one-day course rag rug making

venue: Hackney City Farm, London

This course is run by Jenni Stuart-Anderson

Learn the traditional techniques of progging and hooking, and start a project to finish at home.

Progging requires a simple tool and can be done on knee or table, giving a shaggy cut pile effect. Hooking is best done with the backing stretched on a frame and is suitable for pictorial detail.

Jenni has been recycling rags into rugs and hangings since 1987, and in 2003 her book Rag Rug Making was published by Traplet Publications. She works to commission, has exhibited widely and enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for making things and for treading lightly on the planet.

Rugs can be made from cottons (dresses, curtains), woollens (coats, blankets, skirts) or synthetics like fleece. Wall hangings can be mixed fabrics as they don't usually get washed.

Please bring some of the above materials (a carrier bag full, at least), plus sharp scissors. We will provide hessian, books, rugs and a selection of tools and frames that can be used and / or purchased (£4 to £45).

more on weaving, textiles & fabrics           

detail of ammonite wall hanging - mixed technique

detail of a progged cotton rug

hooked woollen rug, including hand-spun fleece