442 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



November, 1908 



Making Rugs from the Scrap Bag 



By Mabel Tuke Priestman 



WING to the revived interest in old-fash- 

 ioned furniture, and in the love of simple 

 things for the home, the old-time rag rug has 

 become universally popular, and women in 

 all parts of the country are bringing down 

 from the garret old rugs made by their 

 grandmothers, which they are industriously 

 copying. In olden days the 

 dye pot played an important 

 part in the making of rugs, 

 for all old clothing was care- 

 fully hoarded and torn into 

 strips and neatly sewed to- 

 gether in odd lengths. These 

 strips were wound into loose 

 hanks, which were dipped in 

 the dye pot, when they took 

 on a new lease of life, owing 

 to their soft and beautiful col- 

 orings. Vegetable dyes were 

 invariably used, so it is not 

 surprising that to-day many of 

 these old-time rugs are still 

 beautiful in color, mellowed 



only by time. Old stockings, old undershirts, petticoats, and 

 dress materials of all kinds were utilized in the making of 

 these rugs, for when they were dyed and worked up in the 

 rugs, the variety of texture added only to their beauty. 

 There were always a few balls of white rags which were put 

 on one side for the purpose of introducing white bands of 

 color when it was deemed necessary. 



In a colonial bedroom what could be prettier with the old- 

 fashioned chuck-bottomed chairs, or hickory furniture, than 

 a plaited or crocheted rug of long ago? Not only can they 

 be used in a bedroom, but in summer cottages and unpreten- 

 tious homes they are frequently found in the sitting-rooms 

 and halls. Their advantages lie in their economy, and in 

 the fact of their being washable, which appeals strongly to 

 the housekeeper of to-day. 



As the making of these rugs is so extremely simple, it is 

 a delightful pastime for children and old people, for the 

 work goes quickly and is no strain on the eyes. 



The simplest rugs to make are those that are plaited, 

 knitted and crocheted. The plaited rug may either be oval, 

 square or round, and is done in the following manner: When 



Button Rug Made from Cloth 

 Dollar and Sewed on 



the strips are torn, thin material must be about one and a 

 half inches wide, and thick material would be better only 

 about half an inch wide, and would, when plaited, take up 

 the same amount of space. 



Take three colors or three shades from the plaited rug, 

 and plait a strip about one yard long. Lay the half yard when 

 plaited on the table and return the other half yard and neatly 



sew them together. Continue 

 plaiting from half a yard to a 

 yard at a time, sewing the 

 plaits together as the work 

 progresses. Many people get 

 their lengths of stuff tangled 

 up, but this can be avoided by 

 only plaiting short lengths of 

 material, and having one end 

 in the plait much shorter than 

 the other two. It is very easy 

 to keep adding new pieces, but 

 if a long strip is attempted to 

 be plaited at once, the material 

 becomes frayed, and the 

 worker does not find it easy 

 to do. 



There is a great difference in the appearance of these 

 rugs. Some workers turn in the edge of each strip as they 

 plait, while others leave the raw edges slightly frayed and 

 prefer its artistic appearance to the neat rug. This can be 

 left entirely to the choice of the worker, as the extremely 

 particular housekeeper will prefer the neat rug, while the 

 woman who prefers to get artistic results from quick work 

 will like the rough-and-ready plaiting. 



In looking at the group of round rugs, it will be noticed 

 how pretty the effect is of two or three rows of plain material 

 breaking up the hit-or-miss surface. The large oval rug is 

 made of three shades of denim and has been used in a hall 

 for over five years, and to-day shows no sign of wear, this 

 photograph being taken in its old age. 



Those who are fond of crocheting will find the making 

 of these rugs quick and delightful work. They can be made 

 of rags, which should be torn about half an inch wide. Flan- 

 nelette is particularly charming, as it is so soft to the feet. 

 If they are to be of light weight, the material will just be 

 crocheted in the round. Begin with a chain of four stitches, 

 and join together with a crochet hook. Increase the round 



and from Pieces the Size of a 

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Partly Finished Rug of Cloth and Homespun 



Flower Rug — An Applique of Ribbon Ornaments the Center 



