50 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
February, 1909 
Hand Made Rugs, the Revival of an Old Handicraft 
By Mabel Tuke Priestman 
| many parts of the United 
States great interest is be- 
ing taken in the making of 
hand-made rugs, and many 
women in rural communi- 
ties find that they have the 
means at hand of a profit- 
able employment. The evolution of the 
old-fashioned New England hooked rug 
has, owing to the energy of such women 
as Mrs. Helen R. Albee and Mrs. Douglas 
Volk, resulted in a product very different 
from the original. 
Between thirty and forty years ago these 
pulled rugs were found in the homesteads 
of New England and in the Southern 
States. Many of these old-time rugs, made 
from wornout clothing, are still in exist- 
ence, having withstood the wear of years 
and have outlasted new carpets bought 
years later. As they proved so durable, 
there has been a revival for a continuance 
of this craft, and they are now made from 
Antique rugs made on hand-woven blankets 
OEERERER! 
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Showing how the rug is hooked 
new materials which are dyed in artistic 
colors and worked up into beautiful pat- 
terns. As this is distinctly an American 
industry it is advisable to follow Indian 
rather than Oriental motifs. Long ago the 
New England women used to design their 
own, and usually made them from floral 
designs. Many were extremely ugly, 
although originally and cleverly designed 
rugs were occasionally found. As there 
was a crying need for designs, these were at 
last supplied by firms who knew nothing 
about art, but who understood how best to 
sell their patterns. These were stamped on 
burlap and sold from door to door. A dog 
on a mat, a horse’s head, a cow in a 
meadow, a bunch of roses, these ugly real- 
istic designs were scattered all over the 
New England States. Women knowing 
nothing about art eagerly bought them, and 
did their beautiful work over these hor- 
ribly designed patterns. 
A well-known artist who had made a 
study of antique pulled rugs had some in- 
teresting experiences when making a search 
for them. The artist, together with a 
friend, made quite a find when spending 
their vacation at Malpique, on Prince Ed- 
ward Island. They hired a buggy and 
drove throughout the country in quest of 
the much-desired floor coverings. After 
making some excuse for entering the farm 
houses they would try to explain their 
errand. ‘The simple country people could 
not understand how any sane woman could 
actually want their old discarded rugs, and 
very amusing times they had with these peo- 
