Customer Reviews

Making Rag Rugs: 15 Step-by-Step Projects

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

The book is easy to follow. I didn't realize that many of the rugs were hook rugs, or made with a burlap backing. I bit too hard on my hands.

This book has great instructions for hooked/prodded rugs, with lots of pictures and helpful hints for the beginner. I especially liked that they've provided pictures of what's happening both above and below the rug as you're working. And , although I liked many of the rugs as is, it seems it would be quite easy to make changes to most of the rugs to better suit your tastes or decor.

Unfortunately, you will have to buy some tools if you're a beginner and not all of them are inexpensive. Also, be forwarned that if you don't live in the U.S. (and maybe even if you do, as seems to be the case with the spring clip tool) the hooks, and even the burlap, as I've discovered, may be quite difficult to find. Finally, I wouldn't recommend this book if you're interested in making braided rag rugs because there's only 1 braided rug in the book and it's just a a bunch of braids laid side-by-side and sewn together, not the type where one continuous braid is wound round and round to form a large oval or circle.

Book is beautifully illustrated and instructions are quite easy to understand. Nice to have a resources page in which to order supplies. Can't wait to have the time to try my hand at one of the lovely rugs!

This is an informative book. But, to work projects, seems like an investment in equipment will be necessary, never mind the fabric.

Very nice book, but not what I was looking for. I was looking for a different type of "rage rug" instructions. I kept the book to give as a gift.