Victorian Crafts
A Victorian Braided Rug
Those acquainted with the manner of making the "quilled braid," as it was called in the old days, can apply it to the manufacture of beautiful and serviceable rugs, for parlor or sitting-room floor. The materials required are wide, woolen braid or strips of cloth of two or more colors, a piece of canvas or carpeting for the foundation, and strong thread.
The accompanying figures clearly show the modus operandi of plaiting the braids, if any are unacquainted with the simple performance.
Scarlet and black, green and brown, or a row each of various colors, will all be found beautiful for these braids, which, when finished are sewn on the foundation which has been cut to proper form; a tasteful one of which is shown in Fig. 1. The form of arranging the braids, which are shown in one-half size in the diagrams 2 and 3, is plainly marked in the illustration of the rug.
Where such rugs are made of old cloth, (which, by-the-way, will be found a most useful manner of utilizing old fragments or pieces of discarded garments) they must be cut into strips and run together along the edges, thus making long inch-wide pieces, of which the braids are plaited. The edge is finished with cloth pinked-out on the edge, or perhaps merely cut into points and sewed around the foundation beneath the first and outer row of braids.
From "Beautiful Homes," 1877
See the Needlecraft Album of Filet Lace Designs
Print and Stitch Classic Victorian Charted Designs