Making Rag Rugs: 15 Step-by-Step Projects [Paperback]

Clare Hubbard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2002

Creating a beautiful throw rug from scraps is easy enough for anyone to master. Making Rag Rugs, a collection of 15 original designs from a variety of talented rug crafters, suits the skills of any crafter, from the rawest beginner to the most sophisticated talent.

This book shows how to utilize such simple recycled ingredients as leftover fabric, old clothes, and household textiles to create these beloved and time-honored rugs. The techniques are easy to learn, the cost is minimal, and very little special equipment is needed. Each project is accompanied by a detailed "what you will need" list, step-by-step instructions with color illustrations and full-color photographs of the whole rug, and close-up detail that brings the projects to life and makes them easy to achieve. Specification boxes detail the size of the rug and the technique used.

The designs in this book are contemporary and fun. The Retro Flower Rug is inspired by the classic flower shapes used by Andy Warhol and Mary Quant in the 1960s. Lavender Field is made from soft woolen blankets dyed in shades of green and mauve to represent lavender flowers, foliage, and surrounding fields. Lavender buds are even sewn into the lining to gently scent the room. A wonderfully rustic Braided Woolly Rug is made from cream and white blankets and black and gray coat and skirt fabrics. All of the basics are covered - from preparing the rags to finishing, cleaning, and caring for the completed rugs. Once crafters have mastered the techniques of hooking, prodding, braiding, and weaving, the next step is to design their own rugs.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Any rug maker will tell you that there is nothing more satisfying than turning a pile of fabric scraps or yarn into a beautiful, durable rug. In addition to weaving and hooking rugs, at least 18 other rug-making techniques are available. Hardy and Hubbard take somewhat different approaches to the subject. As the title implies, Making Rag Rugs deals only with rag rugs and is a project book with step-by-step instructions for 15 rugs that are hooked, prodded, clipped, or braided. Handcrafted Rugs is broader in content, covering both rag and yarn rugs made by braiding, felting, needlepoint, prodding, hooking, locker-hooking, tufting, knitting, and simple weaving. Hardy also touches on other techniques such as peg-loom rug weaving, crochet, weaving stick rugs, pieced applique rugs, and strung or knotted rugs, and she also includes general information on designing rugs, dyeing, and finishing touches such as edgings and bindings. Yet while it is a good introduction to the many rug-making techniques, this book includes only six projects. These books complement each other, so if your budget permits, consider buying both. Smaller public libraries should consider the practical Making Rag Rugs, while large public libraries and textile collections may prefer the more comprehensive Handcrafted Rugs.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Clare Hubbard is a contributor for Storey Books titles including: Making Rag Rugs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; First Edition edition (June 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580174558
• ISBN-13: 978-1580174558
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,507 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

137 of 138 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Basic rag rug making, no costly, cumbersome, loom needed!, March 2, 2003

By 

LuAnn Dunham (Grayslake, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Making Rag Rugs: 15 Step-by-Step Projects (Paperback)

After admiring my mother in laws homemade rag rugs which she had purchased at a church bazaar, I sent away for a few books on the subject, certain that I would be making rag rugs in a few weeks. Unfortunately, there are several methods used to create rag rugs, and some are more complicated than others. The books which I purchased had instructions for buying or hand crafting huge wooden looms, in which to weave the rugs. I recalled my aunt making rag rugs years ago, and I never remember her having a loom in her home. I was fairly confused at this point. I put the books away on a shelf, to collect dust! Then, by chance, I spotted Clare and Juju's book in a local bookstore. After leafing through it, I realized that THIS was THE book on making rag rugs, by hand, using nothing more than a marker, burlap, a rug hook, and cloth strips! This was the method that I recalled my dear aunt using, it even features the same rugs that I had first admired at my mother in laws. If you want a simple method to follow, resulting in beautiful, sturdy, handmade rugs-THIS IS THE BOOK! By the way, I purchased this book from Amazon and their other books as well. Just beware when choosing rag rug instructional books, read carefully the method highlighted, and you won't be disappointed! Good Luck!

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Reference, October 3, 2005

By 

Notnadia (Currently upstairs.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Rag Rugs: 15 Step-by-Step Projects (Paperback)

I've been wanting to make a braided throw rug for a long time and got this book to learn exactly how. I've had success with my project so far and in part I think it's because of the pointers you can pick up from reading this book. It's got good illustrations and clear instructions and is a real saver of time and effort. I'd recommend it.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sleek and comprehensive, May 17, 2009

By 

Katherine Laura Mayfield "A Bookie" (Northwest Florida, the United States of America) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Making Rag Rugs: 15 Step-by-Step Projects (Paperback)

Wanting to start my own business, I decided to try my hand at selling handmade (don't like to use the word homemade because I don't want my products to look homemade) items at the local flea markets/craft shows/fairs, etsy.com, etc. I am not the craft type, don't have the patience for crafting little things, like earrings and such, and then the idea of rag-rug making came to me, which would require little sewing (don't have the skill or aptitude for that either), and I'll have to say, I am just starting on my first project, but this book is a wonderful guide for beginners, and some of the designs are gorgeous! I can't believe they're made of rags. I actually don't use rags, simply because the idea of cutting up perfectly good clothes that can be given away to charity seems senseless and selfish, so I purchase the material I need from the local craft store and online (as wool cannot be found in this town).

There is absolutely nothing negative I can say about this book, which has actually inspired me rather than discourage me. Definitely worth the money.