Techniques of rug making

Wool Area Rugs

The North American technique of hand-hooking yarn through a heavy backing material has recently been adapted to the repro­duction of historic European designs.

This fabric is made in a far-flung assortment of places—China and Puerto Rico, as well as Canada and New England. After the loops have been pulled through the back, the pile is sheared and sometimes carved around the design.

If the hooking is not close and fine, the motifs lack detail and the modeling that comes from many gradations of color.

The most exquisite rugs of this type are made to order in Canada. The loops of yarn are so close and tiny the fabric can almost be mistaken for tapestry or needlework.