, pm, kf&b.

Even Round: knit across both needles

Increase Round: On first needle, knit until 1 stitch before marker, kf&b, sm, kf&b, knit until 1 stitch before marker, kf&b, sm, kf&b, knit to end of needle. On second needle, knit until 1 stitch before marker, kf&b, sm, kf&b, knit until 1 stitch before marker, kf&b, sm, kf&b, knit to end of needle.

Repeat these 2 rounds 11 times.

Purl Round: purl across both needles

Increase Round: On first needle, knit until 1 stitch before marker, kf&b, sm, kf&b, knit until 1 stitch before marker, kf&b, sm, kf&b, knit to end of needle. On second needle, knit until 1 stitch before marker, kf&b, sm, kf&b, knit until 1 stitch before marker, kf&b, sm, kf&b, knit to end of needle.

Repeat these 2 rounds 1 more time.

Bind off loosely, weave in ends, and block. This rug really benefits from a good wet blocking. The t-shirt yarn is really stretchy and the rug comes off the needles a bit wavy and curly.

Abbreviations

Kf&b – an increase where you knit into the front and back of the stitch.

Pm – place marker

Sm- slip marker