Grandma Guier's Elk Rug
by Paula Bowden
I have a hooked rug on my wall made by my great grandmother, Julia Wicker Guier (1865-1959). She was from North Carolina. Her mother-in-law lost her husband in the Civil War and family lore has it that hershe supported herself and family making rugs. We think that Grandma Guier learned rug hooking from her. I found a 40-year-old comment in my genealogy notes from a relative who said Grandma Guier was known for her tapestries and had been known to sell them for up to $50.00! I loved this piece growing up and it just came into my hands a few years ago.
The rug is made with yarn. The backing material I think is linen. It has a pair of blue stripes like ticking printed at about 10 or 12 inch intervals, and I'm wondering if it would be dish towel yardage or something like that.
The crazy colors on the inside border seem to be made with dozens of different yarn scraps. The edges are turned under and yarn is run over the edge. The elk is outlined with what looks like embroidery thread. The strands of grass are embroidered over too.
We don't know when this rug was made, but my 68 year-old sister remembers the rug from her earliest childhood.
Looking at this rug was what inspired me to do research on the internet to see if I could learn more about how the rug was made. I started hooking with a Sheep Whimsy Kit, and now I am working on a rug of my own design. It says Border on the top and Collie on the bottom, with a Border Collie worked in the middle. It's funky, but I'm pleased the dog is recognizable.
Editor's note: When do we get to see the Border Collie rug?
