Prodded rugs (or 'proddies') are fairly well known in the United Kingdom, but not many of them travelled across the Atlantic to North America. These rugs are made on burlap or rug canvas, using a simple poking instrument. Prodded rugs are shaggy on the top, and flat on the bottom. 

What you'll need to make a prodded rug. 
The traditional prodding tool has a wooden handle, and a pointed (not sharp) end of metal or wood. To get started though, you really don't need a special tool, since you can use a largish knitting needle instead (Size 10 to 15). You'll need rug canvas or a burlap base for the rug, cut about two inches larger all around than the size of the finished rug. Lap and sew the edges of the rug canvas, or fold and hem the edges of the burlap so the raw edges are covered. Prodded Rugs traditionally are made of heavy wool fabric as used in coats or blankets, but you need not be limited to only wool. These rugs can be made equally well with almost any heavy fabric, such as denim, acrylic blankets, corduroy, felt or what have you. You can also use lighter weight fabrics by cutting the strips twice as wide. Because the fabric strips are small, prodded rugs can use up all sorts of tiny sewing scrap that wouldn't be much good for other projects. For heavy woolens used on burlap, cut strips 3/4 inch wide and 3 inches long. For for heavy woolens on rug canvas and heavy cotton fabrics, cut strips 1 inch wide and 3 inches long. For lighter fabrics cut strips 2 inches wide and 3 inches long. 

Making the ‘Proddie’ 
The basic procedure for proddies is to work from the 'back' side of the rug, pushing each end of the fabric strip through to the front, using your poker (or knitting needle). On burlap: Because burlap is flexible, you'll want to use a quilting frame or tack the burlap to a wooden frame, at least until most of the center is done. Push a hole into the burlap with the poker, near the center of the rug. . Take one strip of fabric, and using the poker, push the one end through the hole. With the poker, make a second hole a few threads away from the first hole. Push the other end of the fabric strip through the second hole. Reach below the rug and pull a bit on the ends to snug them into place. 

Take another strip of fabric, and poke one end into the same hole as the last strip. Move over a few threads, poke another and push the other end of the strip through it. Snug up the ends. The next strip of fabric will go into the same hole as the last one you did. The holes should not be placed so close together that the burlap is distorted. Holes about ½ inch apart is a good spacing. Work all the way around the center of the rug in rounds of strips. Don't leave any empty spaces that you'll have to go ack later and fill in since that is much tougher to do. 

On rug canvas. Proddies are really easy on rug canvas since it has nice even holes, and you don't have to use a frame since the canvas is stiff already. Work in rows from the center toward the edges. With the poker (or knitting needle) push one end of the fabric strip through a hole. Push the other end through the next hole. Pull a bit on the ends to snug the strip in place. The next strip end is pushed through the next hole, and its second end through the next hole. Don't skip any holes, and don't put two strips through the same hole. You'll find working with canvas is much easier and faster with your first rug. 

Caring for a prodded rug. 
Don't throw a prodded rug into the washing machine! Prodded rugs can be shaken, vacuumed with an upholstery tool, or hung up and beaten with a carpet beater, to get out dirt. The only time a prodded rug should be washed is if it has gotten really badly soiled or stained. Then place the rug in a washtub or bathtub full of lukewarm water, and liquid fabric soap. Squeeze (don't wring) the rug working the soapy water through it. Drain off the soapy water and refill the tub with lukewarm water. Swish the rug to rinse, and repeat with another round of clear water. Lay the rug to dry on a piece of screen or sweater drying rack. 

Making your own 'prodding tool'. 
If you like prodded rugs, eventually you'll want to make your own tool, which is much easier to use than the knitting needle. The design I like best uses a wooden egg. You can get wooden eggs at craft stores now, and look for one that is about the size of a large chicken egg. You can also use an old darning egg which is usually a better quality wood. (If the darning egg has a handle already, skip down to the part where the end of the dowel is cut and sharpened.) The egg should fit nicely into the palm of your hand. Drill a hole in the end of the egg, large enough to accept a 7/16- or 1/2-inch dowel, and about ½ inch deep. Put some wood glue in the hole, and push the dowel in and seat it well. Wipe off any excess glue. Cut the dowel off, about two inches from the egg. Whittle the end (or use a pencil sharpener for a really nice point). Remember you want the end to be pointed, but not sharp. Sand the egg and the dowel end so they are smooth. (Instead of the dowel, you can use the cut-off end of a knitting needle.)