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Article: Hooked on rugs: what began as a craft born of thrift and necessity has evolved into an art form.
- Article from:
- The Saturday Evening Post
- Article date:
- March 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Saturday Evening Post Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Country women, mostly from New England and the maritime provinces of Canada, began weaving (hooking) strips of tattered wool blankets and clothing into the burlap from feed sacks in the mid-18th century. Unlike the more affluent city folk, they couldn't afford to buy rugs, so they sought inspiration from their surroundings--roosters, horses, and flowers--and crafted a new rug while sitting by the fire each winter.
Hooked rugs were mostly a way to cover the cold floors, according to Sally Van Nuys, owner of Amherst Folk Art & Rug Hooking in Amherst, Ohio. They were also used for warmth on the bed and were called bed rugs.
Eventually, craftswomen ...