Get Hooked on Traditional Braided Rugs
Old-school hooked and braided rugs are enjoying a resurgence in popularity in modern homes. Find out what's so flat-out appealing about them
Karen Egly-Thompson
24 March 2016
Houzz Contributor
Though born of frugal Colonial-era circumstances, braided and hooked rugs are still spiffing up floors today. These time-honoured textiles are attractive and durable, and they look great in home styles ranging from log cabin to contemporary urban apartment. Learn more about their construction, material choices, patterns and pros and cons. You might just get hooked.
Braided
Braided rugs were common in the US Colonies, not because of their appearance, but for their warmth. Since fabric was scarce, design wasn’t as much of a consideration. In fact, because most overcoats and suiting materials were black in those days, most braided rugs had a strong grounding of black wool running through them.
Durable and reversible, most braided rugs are round or oval, but octagons and rectilinear shapes with mitred corners are possible too.
Braided rugs were common in the US Colonies, not because of their appearance, but for their warmth. Since fabric was scarce, design wasn’t as much of a consideration. In fact, because most overcoats and suiting materials were black in those days, most braided rugs had a strong grounding of black wool running through them.
Durable and reversible, most braided rugs are round or oval, but octagons and rectilinear shapes with mitred corners are possible too.
Today, braided rugs are made two different ways, named for their primary material: cloth or yarn.
CLOTH: Cloth braided rugs are often custom-made. Because they’re more labour-intensive, they cost more than yarn braided rugs.
The process of making cloth braided rugs follows that of the early US settlers. Strips of cloth – usually wool, cotton or a blend of the two – are sewn together and folded to conceal the raw edges of the fabric. Three of these strips are then braided together and stitched to other braids to create a rug.
While both yarn and cloth braided rugs are durable, cloth braids are considered more resilient.
CLOTH: Cloth braided rugs are often custom-made. Because they’re more labour-intensive, they cost more than yarn braided rugs.
The process of making cloth braided rugs follows that of the early US settlers. Strips of cloth – usually wool, cotton or a blend of the two – are sewn together and folded to conceal the raw edges of the fabric. Three of these strips are then braided together and stitched to other braids to create a rug.
While both yarn and cloth braided rugs are durable, cloth braids are considered more resilient.
This bold braided rug features an old-time pattern called a ‘multi-circle’. A mix of solid and blended contrasting colours are separated into distinct bands, amping up the bubbly, eye-catching pattern.
YARN: Yarn-style braided rugs are more the norm, and are widely available. They’re made by covering a tubular filler core with dyed yarn and braiding three strands together to create a braid. Like cloth braided rugs, adjacent braids are sewn together. The filler core material can vary from natural to synthetic materials, and yarn can be cotton, wool or synthetic.
The rug shown here is a yarn-style braided rug. Its variegated pattern is popular because it’s soft on the eyes and blends easily with other patterns – or it can stand on its own.
The rug shown here is a yarn-style braided rug. Its variegated pattern is popular because it’s soft on the eyes and blends easily with other patterns – or it can stand on its own.
Don’t think you need to have a colonial-style house to make a braided rug work; they work great in contemporary spaces too. For more modern interiors, look for rugs in more muted colours with less contrast, like the tan, blue and brown shown here.
PROS OF BRAIDED RUGS: They’re durable, reversible and available in a wide variety of colours and patterns. Many braided rugs are made by family-owned businesses.
CONS OF BRAIDED RUGS: Braids may separate if the stitching is accidentally cut, such as by pets or over-vigourous cleaning.
PROS OF BRAIDED RUGS: They’re durable, reversible and available in a wide variety of colours and patterns. Many braided rugs are made by family-owned businesses.
CONS OF BRAIDED RUGS: Braids may separate if the stitching is accidentally cut, such as by pets or over-vigourous cleaning.
Hooked
Hooked rugs are also a craft born of thrift. Like braided rugs, they were originally made from scrap fabric, but they tend to be more decorative and graphic in design. Design themes include repeating geometrics, scenery and animals.
This hooked rug is made in a popular pattern of concentric circles called cat’s paw, also known as a penny or coin design.
Hooked rugs are also a craft born of thrift. Like braided rugs, they were originally made from scrap fabric, but they tend to be more decorative and graphic in design. Design themes include repeating geometrics, scenery and animals.
This hooked rug is made in a popular pattern of concentric circles called cat’s paw, also known as a penny or coin design.
Nowadays, most hand-hooked rugs are made by looping thin strips of pre-cut wool fabric through a stiff burlap-type backing, using a tool that looks like an awl with a slight hook at the end. The fabric strip is ribboned through the backing and pulled up using the tool. In fact, the fabric isn’t even anchored to the backing; the density of the surrounding loops keeps it all intact.
Here’s a detail image of a hooked rug design transferred onto backing, with some orange wool ready to be hooked in.
Here’s a detail image of a hooked rug design transferred onto backing, with some orange wool ready to be hooked in.
Rug hooking today is of two types: fine and primitive hooking. Fine hooking, as the name implies, uses a thinner, finer wool strip, while the primitive type uses a wider strip. More detail and shading is possible with fine hooking. Meanwhile, primitive rugs, like the one seen here in close-up, are less intricate and mimic earlier pieces.
Don’t confuse hooked rugs with latch hook rugs. (You might have latch-hooked a unicorn or rainbow pillow in the ’70s). Latch hooking uses small strings of yarn knotted to a waffle backing and creates a cut-pile finish.
Some people also think rug hooking and needlepunching are the same thing, and the terms are often used interchangeably. They’re similar because they both create a running looped stitch, but needlepunching uses a different tool (the fabric goes through the handle) and the design is pushed through to the back side. Hooking pulls the fabric design up to the front side. However, to an untrained eye, the end result looks the same.
Some people also think rug hooking and needlepunching are the same thing, and the terms are often used interchangeably. They’re similar because they both create a running looped stitch, but needlepunching uses a different tool (the fabric goes through the handle) and the design is pushed through to the back side. Hooking pulls the fabric design up to the front side. However, to an untrained eye, the end result looks the same.
Being highly patterned, hooked rugs are usually a design focal point in a room, and are best paired with more streamlined furnishings, as in this bedroom.
Rug: The New England Collection
Rug: The New England Collection
PROS OF HOOKED RUGS: Hooked rugs come in an almost endless array of colours and patterns. Their appearance is homey and warm, probably more so than any other rug. Handmade hooked rugs are personal works of art to be treasured.
CONS OF HOOKED RUGS: Pet claws and vacuuming with a beater bar can damage the rug. Use only an upholstery attachment or gentle suction to vacuum. To minimise soiling, avoid placing handmade hooked rugs in high-traffic areas.
TELL US
Do you have any new or heirloom hooked or braided rugs at home? Share your love and photos of the in the Comments below.
MORE
Decorating With Rugs: From Craft to Art Form
How to Arrange Furniture Around Rugs of Every Shape
Past to Present: The Kilim Rug
CONS OF HOOKED RUGS: Pet claws and vacuuming with a beater bar can damage the rug. Use only an upholstery attachment or gentle suction to vacuum. To minimise soiling, avoid placing handmade hooked rugs in high-traffic areas.
TELL US
Do you have any new or heirloom hooked or braided rugs at home? Share your love and photos of the in the Comments below.
MORE
Decorating With Rugs: From Craft to Art Form
How to Arrange Furniture Around Rugs of Every Shape
Past to Present: The Kilim Rug
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Thank you so much for suggesting my company, Parris House Wool Works, Karen! I can definitely assist Alana in getting started in the craft!
Here's a great article:
How Needlepoint Rugs are Handmade Using a Painted Needlepoint Canvas
http://blog.asmarainc.com/blog/bid/57805/How-Needlepoint-Rugs-are-Handmade-Using-a-Painted-Needlepoint-Canvas
The reversibility of a braided rug brings back a childhood memory. My mother decorated one of our house's 3 bedrooms in a red-white-and-blue scheme. Dark blue walls, white ceiling and build-in closet doors and trim; fire-engine red bunk beds and bookcase built by my father; red-white-and-blue long dresser (3 drawers each for three boys) built by my father and red-and-white striped curtains (one brother was born on the 4th of July, which probably gave my mother her inspiration). The floor was covered in a large, braided rug in shades of red and grey (it might have originally been white) with flecks of blue. It must have been quite impressive when it was fresh and new.
Three boys later, by the time I was born, it was definitely starting to show signs of war and terror - I mean wear and tear. Over the years we'd spill paint on the rug or 'tea' from a tea-party or grind play-dough into it or have some other accident and got the brilliant idea to hide the dirt from mom by turning the rug over. Being kids, we'd naturally forget that we'd done that trick before. I remember my deep dismay when my brother and I discovered that no matter how we turned that rug over or circled it around to try to find a clean spot we could put closest to the door, it was no use, The best we could do was hide the most recent outrage by turning it over to expose more worn-in stains.
The rug never wore out, though looking back, I wonder if it was held together by years and years of childhood spills.