Guest Author - Iris ten Holder

First of all, let's make clear that this article is about rag rugs,

Hooked rag rugs have a long history and are made of strips of fabric, hooked onto a backing material, Traditionally this was a way of using rags from clothing or blankets that were no longer suitable for wearing, but still contained large sections of useable material.

There are several sites on the internet that describe the history of these rugs and there are also examples of this craft in musea, some of which now have photos of rugs on their web sites.

Unlike other forms of rag rug making, which are limited in the way they can be designed, hooked rugs allow a great deal of freedom. In a way this make the challenge of design a little greater, Many who feel they cannot draw a straight line may not feel up to the task of following in the footsteps of those who spent hours and hours pondering the design during long winter hours.

There are traditional designs and contemporary designs. The early rugs were often of a primitive design. Materials were heavy, tools primitive and the craft in its infancy, with few examples to follow. Rug making went through several phases as materials changed, tools improved and imported carpets provided new inspiration.

According to Lucy Mason, a rug maker in the UK, "the technique allows a lot of freedom - to start and stop anywhere on the backing, pull out and rehook, and to make creative decisions at any stage of the process."

Mary Dayton, who owns Rug Art in Scotland, still feels close to the traditional idea of rug making. "It is a great way of using recycled materials and this puts the craft within the reach of most people". Mary teaches rug making and finds it "very rewarding when a gift for 'playing with color or textures' is discovered amongst those who do not realize the strengths they have."

Rachelle LeBlanc from Montreal, Canada, already an artists with many paintings to her credit, found in rug hooking a new outlet for her artistry.

Rug hooking is a discovery of what is possible, of one's ability to visualize, choose colors and materials and arrange them in a satisfactory composition. There are a few considerations when choosing a design. Abstract designs can be symmetrical or free form. Classical designs follow the Oriental rug example of having a border and various designs that fill the center. Some are abstract; others are quite elaborate in picturing birds and flowers. Hooked rugs are much coarser in nature and therefore it is best to keep the design simple, while adding texture and color variation by choosing the fabrics.

Another thing to keep in mind is the material. The appearance of the material when it is looped is quite different from the way it looks when flat. Hooked rag rugs can be made of wool or of cotton. When using cotton, the loops that form the surface of the rug are left uncut. When using wool, the loops can be cut as the wool has a tendency to mat, rather than fray, as would be the case with cotton. The appearance of a woolen rug of which the loops are cut is quite different as the colors tend to deepen and look richer. This is due to the way the light is reflected. Some rug makers make a sampler before undertaking the actual work.

This may be a great idea for those who start the craft. A sampler consists of a pattern of squares of different fabrics. The squares should be a minimum of two inches, but could be larger. It would give the effect of tiles. This way it is possible to concentrate on color and appearance without having to worry about intricate designs. Such a rug would certainly fit in a modern décor.




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