The Knitted Rug: 21 Fantastic Designs

by Donna Druchunas

Here’s a fresh take on the crafts of rugmaking and knitting—the very first book of its kind. These 21 stylish rug projects are so eye-catching that it’s hard to believe that even novice knitters can create them. But they can, thanks to a thorough section on knitting basics, sumptuously illustrated with more than 60 how-to photographs; advice on embellishments, including embroidery, fringes, and tassels; and instruction on finishing touches, such as weaving ends, sewing seams, blocking, backing, and lining. Put this knowledge to work on a multicolored Big Needle Garter Stitch Rug, Knit and Purl Oval Rug, Thunderbird Wall Tapestry, and others. Every rug is beautifully photographed in a home setting, and includes patterns and ideas for modifying the design. The author lives in Longmont, CO.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

I grew up learning many different crafts from my mother and grandmothers including knitting, crochet, rug-hooking, embroidery, and sewing.

After a 25 year vacation from crafts, I started knitting again and learned to spin and dye wool with natural dyes.

Before I returned to knitting, I spent almost 20 years working in corporate cubicles as a writer, designer, and creative services manager. My cubes were in military training facilities, small businesses, and large corporations. During that time, I wrote and designed marketing materials, training courses and technical manuals for many types of hardware and software products.

I also streamlined documentation production processes for several companies. I was recruited by Fujitsu-ICL Systems and Hewlett-Packard's Colorado storage division to establish in-house creative services departments and to implement procedures based on systems I originated earlier for the US Navy Fighter Weapons School at NAS Miramar and Pyxis Corporation in San Diego.

After all that time, I rebelled and left my cubicle behind to combine my interest in knitting with my skill at writing easy-to-follow instructions. My designs and articles have been featured in Family Circle Easy Knitting, Knitters, Piecework, Interweave Knits, Fibre Focus, and INKnitters magazines, and I design patterns for several yarn companies.

I was born in New York City, but today
I live at the foothills of the Colorado
Rocky Mountains with my husband and
two cats, who are very helpful when it
comes to testing new knitting designs!

Reviews

[Cookie M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting designs, easy to execute. Most of them are too small for what I wanted. I will be making the rug on the cover, as soon as my puppy outgrown her desire to eat rugs.

[Ana Mardoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Knitted Rug / 1-57990-747-4

"The Knitted Rug" is a beautiful and carefully written resource, with lavish color photographs for each rug project and with lots of variety in shape, style, design, colors, and area of coverage. The instructions are easily adaptable and nearly every rug project can be made larger or smaller as the floor space demands. Truly, if you are a knitting enthusiast and you'd like a comprehensive guide to branch into knitted rugs, this is the definitive resource you must have at hand.

Note, however, that if you are a beginner to knitting, you will likely need another resource than just this one. The introduction of the book includes the common 'Knitting 101' starting guide, but the guide is rather sparse and leaves a lot to be desired. For example, the Coiled Cord Oval on page 82 was the rug that caught my eye and sealed my decision to buy the book. I'm not handy with needles, myself, but I used a knitting knobby spool in my youth and found it easy and relaxing, so the rug seemed perfect for me - a beautiful rug made out of a long length of i-cord. The instructions mention, off-handedly, the existence of knitting knobby spools, but include no instructions or pictures, which was disappointing. Little gaps like this occur in the book, but are understandable inasmuch as this book is not, strictly speaking, marketed directly to beginners. However, I thought it bore repeating on-line, as the customer can't always flip through the book to verify how detailed this resource is for them.

Bottom line, if you are interested in knitted rugs, buy this book, but if you are a beginner to knitting, consider also investing in a solid "How To" resource to serve as a companion to this.

~ Ana Mardoll

[Abbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of techniques used to make rugs by hand. Explanations clear and well-written, pictures good, production values all right but I'm not a fan of smallish paperbacks without spiral pages for knitting books, you know? It sometimes makes it difficult to hold the book open while working on something (minor Pet Peeve). However, if you want to try your hand at making a rug using your scraps of yarn or even purchase yarn especially for the project, then this is a pretty good book to begin with.

While all the rugs here are knitted (and I'm a fan more of crochet ones, btw) and to someone like myself who is well-versed in "traditional techniques" this has nothing much new in it, this is still a pretty good book to keep in your library if you are new to the concept of knitted rugs and would like to try a design or two.

Not special, but is a decent pattern and instruction book for techniques not often found in current knitting books.

[Knitology]

Here’s a fresh take on the crafts of rugmaking and knitting—the very first book of its kind. These 21 stylish rug projects are so eye-catching that it’s hard to believe that even novice knitters can create them. But they can, thanks to a thorough section on knitting basics, sumptuously illustrated with more than 60 how-to photographs; advice on embellishments, including embroidery, fringes, and tassels; and instruction on finishing touches, such as weaving ends, sewing seams, blocking, backing, and lining.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty cool book. I thought that the patterns were nice, they seemed to have a nice selection to choose from. I didn't find anything that I loved, but I enjoyed looking through the pictures. I did find a couple helpful tips in their technique sections. I would probably recommend this book.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...

[BookMouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some pretty cool rug patterns in this book.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lot's of inspiration. Made two rugs after flipping through this book.

[Martine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have not yet been inspired to knit from this book-maybe someday but the designs are not very modern

[Rochelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and informative.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good basic book for beginners, with interesting ideas for more seasoned knitters, and practical info specific to rugmaking.