A drop cloth is made out of coarse cotton fabric. That's what the rug in the photos looks like. You'd want a fairly thick and coarse cloth to stand up to being walked on.

You can bleach the drop cloth before painting it, or you can use white paint for the white stripes if you want.

There are some tips for using drop clothes here at Miss Mustard Seed's blog here: http://missmustardseed.com/2010/06/tips-on-making-slipcovers-with-drop/

She's using them for slipcovers, but she discusses washing and bleaching them and the needles and other tools you need to work with them.

I bought some drop cloths on amazon, they come in different sizes. the bigger sizes have a seam in the middle.
http://www.amazon.com/Essentials-4-Feet-12-Feet-Canvas-HW412/dp/B000ICPHZ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350493917&sr=8-1&keywords=drop+cloth
the fabric is thick, although to use it as a rug, I believe some kind of backing would be needed.
hope this helps!!
www.inspirationrealisation.com

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202029402/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=drop+cloth&storeId=10051#.UH8NsYWQAXx

Try searching for "floor cloths". Maybe the store person misspoke, since that appears to be hemmed all around and most drop cloths I have seen are not. Also, they are usually bigger.

Did they add the fringe too? Or maybe she was pulling your leg.

Here is another good tutorial ive had saved for a while on dropcloth rugs- http://mylife.luxperdiem.com/2012/05/diy-dropcloth-rug.html

make sure to scotch guard it to prevent stains!

This looks to me like a floor cloth made with heavy weight canvas. There are several tutorials you can find on line for making floor cloths - Martha Stewart has a good one. Most art stores have the canvas and gesso, which you use to prime the canvas and make it sturdy. I made one for a country/informal dining room(much larger than the MS version) and 4 years later it looks great, perhaps even better with wear. It cleans up great with mild soap and water.

I made a floor cloth rug from a Home Depot canvas painters drop cloth. 1-2 layers of interior latex paint and a clear water-based poly coat. It doesn't get heavy every day use but it's holding up well. The paint really "thickens" up the canvas.

I work in a theatrical scene shop and know from experience that muslin and canvas can get very thick/sturdy with some latex paint.

The previous comments are right: check out the wealth of info available on the internet!

Why not just ask what hardware store they bought it from and go visit? Assuming you live in the area...

Thanks for the good suggestions everyone. The saleswoman said they added the burlap fringe and they got the rug from Home Depot. I looked up some of the posted tutorials and they were a great help, I'm just confused as to whether or not the texture was due to it being treated or a natural weave. The texture of the rug in the store was smooth and tight like a tee shirt, not course like the drop cloths I'm finding... I'll keep searching and perhaps try out some of the suggestions. Thanks.

The texture/finish you're seeing is a result of the treatment given to a basic painter's dropcloth. Pick up a dropcloth from a big box store (they come in various sizes, - only the very large ones have a seam). After paint & poly, you won't be able to tell the dif between your version & Anthro's. Really.

Have fun & please come back & post your finished project.

I have painted many dropcloths that were used as rugs. I have also painted furniture {yep!} and the secret to getting it smooth is sanding with fine sandpaper after every coat. The paint causes the fibers to swell and rise and it feels scratchy. Sanding it will elliminate all the 'scratch' and make it smooth as fabric.

OnaMission! - try: www.tarpsplus.com - they've been a great resource

NCDESIGNER,

Thanks for the sanding tip!

Thanks for the kick a$$ tutorial!

Also, if you're not keen on DIY, Urban Outfitters offers a chevron rug with a similar black-and-white feel. http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=20659470&parentid=A_RUGPILCUR

wasn't the thicker version called sailcloth? modern sailcloth is polyester, which will not hold paint as well..

Urban Outfitters is owned by the same company as Antropologie - FYI

I am trying to find thinner drop cloths in bleached white for some projects - any ideas where to find those? I am only finding very thick ones, or non-white ones. Thanks.