www.littlehouserugs.com

                        Creating Heirlooms

Featured Rug of the Month

January

When I learned to braid over 17 years ago I fell in love with this almost lost art form.  Like many ladies I have dabbled in all types of crafts but once I made my first braided rug I was hooked and braiding has been my passion ever since. 

To ensure that my rugs will outlast my lifetime, I use high quality wool fabrics and linen thread.  The wool is ripped into various width strips.  Three strips are used to start a basic braid and each strip of wool is folded inward and then braided together to make a very neat braided cord.  Traditional braided rugs are made with a continuous braid (like a record groove) but advanced braiders will often use a method called "butting" to make independent rounds and to accomplish more complicated patterns.  Braids are laced, not sewn together, in a manner that nestles each round tightly against the next and completely hides the thread.  A well-made braided rug is double-sided giving you twice the wear and can last a lifetime.

Over the years I have done some rug hooking as well, and enjoy combining the two art forms. Adding a braided border to a hooked rug makes a beautiful and unique finish to a rug.

Although braiders can be hard to find, there are a large number of braiders across the country.  Our numbers are not as big as some of the other crafting communities like hookers and quilters, who have supplies readily available in stores and wide varieties of published books and magazines on the subjects.  But, we braiders are out here and anxious to teach our craft to all who are interested.

I have been teaching beginner and advanced rug braiding classes out of my home in Gig Harbor, WA for the past eight years and carry a full line of wools and braiding supplies.

I publish a semi-annual newsletter called "Rug Braiding INK" which contains a variety of instructions for braiding techniques, rug patterns and designs, helpful hints, upcoming events, a photo gallery and just about everything else to do with rug braiding.  For more details and subscription information, please e-mail me at donna@rugbraiders.com.

Additionally, I am hosting the 2010 National Rug Braiders Conference to be held Sept. 15-18, in Gig Harbor, WA.  Beginner and advanced braiders are all welcome.  Full details can be found on the website www.rugbraiders.com.

Braided wool rug,  2.5'x3.5'

Designed and braided by Donna McKeever

Pumpkin Rug, 21" round

Hooked and braided by Donna McKeever

Picot edge braided wool rug, 12" round

Designed and braided by Donna McKeever

Do you have a rug you would like to see featured on this website? E-mail me!  It can be a rug you've made, inherited, found, whatever!  They all have a story and we love to hear all about them.  If your rug is featured, you will receive your choice of a free half-yard of linen or our "I'm a HOOKER and PROUD of it" totebag.  To view the many rugs that have already been featured, go to the archive.

Braided wool rug, 2.5'x3.5'

Braided wool rug, 31"x55"