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Featured Rug of the Month--

May 2011

Proddy Rug  21"x32"

Designed and hand "hooked" by Judy Taylor

This is yet another very old rug craft, called "proddy."  Fabric strips are pushed or poked through a monk's cloth backing, from the back, using a pointed wooden stick!

I first came across one of these beauties in a National Trust manor home in the Lake District, in England.  Picture this, as members of the public enter the home, they are all looking up at the ornate carving, stone hearth, hanging pots and herbs in this charming British kitchen from the 17th century.  Me, I couldn't take my eyes off the rug in the entryway!  It was one very much like this one--hooked cotton strips on a cotton backing.

As we proceeded to view all the rooms in this lovely family home, we saw many other such rugs.  A curator was explaining the technique with a very large unfinished rug on a frame.  I was especially impressed that these rugs were in the servant's quarters, which are usually quite spartan, but with one of these cheerful, colorful rugs on the floor, it looked quite cozy.

This craft was carried over to North America, and was favored by the Shaker communities.  Although we often think of Shaker clothing and furniture as simple, even plain, they allowed for more color and expression in their floor coverings.  Nothing ever went to waste, and worn out clothing and linens would never be thrown away, not when they could be recycled into charming, cushy rugs.

I used cotton fabric for this rug, because it is really easy to tear cotton into straight strips, and there was a considerable amount of tearing involved.  I estimate that I used about 8 yards of cotton for this rug!  The strips are poked through a monk's cloth backing, then when the rug is all filled in, it is removed from the frame and sheared on the top, so the pile is about 2 inches high.

Shearing the loops on the top

Sheared area                          Unsheared area

Do you have a rug you would like to see featured on this website?  E-mail me! Every rug has 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, visit our archive.