Rug making is a hobby which dates back hundreds of years and which is a practical and fun way of making use of old scraps of materiel. There are many different ways to create rugs out of rags, but all create beautiful end products which have a practical as well as aesthetic value.
Types of Rag Rugs
Prodded rugs, or 'peg rugs', are made by 'prodding' short scraps through the backing cloth. In Victorian times half a dolly peg would be used, hence the alternative name of peg rug. The finished rugs feel very soft.
Braided rugs are made from long strips of cloth plaited into lengths and then wound around and sewn into round or oval patterns, as pictured below. One advantage of these rugs is that they are very hardwearing.
Crocheted rugs are made from strips of fabric crocheted into shape. This method can look very beautiful but can be a little fiddly to learn for the beginner. The finished product tends to be hardwearing and with some practice can be made to incorporate a flower-like pattern.
Equipment Needed for Making A Rag Rug
Very little equipment is needed to make a rag rug, but it will take a lot of scraps of fabric. Charity shops or jumble sales are good places to pick up old clothes which can be used, but the cloth used should be washed first to ensure it is pre-shrunk and clean. All types of rag rugs will need the fabric to be cut into long strips of about 3-4cm (1"-2") in width.
All rugs will also need a piece of fabric to be used for the backing. The traditional cloth used to line rugs was hessian sacking, but many people now prefer to use canvas. Either will make a suitable and hard-wearing backing cloth.
If the rug is going to follow a design then a marker pen will be needed to sketch out the design on the cloth before starting the rug. Depending on the method used to make the rug a crafter may also need a crochet hook or similar, a 'prodding' tool such as half a dolly peg or a cut down old toothbrush, a sewing machine, needle and thread, and a pair of good scissors.
To line the rug will require some type of latex glue, for example Copydex, a large piece of backing fabric to fit the size of the back of the rug, needle and thread and scissors.
The final requirement is somewhere comfortable to sit and plenty of time.
Lining and Completing a Finished Rug
Once the pattern is complete, the rug can be finished and a decision made of what use the rug will have - is it to be a wall hanging or practical floor covering? - then it can be lined and completed.
First any raw edges must be turned under and either stitched or glued in place. If the rug is to be a wall hanging then a lightweight fabric can be used to back the rug, or it could remain unlined if desired. Some way of hanging the rug can then be fixed in place; tab tops are a common way of displaying wall hangings.
For rugs that are to be used on the floor a thicker backing cloth ideally made of a non-slip fabric should be used. The backing can be glued in place and then secured by stitching, or just stitched, but due to the thickness of the rug it will be necessary to hand stich rather than machine stitch.
Resources and More Ideas
There are many sources of information for anyone who would like to find out more about this traditional craft. Among the resources available online
- Ragartstudios.com - A Scottish website with lots of ideas, hints and tips for rag ruggers and some lovely pictures
- Jamboree.freedom-in-education.co.uk/w's craft corner/rag rug.htm - Beautiful designs and patterns with an illustrated guide
- Thriftyfun.com/tf001084.tip.html - Lists several different ways of making rag rugs in a user-friendly guide
- Ragrugcafe.com - Lists several different methods for making rag rugs with video intructions to help new rag ruggers through the process
- Debbiesiniska.co.uk/rugs/ - A rag rug designer who runs workshops and sells equipment
- Netw.com/~rafter4/rugtype.html - A useful resource showing some of the many types of rag rugs
Pam Griffin - Pam Griffin is a journalist working in Shropshire, UK. She is interested in first aid, singing and playing music, history, and ...
