The Braided Rug Book: Creating Your Own American Folk Art [Paperback]

Norma M. Sturges (Author), Elizabeth J. Sturges (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2006

The classic guide to an enduring American craft gets an eye-catching revision. Fantastic to look at and easy to follow, this expanded version of The Braided Rug Book will win a new audience and also appeal to those who own the previous edition. It features thoroughly updated information, brand-new gallery images, two additional rug techniques to try, and a comprehensive primer on planning a project. Beginners will learn about wools and other materials, how to care for finished rugs, and how to recognize a quality rug. Plus, there are several new color plans and entirely new directions and illustrations for building a rug-braiding stand, complete with a finished photo.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One would need no other book than this to complete a really beautiful one-of-a-kind braided rug." - RAGS Magazine"

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Lark Crafts; Revised edition (September 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579908802
• ISBN-13: 978-1579908805
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #415,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Norma Sturges' Braided Rug Book, June 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Braided Rug Book: Creating Your Own American Folk Art (Paperback)

When I read Norma's first edition in 2000, hers was the only instructional 'manual' to come around in a very long time. In grandmotherly supportive speech, Norma presents an excellent book for the beginner.

Norma focuses on three common shapes: round, oval and heart. High quality photographs accompany directions. Norma's butting instruction (joining the braid's head and tail so that ends are interwoven and invisibly seamed) make this initially difficult task much easier to learn via step by step pictures.

There are many photos of rugs --by home crafters as well as professional rug makers--in both continuous spiral and fully butted designs. Some examples inspiring.

While there is nothing "new" for intermediate to advanced braiders, and I personally prefer an oval center to contain an equal number of braids on both sides of the first laced row (Norma's doesn't), this book tops my list for basic overall clarity in instruction.

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to the craft of braided rug making, July 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Braided Rug Book: Creating Your Own American Folk Art (Paperback)

This book starts with the history of the braided rug in the USA then goes on to provides details on planning, tools, and techniques. There are many pages of color pictures of existing rugs along with a color chart to follow. Many of the rugs are innovative in design and colors, but there is a good choice of more conservative designs, too. I found this book to be so useful, that, after checking it out of the local library 3 times, I've finally put in an order to buy my own copy.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars lovely and helpful, January 17, 2007

By 

Amy C (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Braided Rug Book: Creating Your Own American Folk Art (Paperback)

I picked this book up along with several others to introduce myself to the art of rug braiding. This one had the best instructions, the best step-by-step illustrations, and a truly lovely and inspiring gallery of photographs of different styles and colors of rugs that really made me want to leap right in so I could make stuff that gorgeous, too.

Shortcomings: she doesn't encourage experimenting with cotton strip, which I am finding much less intimidating than wool, which is harder to get and more expensive since i have to order it online. She also stresses perfection---understandable in a craftsman, for sure, but intimidating to a beginner.

Best things: She makes you want to start braiding with her lovely photos, and you can get ideas for color arrangements you'd like to try.

I did pick up and start braiding a rug after reading the book, though, and that's probably the best thing you can say about a craft book.