Resources on the Craft of Area Rugs

Making a Crocheted Rag Rug
Learn how to make a crocheted rag rug. In this article, Crafter Sharon Lantham explains how to crochet strips of fabric into useful rugs using a single crochet stitch. Using chain stitches, slip stitches and single crochet stitches, a tutorial is offered. Learn how to tie the ends of material and weave rugs together.

Louisa Creed Rugs
An in-depth article about Louisa Creed, a well-known rag rug maker. With an imaginative eye for unique rug designs full of artistic creativity, her hooked rugs have gained notoriety. About 15 years ago, she saw a rag rug in a museum and wondered why people were no longer making them. She took a piece of upholstery hessian and a latchet-hook, and cut up some strips of cotton to make her first rugs, gradually finding the right hessian, hook and fabrics.

Handmade Rugs
This website is about handmade rugs. The website includes information about rug attributes, rug history, rug design geography, a rug glossary and other resources. Rug attributes such as layout, size, color, style, make and rug condition have separate links with more information. A tool guide shows the equipment used in making rugs.

Rug Forum on LiveJournal
If you're looking to converse with other rug hookers, this site is very helpful. You can share your designs and ask questions. There are homemade secrets here, as well as patterns and more tips. Also, many people post pictures as they progress through the rug-making process, so it’s easy to see the entire process here from other rug makers across the globe.

Fredericksburg Rugs
Fredericksburg Rugs offers a wide selection of rug hooking kits and patterns, books and other resources. The site also features information about the bed and breakfast log cabin, as well as rug retreats and rug classes. Hand-dyed wool, wool textures, bolt wool yardage, and recycled Pendleton shirts for rug hooking, penny rug, or quilting are also available.

Caring for Your Rug
Especially for Oriental rug owners, they will last many years if you take rug care precautions. Common problems include water damage, moth damage, dog chews and cat scratching, pet stains, vacuum cleaner damage, chemical damage, sun damage, and uneven wear. This Web site features a variety of rug-affecting factors and you can get care and cleaning tips with the click of a mouse. Also noted are tips on how to move a rug, how to lay a rug flat, using rug pads, coping with curled corners and edges, sizing and blocking a rug and rug storage.

Hooked Rugs
Here is information about the craft of rug hooking, with a wealth of historical information. Includes information about rug shading and dyeing, and how rugs were used inside homes to provide protection from cold floors. Much of the hook rug history developed in Maine, although hooked rugging has maintained popularity today.