Our mission with our Moss Rug collections is not only to help you make a lush oasis for your home - but also to empower your creativity! We want to give you the skills and creative liberty to make this rug your own and not necessarily exactly like our example.

Your Forest Floor kit comes with enough supplies to recreate our rug if you so choose. But we've also included lots of additional supplies so that you can choose your own elements across the canvas and really make it yours.

1. Understanding how to put your rug together

If you've already made one of our moss coasters before, you'll probably find it quite easy to understand the different techniques used in this rug. But if you're new it might seem overwhelming - don't fret! 

Each technique used on this rug is quite simple. We're just repeating the same easy techniques again and again to cover a larger space than a coaster. So don't feel nervous about the large surface area, we promise that once you get into the swing of the project, you'll find it easy.

Sections of your rug:

When working on this project, it's best to think of your rug in 3x different sections.

a) Foundational section

This will form the base of your rug and includes the different colours of woven feather yarn that you can see in the image above. Most of the space on your rug will be covered with this feather stitching, because its quick to create and it makes for a nice flat surface. It's also great 'filler' for in between your textural sections.

b) Textural sections

The textural sections of your rug include a range of techniques that will create interesting features that draw the eye! This includes our bobbles, fuzzy loops and long latch hooked 'hair'. Because these areas will be the focal point to your rug, you want to consider the different ways that you can arrange them on your rug.

c) Decorative sections

Finally we have our decorative details! These sections include anything that can be 'added on' at the end to create extra visual interest and texture. Because they can be added on top of your foundational and textural sections, you don't need to think about these until you're close to finishing your rug.

2. The techniques used for your rug

Below you'll find two images showing the techniques you'll find in your Grassy Fields rug; an image version and a diagram version. Both label the different techniques you'll need to fill up your rug, but I find that different visuals work for different people - so refer to whichever you find most useful!

Take a look at the different sections using these images, and think about which you like the most. You can also look at our product images here if you'd like some more inspiration.

Techniques Used:

Techniques Used

1. Woven Grass - Feather Yarn
2. Bobbles - Veriagated Bobble Yarn
3. Fuzzy Loops - Chenille Yarn
4. 'Hair' Moss - Milk Yarn
5. Pom Poms - Milk Yarn
6. Embroidered Flowers - Milk Yarn

Each technique is colour-coded to match the sections mentioned in step 1. 

3. Choosing your yarn for each section

Now that you're familiar with how each technique looks on your rug, its time to lay out all your materials and choose which yarn and colours you would like to use on your rug!

See which textures you're most drawn to and play around with the placement on your own rug. Use your intuition and creativity to place your favourite textures and techniques wherever you think looks best!

If you'd like to make notes on your design, we've made a PDF template for you to use. You can download it here! Alternatively, you can place the balls of yarn onto your rug canvas to compare where you'd like them to go.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself at this stage. Go with textures and colours that feel right, but remember you can always change them later as you progress in your rug. 

If you're ever unsure, just follow our guide above to recreate our rug design. We promise it will look great!

If you would like to recreate our Forest Floor rug exactly, we've included diagrams under each step below.

4. Stitching Foundational Sections

Now it's time to get stitching! We recommend starting with some of your woven 'grass' sections first. Choose between your light green, grass green, dark green or brown feather yarn, using your plastic weaving needle to stitch them onto the canvas. If you're not sure where to start, work your woven grass into a corner or edge section. This will help you get comfortable with stitching onto a large canvas.

TIP: You can stitch this project in any order you like! Feel free to start with any of the textural sections that we have mentioned below and add the foundational sections later. The only reason we recommend starting with the woven grass is because its easier to stitch first and fill in the gaps with textures. But follow your heart if you'd rather start somewhere else!

 

Woven Grass Video Tutorial

Woven Grass Colours & Sections:

5. Stitching Textural Sections

Now it's time to move on to the fun parts! Adding all those scrumptious textures to your rug. 

Bobble Moss Video Tutorial

For your Bobbles you'll be using the veriagated bobble yarn and your plastic latch-hook to complete these sections. Follow the video below to see how you'll cut your yarn into smaller pieces and attach them onto the canvas.

In this kit you have the choice between orange bobble yarn, olive green bobble yarn and bright green bobble yarn. 

Bobble Colours & Sections:

Fuzzy Loops Video Tutorial

For these loops you'll be using your grass green chenille yarn and your plastic latch-hook tool again. For a refresher of the technique, follow the video below.

Fuzzy Loop Sections:

'Hair' Moss Video Tutorials

Finally its time to add your 'hair' moss using the wide range of milk yarn colours provided in this kit.

For this technique you'll be cutting your yarn into shorter pieces. The length will depend on the look you would like to achieve. You can cut them from as short as 5cm (2 inches), to as long as 15cm (6 inches). The longer the yarn, the more shaggy and textural it will look.

Cutting Your Yarn: For our rug we've used lengths that are around 8cm long (3 inches). To cut these lengths in bulk, you'll want to cut out a piece of cardboard that is half the length you would like your pieces to be. To recreate our length of 'hair' moss, cut out a piece of cardboard that is 4cm across (1.5 inches) and wrap your yarn around the width again and again. When you've built up a big wrapped bundle, take your scissors and cut down one side of the cardboard - this will cut all of your yarn into pieces that are approximately 8cms each! 

Half-Half Yarn Colours: To create pre-cut lengths using multiple colours, you can use this same technique as above, but instead wrap two or more colours of yarn around your cardboard rectangle. Simply take the ends of two colours, place them together and then wrap around the cardboard in the same way.

Use 2x of these lengths to latch-hook your hair moss in place.

Technique 1:

When using 2x pieces of yarn, sometimes the below technique can be easier as it stops the second piece of yarn from escaping. Use your wooden latch-hook if you're working with longer strands of yarn.

Technique 2:

You may find it easier to use our traditional technique to latch-hook these sections. Depending on your style, you may find this easier even with 2x strands of yarn. Everyone is different, so just give both a go and find what you prefer!

'Hair' Moss Colours & Sections:

For our Forest Floor rug we've used the Straw Green yarn and Grass Green yarn to fill larger sections towards the top right and bottom right of the rug.

We've also created an ombre effect using our three sage greens to fill in the 'target' shaped patches down the middle of the rug.

Target 1: The top shape uses Light Sage yarn in the middle of the shape. And a half-half mix of Medium Sage yarn and Dark Sage yarn on the outer ring.

Target 2: The second shape uses a half-half mix of Medium Sage yarn and Light Sage yarn in the middle of the shape. Then the Medium Sage yarn on the outside.

Target 3: The third shape uses a half-half mix of Medium Sage yarn and Dark Sage yarn in the middle of the shape. Then the Dark Sage yarn on the outside.

Target 4: The final shape uses Light Sage yarn in the middle of the shape. And a half-half mix of Light Sage yarn and Medium Sage yarn on the outer ring.

6. Stitching Decorative Sections

Once the surface area of your rug is covered, its time to add the finishing details! You have a few options to choose from here, including a range of pom pom variations and embroidered flowers.

Pom Pom Video Tutorial

You can use any colours of your milk yarn to create your pom poms, use contrasting colours to make them stand out, or greens to blend them into your other textures! Here is how we've made the pom poms on our rug design:

Grass Green & Straw Green Cut Pom Pom (Large) - Place a 20cm length of yarn in between your middle and fourth finger. Place your Grass Green and Straw Green yarn together and wrap them around four fingers approximately 35x, then use the length of yarn to tie your pom pom. Cut the loops to create an open fluffy pom pom, and either use your weaving needle or a small comb to brush out the strands.

Yellow Cut Pom Poms (Small)  - Place a 20cm length of yarn in between your first and second finger. Wrap your yellow yarn around two fingers approximately 25x, then use the length of yarn to tie your pom pom. Cut the loops to create an open fluffy pom pom, and either use your weaving needle or a small comb to brush out the strands.

White Looped Pom Poms (Small) - Place a 20cm length of contrasting yellow yarn in between your first and second finger. Wrap your white yarn around two fingers approximately 25x, then use the length of yarn to tie your pom pom. Leave it looped with your contrasting yarn appearing like the middle of a flower.

Pink Looped Pom Poms (Small) - Place a 20cm length of contrasting yellow yarn in between your first and second finger. Wrap your pink yarn around two fingers approximately 25x, then use the length of yarn to tie your pom pom. Leave it looped with your contrasting yarn appearing like the middle of a flower.

Light Sage Looped Pom Poms (Small) - Place a 20cm length of contrasting dark sage yarn in between your first and second finger. Wrap your light sage green yarn around two fingers approximately 25x, then use the length of yarn to tie your pom pom. Leave it looped with your contrasting yarn appearing like the middle of a flower.

You can use the video below to create variations such as looped pom poms or multi-coloured versions.

Feather Yarn Flowers Video Tutorial

The last element we've added to the rug is embroidered flowers using our Ice Blue Feather Yarn. These are stitched in a similar method to your grass weaving, but instead we're weaving in the shape of a flower. You can use as little or as many of these flowers as you like!

BONUS: Milk Yarn Embroidery Video Tutorial

As a bonus, you might like to experiment with some embroidery flowers using your milk yarn. This is a great alternative if you have some milk yarn leftover or want to add extra texture to your Forest Floor rug.

Follow the video below to see how its done. You can also make single petals instead of the whole flower, this will look like falling leaves!

7. Backing Your Rug 

Congratulations on finishing your giant mossy rug! This project is no walk in the park (or roll in the grass) so its a huge achievement to have reached this stage. 

There are two options for backing your rug: gluing or sewing.

Gluing your backing is much quicker but it requires a hot glue gun, or tacky fabric glue of some kind. Sewing takes more time, but it creates a stronger backing which can be useful especially if you're planning on moving your rug around frequently.

Our video tutorial below will show you how to do both alternatives. You can also find the written instructions below as well.

 

Trimming and sewing down your canvas

Start by trimming your canvas, leaving between 2-4 inches of space around your rug edging. Then thread your sewing needle with the cotton thread included in your kit - you'll have 5x skeins of white thread, this should be enough to do this step as well as sew the edges of your backing if you choose to. Fold the edges of your canvas over and stitch them down with the thread, this doesn't have to be neat or perfect as it's just to 'pin down' the backing so it doesn't move around.

 

Backing Your Rug: Sewing

If you don't have access to a hot glue gun, you can only use your needle and thread to make the backing to your rug. Follow the instructions in this video below where we have used a 'no-glue' method.

If you have glue handy but you'd still prefer to make your rug more secure with thread, start your backing process by placing your rug onto the felt canvas, ensuring the non-slip side is facing down. Then use your hot glue in the middle areas of your rug to stick it in place. The purpose of this is to keep your rug from moving around the canvas, rather than to make it secure. Once its stuck down, you can follow the steps in this video to cut out your felt and sew the edges 

Backing Your Rug: Gluing

If you have access to a hot glue gun, then using this method will be much quicker! You'll be able to complete the backing process in under 30 mins. 

Start by placing your rug on top of your grey felt, ensuring the non-slip side is facing down. Use your hot glue first in the middle areas of your rug to stick it in place. These first blobs of glue are to keep your rug from slipping around, and not necessarily to make it secure.

Once your rug is in place, you'll take a sharp pair of scissors (we recommend our rug trimming scissors! But anything sharp will do) and roughly cut out the shape of your rug. It's better to make it too big at this stage, as you can cut your felt down. But if you cut it too small, you can't add more felt! 

Once you've cut the grey felt to shape, use your hot glue to secure all around the edge of your rug. Really make sure your edges are stuck down to the felt. Then go in with your scissors again and do any trimming that is necessary! 

You might need to repeat this process a couple of times, until you're sure that your edge it secure and your felt is cut to shape.

TIP: If you'd like to add extra security, you can sew the edges as a final step as well. Use the video tutorial above to do this. It can be hard to sew through hot glue, so if you've used a really large amount of hot glue on any edges, this is something to consider.

And you're done! Congratulations on finishing your mossy creation. We hope you've enjoyed the journey!