Traditional Braided Wool Rugs

History

• Braiding rugs began in homes where money was tight and women were frugal. There was not a lot of money to spend, so they recycled anything they could to give it a new life and a new purpose. A women would take anything that was usable from worn out woolen clothing and cut it into strips. She would then use those strips to create a braided rug to be used a decoration in the home. The rugs were also utilitarian. Many homes had wood flooring that could be cold during the winter months. Braided rugs helped to keep the floors a little warmer to the touch of bare feet.

Types

• There are different types of braids that make up a braided rug. The first is a traditional braid using three strands that are twisted over and around each other. This was the most common type of braid in the original braided rugs. A cable braid takes many different strands of wool yarn and twists them together making a very strong braid. Sometimes the cable braid is more woven than braided. A tubular braid is another type that is similar to the cable braid. This is the cheapest way companies make braided rugs today. They use multiple strands of woolen yarn and wrap them around a tube.

Basic Instructions

• Learn a few basics about braided rug construction and you can make your own at home. You will need a lot of wool cut into 3-inch strips. The cutting is a good project to work on a little at a time. Each time you have leftover wool after another sewing project, cut the remainder into the strips. Start with three different lengths of wool and tie a knot in the end to hold everything together. Braid the strands as tightly as possible. It is helpful if you can find some way of holding onto the knotted end, such as by using a safety pin to attach it to the arm of the couch. Add only one new strand at a time if possible, by braiding it right in with the other two. Wrap the braid into a round or oval shape, hand sewing it to itself as you go.

Today

• Today, making braided rugs has become an art form and hobby for some people. Today's braided rugs are often made of wool, but also use cotton as well. Of course, wool stands up much better to the wear and tear of foot traffic. If you are interested in making traditional wool braided rugs, look around in your area. You can often find groups that get together and make braided rugs to keep the art form alive.