"Roosters and Flowers" Felted Wool Penny Rug

Penny rugs date back to the 19th century and are an early New England craft, made from scraps of wool and other fabrics. They were traditionally made from felted wool. They were not used on the floor as the name would imply, but as decorative table rugs. Coins were used as templates for circles that are commonly associated with the rugs. Most of the penny rugs had simple shapes such as flowers or animals, which were layered and appliquéd on the rug with a blanket stitch. Finished penny rugs are not to be washed in a machine but spot cleaned carefully.

Materials:

preshrunk felted wool:
- 12" x 19" background and backing pieces
- 1/4 yard 2 rooster base colors
- scraps
embroidery floss
scissors
washing machine, dryer

1. Purchase felted wool or thrift store coats in several colors (figure A). Coats or fabric must be 100% wool.

Note: You will need to piece out the coats before washing. Wash on the HOT cycle of your washer machine, one color at a time. Boil harder to felt wool (woven wool) for a few minutes, remove excess water. Dry completely in dryer. (Check and clean the dryer vent several times while drying. Purchased felted wool is already to go. No preparation is needed.

2. To cut motifs and border flags: Copy pattern and cut each piece out. Keep original pattern in tact in case you need to refer back to it or for making this rug again (figure B).

3. Place and pin pattern to felted wool and carefully cut out shapes (figure C).

4. Cut 12 border flags. Alternate them on each side.

5. Cut a background piece of wool into desired shape to place roosters on (figure D).

6. Cut a backing piece of wool a little larger than design. It can be trimmed to fit after rug is completed.

7. Blanket stitch pieces that layer on top of each other together, leaving the outside edges alone (figures E and F). This is easier to do with two or three layers before sewing it to the background piece.

8. Place pieced pieces to background (figure G). After you're satisfied with your arrangement, pin into place. Blanket stitch main pieces on background felt.

9. Now place the extra motifs into place on the background felt and blanket stitch.

10. Blanket stitch layers for flags, this time including the outside edges (figure H).

11. Pin the top of the rug to the backing, trim to fit, and blanket stitch around outside edge, except where your flags will be.

12. Place flags along the edge of the top of the rug and the backing (figure I). Blanket stitch them to the edge, connecting top to backing at the same time. This process would be nicer if you had three hands instead of two, but it can be done; just take your time to keep your stitches even. Use black embroidery floss for outside edge and attaching flags.