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The Rag Rug Hive - A Community Rag Rug Project

The Rag Rug Hive is a community-led rag rug project where makers will come together to create two large community rugs, inspired by traditional, English paper-pieced patchwork. Anyone who wishes to take part will rag rug a hexagon, working at their own pace independently at home, before sending it back to us to be assembled into the final patchwork-style rugs. 

By taking part, you’re helping create something meaningful - both creatively and socially. 20% of the profit from each project pack sold will be donated to Garden House Hospice, supporting the incredible work they do in our local community.

How it Works: 

1. From 1st February 2026, purchase a Rag Rug Hive project pack in person or online. 
2. Receive your pre-printed hexagon, instructions, starter fabric and (UK customers only) pre-paid return envelope. 
3. Rag rug your hexagon at home using your chosen technique.
4. Share your progress with the community (optional but encouraged!)
5. Return your completed hexagon to Ragged Life by 1st May 2026.
6. The Ragged Life team will then assemble all returned hexagons into the final community rugs.
7. The community rugs will go display at the Ragged Life Open Studio Event on Sunday, 6th September 2026 and hopefully elsewhere. We'll also be sure to document the making of the rug and each hexagon online, so you can view the rug digitally if you can't make it in person.

Every completed hexagon will be credited with the maker’s name on the back of the finished rugs.

Choose Your Hexagon: 

When you order, you can choose one of two hexagon designs (or both!), depending on the technique you’d like to use:

⭐ Star Hexagon

• Designed to be done in the short shaggy rag rug technique (watch it in action on YouTube here). 

• A lovely choice if you enjoy texture and a soft, tactile finish. This is the easiest technique for beginners.
  

• Please note: you will need a Rag Rug Spring Tool and (optional) Rag Rug Cutting Gauge to do this technique. 

🍯 Honeycomb Hexagon

• Designed for the loopy, rug hooked technique (watch it in action on YouTube here). 

• Features a honeycomb-style layout that’s fun to fill with crisp little loops.

• Please note: you will need a Rug Hook to do this technique. 

Each hexagon plays an equally important role in the final rug - it’s all about celebrating variety, creativity, and community.

What’s Included in Your Project Pack

Each Rag Rug Hive Project Pack includes:

• Pre-printed hessian backing for your chosen hexagon design

• A beautifully illustrated instruction booklet

• 30g of recycled sari silk ribbon in the colour "Seafoam" (60g if you order both hexagon designs)
  

• (UK customers only) a pre-paid envelope to return your finished hexagon. 

What Else You'll Need:

- Fabric Scissors

- Old clothing / textiles for your design (it takes around 150g of fabric to completely fill the Star Design Hexagon in the short shaggy technique and approx 125g of fabric to fill the Honeycomb Hexagon). Remember, you get 30g of Seafoam sari silk ribbon to start you off. 

+ The tools for the relevant rag rug technique. For the short shaggy technique you'll need a rag rug spring tool (and optional rag rug cutting gauge). For the loopy rug hooking technique, you'll need a rug hook.

Sending Your Hexagon Back to Us 📮

Once your hexagon is complete, you’ll return it to the Ragged Life team so it can be added to the Community Rug.

The full instructions are included in your instruction booklet, but the process is simple:

1. Place your completed hexagon into the return envelope

2. Fill in the comp slip (found in your instruction booklet) with your details and include it with your hexagon. 

3. Post it back to us before 1st May 2026

UK Customers

• Your pack includes a pre-paid return envelope

• No extra postage costs to return your hexagon

International Customers 🌍

• You’ll need to arrange and pay for return postage yourself (Sorry! It was too complex to do it any other way)

• Everything else works exactly the same

FAQs

What fabrics should I use?
Anything goes! We recommend old clothing, household textiles and fabric offcuts. The easiest fabrics to work with are thin, soft and pliable. Jersey is absolutely brilliant for beginners, but woven cottons, sportswear and similar fabrics work well too. You'll receive some teal sari silk ribbon to start you off - this is a great place to start. 

Can I combine different techniques into one hexagon?
We’d rather you didn’t, please. Keeping to one technique per rug will help the finished pieces feel more cohesive and harmonious - a true community rug rather than a collection of mismatched textures.

Where do I start on the hessian?
It doesn’t matter at all. You can start wherever you like, as long as you stay within the white printed hexagon line (not the stitched hemmed edge). See exactly which parts of the hessian should be rag rugged on the Community Rug page here. 

Can I take part if I live abroad?
Of course! The only difference is that you'll have to pay a little more to get the project pack delivered to you and you will be responsible for posting the finished hexagon back to us (sorry that we can't offer a pre-paid option). Simply select the "Without Pre-Paid Returns Envelope" option when checking out.

Can I pick up / drop off in person?
Yes, if you're lucky enough to live near our Ragged Life HQ in Hertfordshire (or Brighton), you can buy a project pack in person to save on postage or drop off the finished hexagon when it's done. Just be aware that we don't have staff in the studio at all times, so you'll need to get in touch beforehand to arrange a collection / drop-off time. 

Be Part of Something Bigger

The Rag Rug Hive is about slowing down, using what we have, and making something meaningful together. Whether this is your first rag rug project or your fiftieth, your hexagon matters.

For design inspiration and practical tips, visit the Rag Rug Hive Community Rug Page on the Ragged Life website.