Customer Reviews

The Shepherd's Rug

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This is an excellent book with detailed how tos and pictures. Very happy with this author.

A great book! Took the class a few years ago and needed to brush up on the finer points. Have made a couple with good results.

This book has informational sketches of the process as well as inspiring pictures of the finished product. It is a wonderful way to use roving fairly quickly to make a great finished product.

If you go to the website of the authors of this book you can buy it for it's original price of $24.95. I will never understand why this sort of thing happens but sadly it does. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK FROM AMAZON!!!

The Shepherd's Rug - A Braided Wool Rug from Roving

by Letty Klein and Ann Brown

2006

"The braided rug is truly a part of American folk art. For 175 years braided rugs have been a symbol of home, family, comfort and cordiality.

A braided rug made from wool has the unmistakable character of warmth, richness and color that only wool can deliver. Rugs of this sort may well become heirlooms, to be passed on from one generation to another. Braiding a rug by hand connects one with a long tradition of making functional one-of-a-kind works of art. While most contemporary rugs are created to fill an empty space or match a decor, handmade braided rugs can have entire rooms built around them, becoming the main focal point for interior spaces.



This book is a complete yet simple guide to making your own braided wool rug. It provides background information on fibres and their preparation including selecting fleeces and washing the wool. The author then explains how to braid the wool before describing how to select a rug shape and plan its design. Examples include: The Spiral Oval Rug, The Butted Oval Rug, The Spiral Round Rug, The Butted Round Rug, The Rectangular Rug as well as variations such as Chair Pads and Mug Rugs.

The author also covers subjects such as Tips and Techniques as well as Taking Care of your Braided Rug before individually examining 12 different sheep breeds in terms of their history and suitability in producing wool for braided rugs. Twenty pages of glossy color photographs show beautiful example rugs from each of the breeds. A good Glossary, List of Suppliers, References and Index rounds off what is an excellent book on the subject.

This book was written for fiber artists with a closet full of fiber, shepherds wishing to make something from their sheep's wool, and handcrafters looking to add warmth and a decorative flair to their homes. It is also for those interested in homemaking traditions."

Following the directions here is tricky business. They're clear but the roving method of braiding takes more than I can manage. Try it if you like.