Rugmaker's
Homestead Celebrating
Our 24th Anniversary in 2008!
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Rugmaker's
Homestead Celebrating
Our 24th Anniversary in 2008!
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Nothing says home
quite so well as a rag rug on the floor, especially if you made it
yourself. That's the reason that rag rugs have been made, used and
loved for generations. Unlike so many "crafts" these days, rag rugs
don't gather dust on a shelf--they gather it on the floor everyday,
just like they've always done, and then wash up, and cheerily go back
to work as the favorite spot for kids, dogs and even the
grownups. Best of all, traditional rag rugs aren't hard to make
and you can use just about any type of fabric from recycled clothing,
yard sale finds to the "mistakes" in your sewing stash.
The rugs featured
here are the genuine article. These rugs were
originally
created out of necessity, with limited supplies and only the simplest
tools.
Unless your family has been rolling in money for generations, you can
bet
that you have a (great- or great-great-) grandmother or grandfather
that
made rag rugs of some variety. But beyond the basic techniques,
traditional
rugs can be modern pieces of design and craftsmanship which are an
asset
to any home. And they are a wonderful way to connect with the past and
continue a family tradition.
The Rugmaker's
Homestead is a goldmine of information about traditional "rag"
rugs--and
the only place you can find any
information on many of the "lost" methods of making rugs. Most people
are
surprised to learn that there are hundreds of ways of
turning
rags into rugs. Here, at Rafter-four Designs, we are working
toward
preserving the traditional rug making techniques which have fallen by
the
wayside. We believe that the best way to preserve a folk art is to
teach
folks how to do it with modern, reliable directions. (Read more about our
outlook.)
If you're intrigued by the idea of traditional rag rugs, the Rugmaker's Homestead has articles, letters, historical references and free patterns and directions to get you started. Our most popular feature is the Rag Rugs Tour with 21 different stops covering all of the major types of traditional rugs. There is so much information available here that we have created a "Welcome" page for first time visitors to help you find your way around the Homestead.
Rugmaker's Handbook No. 1:
Knitted Rag
Rugs for the Craftsman, and
Rugmaker's
Handbook No. 2: Fabulous Rag Rugs from Simple Frames
The name of our mail order business is "Rafter-four Designs" and 2008 marks the 24th year we have been providing books and supplies to traditional rugmakers. If you'd like a free catalog you can e-mail us (send your regular mail address, North America only) at: info@rugmakershomestead.com