Making Shaggy Mats for Commercial Purposes

Not Into Online Writing, Transcription and the Like? Don't Give Up, There is plenty to Do From Home

Some people might think that to be able to work from home you have to sit in front of a computer all day, type thousands of words and submit to online clients to get paid.

Well, this is just one way of earning money while at home. There  are more activities that one can execute and reduce the time they spend in front of a computer to be able to put food on their tables. For instance, in the last few years, the shaggy mat business, or rather, the hand-made carpets have become a trending business that has seen many women manage to start earning after learning the trade.

As the name suggests, shaggy mats are carpets that are hand-made using thread, crotchets, and tapestry. The process is quite easy but one needs to be able to invest a considerable amount of time in order to be able to produce a smart and presentable carpet.

Getting started!
Buy the materials first. These includes the tapestry, crotchet, cutting wood, thread, scissors and mark pen.

Threads (colors of your choice), cutting wood (the white board), scissors, crochets ( I use the normal one and another with hook), tapestry (the red one).

There are several places where the materials can be found, but in Nairobi all can be found biashara street Freeman's shop. This is to the right as you are entering biashara from moi avenue, just next to Rafiki Microfinance Bank.

The prices for threads ranges from 90/- to 110/= per piece. Tapestry can be cut as per your request and sizes, one metre costs around 1400/-. If you want for door mat or toilet set, you just need to let the attendants know, they understand your needs. 

Crotchets and cutting woods are of different sizes and shapes as well.

NB. To know the number of threads that will be adequate for your mats, you need to know that a meter can consume up to 30 pieces of thread. 

Why shaggy mats?

Here are some of the reasons why you should learn how to make shaggy mats or consider having one for your home!

1. Feels nicer to step on, made of wool and more comfortable for kids.

2. Easy to clean, made of wool, thread just like the sweaters we wear.

3. More durable and easy to maintain

4. Softer in case you have a small baby learning to stand, crawl or walk. 

5. Cheaper if you learn to make them yourself. 

6. Helps keep one busy when they are busy at home taking care of the little ones. (It can get lonely and tiring especially if the only activity is watching telenovela soaps and other programmings!)

7. Its therapeutic! When mad and feeling exploding, I take out my anger on the mat and come up with some very nice designs. Focusing on the art of knitting can help one learn to be patient and more focused.

8. Its is a business! Some people have taking this very seriously and they are training others in groups to knit the mats, they are making them for commercial purposes and making them for their homes as well.

9. Saves money that could have been spend purchasing carpets from supermarkets worth 18k. 

10. You can make one for a relative or friend as a gift

11. Helps making the home look presentable. 

12. They are custom made. You end up with something you like, is unique for just you, and lovely for your home. 

Below are some of the designs one can adopt for their home-made shaggy mats.