Sources for Rugmakers on the Internet

Inspirational Links for Rug Makers
For inspiration in designing a knitted rug, see the marvelous designs that Judy Boisson has developed using the same methods in Rugmakers Handbook No. 1: Knitted Rag Rugs for the Craftsman.
For inspiration in designing braided rugs, see the wonderful pictoral braided rugs made by Delsie Hoyt at Kingdom Moon Rugs.
For inspiration about all sorts of crafts that go to their outer limits, see Constructive Disorder. Some of these are just fascinating.

Spool Knitting
Knitted Rag Rugs with a Knitting machine
While not traditional knitted rugs, we have had questions about the use of knitting machines for rug making. Directions can be found at http://www.bivens.ca/knitted_rag_rug.htm

Rope Rugs
We get questions about rugs made from rope including "Lover's Knot" rugs. For those interested there is a magnificent reference on knotting sites at http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/knotlink.htm. To see examples of Lovers Knot rugs, see http://www.palmfibre.com
For rope making machines see www.texturatrading.com/tools.html 

Ryijy (Rya) Rugs
There is also an interesting article about the history of the Ryijy rugs at http://www.kaiku.com/ryijy.html

Amish Knot and Toothbrush (Naalbinding) Rugs
Carolyn Carlson (author of “Miss Rosemary’s Stick Rug: A Naalbinding Rug) has a new website up. Anyone interested in those rugs and who would like to learn more about Carolyn and Miss Rosemary should visit: http://home.mindspring.com/~dave.c/
Juliehas kits and supplies for Amish Knot rugs, though she calls them Scandanavian Loop Woven Rag Rugs (done with a 'toothbrush' tool), and rolls of precut fabric strip.
Marilyn Hayes' Sewing Bird sitehas kits and supplies for making Amish Knot Rugs which she calls toothbrush rugs.
Aunt Philly's Toothbrush Rugs The blanket stitch (Amish Knot) type of toothbrush rugs, patterns, instructions, tools, kits and fabric. 

Handmade rug tools & equipment
Peg and Bob Mineau have designed an ingenious ergonomic rug hook with a wooden handle and trigger type grip. It is also available in regular crochet hook sizes. See more on their website at http://www.menotriggergrip.com
William Schmidt makes fancy turned wooden crochet hooks and knitting needles.
David Grant makes an interesting hand powered machine to cut mill end rolls into strips for rug making.

Hooked, Prodded and Punched Rugs
The Canadian Museum of Civilization has an extensive collection of hooked folk art rugs.

Primitives & Primitive Rug Hooking
The Folk Art Landing in Grant's Pass, Oregon has original  primitive rug hooking designs.
Maria Pahls puts out a really fun newsletter about primitives of all sorts (not just rugs) called the "Seedpod". Issue #75 (from March 2000) includes an interview with primitive rug hooker Margo White. http://www.homespun-peddler.com/seedpod/pp075.htm 

Suppliers for Hooked Rugs
There are all sorts of hooking (including shuttle hooks) and braiding supplies also available from the HARRY M. FRASER CO. These nice folks manufacture the "Fraser Cutter" which is the wonderful machine for cutting narrow wool strips for hooking. They also sell a non-skid pad to back rugs. 
W. CUSHING & CO. carries all sorts of supplies for hooked rugs, some braiding supplies, linen thread, linen, monks cloth, scottish burlap, skid guards for rugs and more. There is also a good bit of general information about hooked rugs on the site.
The Rug Hooking Store has kits and supplies for rug hooking.

Braided Rugs
The Braided Rug Shop, Mt. Sunapee, NH has books and supplies for braided rugs. 
The Dorr Mill Store, Box88, Guild NH 03745 (603) 863-1197 has wools and hooking and braiding supplies. 

Twined Rag Rugs
"Twined Rag Rugs" by Bobbie Irwin. 
A full exploration of the twined rug structures. This is the book to order if you are chiefly interested in the twisted weft rugs. It is a great reference and good companion to the book on frame rugs.Available from directly from the author for $19.95 + $3.00 for book rate shipping (or $4.25 for priority mail shipping). Send check or money order to Bobbie Irwin, 62600 Jeremy Road, Montrose, CO 81401, or you can email Bobbie at irwin@rmi.net. If you would like your book signed or personalized, just let Bobbi know. 

Patched & Penny Rug Suppliers
Heartisan has penny rug kits with felted wool. http://www.heartisan.com

Old Rugs on the net
Rag rugs turn up in some odd places. In the National Gallery of Art is a painting of a Shaker Rug (sewn shag of the caterpillar variety). Beautiful! 

Want to look at a whole lot of old rag rugs, maybe find out what Grandma's rugs might be worth. Check out the Cyber Rug Centers page on folk art rugs. It takes a while to load up though because there are so many photographs. They have examples of knitted, shirred, hooked, patched, etc. and the display changes occasionally. A fun look in!

Really nice heavy wool yarns for rugs
HAAS, Wooltex has the best selection of really heavy wool yarns and cording for making rugs. The samples they provided would work for braiding, crochet, knitted etc. They are at 693 Pedernales Estates Rd. Fredericksburg, TX 78624 (830)990-0473, email Haas@fbg.net. 

Fabric Souces
Hooking wool and braiding wool is available from Denver Fabrics at http://www.denverfabrics.com
Several people have asked for a source for fleece for rug making. See www.fleece-fabric.com for a wide selection. 
Carol's Rugs has mill end fabrics, macrame cord and patterns for the doily style of crocheted rugs.
Inweave has a very wide variety of fabrics by the yard, and end roll fabrics by the pound. 

 

General Sources
LACIS though LACIS is best known for its lacemaking books and supplies, they do have rugmaking books, supplies and tools.

General rugmaking articles
A nice article about making floorcloths with children is at http://www.kinderart.com
 

If you come across a website of general interest to traditional rag rug makers, we'd appreciate hearing about it. Just send us an email at info@rugmakershomestead.com to suggest it for listing on these pages. 
Please note that we do not include links for such things as area rug retailers, unrelated crafts, etc.