A community rag rug project made by many hands
The Rag Rug Hive is a joyful, collaborative rag rug project led by the team at Ragged Life, inspired by traditional English patchwork quilts and rooted in slow craft, sustainability and community. It’s an invitation to slow down, use what you have, and make something meaningful alongside other rag ruggers - all from your own home.
Each participant will make one rag rug hexagon, which will be joined together with others to form two large community rugs. Every hexagon is different, and every one matters.
What is the Rag Rug Hive?
The Rag Rug Hive is about celebrating individuality while creating something bigger together. 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 rugs.
To make the project as inclusive as possible, we will be creating:
- One loopy, rug hooked community rug
- One short shaggy community rug
This means you can take part using the technique you already love, or choose the one you’d like to practice / explore.
How It Works:
- From 1st February 2026, purchase a Rag Rug Hive project pack in person or from the Ragged Life Online Shop.
- Receive your pre-printed hexagon, instructions, starter material and pre-paid return envelope (included for UK customers only).
- Rag rug your hexagon at home using your chosen technique.
- Share your progress with the community (optional but encouraged!)
- Return your completed hexagon to Ragged Life by 1st May 2026.
- We assemble all returned hexagons into the final community rugs.
- The community rugs will go display at the Ragged Life Open Studio Event on Sunday, 6th September 2026 and hopefully elsewhere.
Every completed hexagon will be credited with the maker’s name on the back of the finished rugs.
Is this Project Suitable for Beginners?
The short answer is yes! The area to be rag rugged is small compared to most rag rug projects. The hexagon itself only measures 28 x 24cm, so this isn't a project that is going to take months to complete.
We send out comprehensive instructions on what to do and its a great way to learn the craft before committing to a larger and more time-consuming project.
If you're a complete rag rug beginner then we would recommend choosing the Short Shaggy Star Hexagon (as opposed to the loopy, rug hooked Honeycomb Hexagon). It's a super simple technique that anyone can pick up quickly and easily.
Still unsure? Watch our technique tutorials later on the page to get a feel for what each technique entails.
What's Included in the Project Pack?
Unless otherwise specified, each Rag Rug Hive project pack contains:
- 1 pre-printed, hemmed hexagon hessian
- 30g of Seafoam Recycled Sari Silk ribbon fabric - at least some of which must be included in your design (you do not have to use it all).
- A printed instruction booklet with tips and details how to return your hexagon once complete.
- A pre-paid return envelope addressed to the Ragged Life team (only available to UK customers).
What Else You'll Need:
- Fabric Scissors
- Old clothing / textiles for your design
+ 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.
Techniques You Can Use
When you head to the Ragged Life Online Shop, you'll have to decide which technique you'd like to use for your hexagon. This will dictate which design you'll receive. You can take part using either of the following techniques:
Short Shaggy Technique
Perfect if you love texture and a soft, tactile finish. This technique is best for complete beginners and you'll need a Rag Rug Spring Tool and preferably a Rag Rug Cutting Gauge for this technique.
With this technique you will receive the Star Design Hexagon Hessian.
Loopy, Rug Hooked Technique
Ideal for more defined shapes and crisp design detail. You'll need a Rug Hook for this style.
If you choose this technique then you will receive the Honeycomb Hexagon Design.
Below is a reminder of how to do both techniques...
Short Shaggy Technique
If you’re joining The Rag Rug Hive using the short shaggy rag rug technique, this video will guide you through the process step by step. The short shaggy technique is wonderfully tactile and full of texture, making it perfect for those who love a softer, more playful finish. Plus it's the most forgiving technique you'll ever try so ideal for beginners or those who prefer a more freestyle approach.
Rug Hooking Tutorial
If you’re planning to take part in The Rag Rug Hive using the loopy, rug hooking technique, this video will walk you through everything you need to know. Rug hooking is ideal if you enjoy building crisp shapes and clear design details, and it works beautifully within the hexagon format. Whether you’re completely new to rug hooking or just need a quick refresher, this tutorial will help you get started with confidence before you begin your community hexagon.
And here are examples of hexagons being built up in both techniques...
The top two rows show the Honeycomb Hexagon gradually being rag rugged section by section in the loopy, rug hooked technique and the third row shows the short shaggy rag rugged Star Hexagon.
Sustainability & Giving Back
Rag rug making has always been rooted in thrift and reuse, and The Rag Rug Hive continues that tradition by encouraging reclaimed and surplus textiles.
We’re also proud to donate 20% of the profit from each project pack sold to Garden House Hospice, supporting the incredible work they do in our local community.
By taking part, you’re helping create something meaningful - both creatively and socially.
Which Bit am I Rag Rugging?
Before you get started, it's always best to be clear where you're filling with your rag rugging! Especially when there are a few different lines and hems on your hessian hexagons.
You are only rag rugging up to the printed white hexagon line. The area to be rag rugged is shaded in green in the image on the right. It's important that you leave the section between the white hexagon line and stitched hexagon shape empty - the area shaded in red in the image on the right - as this area will be used to join the hexagons together to form our community rug.
If you rag rug anywhere inside the shaded red area or outside the stitched hexagon, we may have to remove some of your rag rugging in order to join it to the whole. We'll get in touch if this happens.
Design Freedom & Inspiration
This project is all about putting your own stamp on your hexagon. You don’t need to over-plan - often the best designs emerge as you go.
If you’d like a few pointers:
- Plain colours tend to read more clearly than busy patterns
- If you want a colour to stand out then it will look clearer if you do multiple rows.
- You can use the printed hexagon to guide your layout - or ignore it and go freeform
- If in doubt, start with the Seafoam sari silk ribbon we've provided and build from there.
- With the Honeycomb design pictured, I worked from top to bottom and repeated the same pink in every row. This helped unify the colour scheme.
- If you're unsure how a colour will look, bunch it up in the space you're thinking of putting it in. Take a photo and you'll know instantly whether you like the colour in that location or not.
And remember: rag rugging is forgiving. If something doesn’t feel right, you can always pull it out and try again.
Practical Tips
Here are couple of practical pointers which may come in handy...
- You can rag rug through the white printed lines on the hessian. Although we only do this when the lines haven't been covered sufficiently by the rag rugging or if we want to ignore any of the pattern markings.
- 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. This does depend on the type of fabric, spacing and other factors though.
- It often helps to rotate the hessian as you work. This ensures that your hand is always working at the most comfortable angle.
- There are joins in the sari silk ribbon that can prove a little tricky to pull through the hessian (they're a bit thicker). Cut out joins in the sari silk ribbon to make life easier, particularly when rug hooking.
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, linens and similar fabrics work well too. Fabrics that fray a lot can be quite annoying to work with.
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). Often we like to start with the seafoam sari silk ribbon and build organically from there.
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 (we can't offer a pre-paid option). Simply select the "Without Pre-Paid Returns Envelope" option when checking out.
Returning Your Hexagon
Once you’ve finished rag rugging your hexagon, it’s time to send it back to us so it can become part of the beautiful Rag Rug Hive community patchwork.
All the return steps are explained in detail in the instruction booklet that comes with your project pack, but here’s a handy overview.
For UK Customers
If you’re based in the UK, your project pack includes a pre-paid return envelope, so you won’t need to pay anything extra to send your hexagon back.
Here’s what to do:
- Carefully place your completed hexagon into the pre-paid return envelope.
- Fill in the comp slip at the back of the instruction booklet - this tells us who made the hexagon (so important!).
- Pop the completed slip into the envelope with your hexagon.
- Seal the envelope and post it back to the Ragged Life team.
Please make sure your hexagon is posted before 1st May 2026.
For International Customers 🌍
If you’re joining us from outside the UK, we’re so thrilled to have you involved! International project packs don’t include a pre-paid return envelope, so you’ll need to cover the cost of return postage yourself.
Other than that, the steps are exactly the same as above.
- Place your completed hexagon into a suitable envelope.
- Fill in the comp slip at the back of the instruction booklet.
- Include the slip in the envelope with your hexagon.
- Post it back to the Ragged Life team using your chosen postal service.
Just like UK customers, your hexagon needs to reach us before 1st May 2026.
What Happens to the Finished Rugs?
Once all the hexagons have been returned, we’ll carefully assemble them into the two final Rag Rug Hive community rugs - one loopy rug hooked one and one short shaggy one. They'll be joined together like a large patchwork puzzle which we suspect will take a lot of time, care and ingenuity.
The finished rugs will be unveiled and displayed at the annual Ragged Life Open Studio Event on Sunday, 6th September (put the date in your diary!). We’ll also be looking for opportunities to display them at other venues, so watch this space.
Every single maker will be credited by name on the back of their hexagon, ensuring each contribution is recognised as part of the whole.
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.
You’re Not Making Alone
One of the joys of The Rag Rug Hive is seeing how differently everyone interprets the same shape. We’d love you to share your work in progress and finished hexagon with the community.
Tag us on social media:
- Instagram: @raggedlife
- Facebook: @raggedliferagrugs
Sharing helps the project feel even more like a community and often inspires others to keep going.
We're Here If you Need Us
If you have a question at any stage - whether about techniques, design or returning your hexagon - we’re always happy to help.
- Email: hello@raggedlife.com
If you think you might miss the 1st May 2026 deadline to return your hexagon, please get in touch as soon as you can. We’ll do our very best to include your hexagon in the final rug - it will take us a while to assemble everything after the deadline, so there may still be time.
