Colonial Revival Style | A Bargello Mat to Rug Hook

Inspired by a stunning Colonial Revival-style rug on display at the historic Hamilton House—a Georgian mansion in Maine—this charming mat brings a piece of American design history into your home. Perfect for beginners and eco-friendly, this project just like the original, is crafted using repurposed materials wherever possible.

You can read more about the designer's discovery in "Hooked on History: The Surprising Collection of Hamilton House Rugs."

Materials

• Backing fabric suitable for rug hooking (linen, burlap, rug warp): 1 piece, 22" × 22" (56 × 56 cm) Note: The linen piece I used was from a previous project started and abandoned by another maker. One can see the enlarged holes where I pulled out the wool strips already hooked, as well as some of the lines marking out the original design. The original rug was likely hooked on burlap, although many hookers today prefer linen or rug warp because they are easier on the hands and do not rot the way burlap may if it gets wet.
  
• Assorted wool fabric from previous projects, pieces cut from recycled garments, and/or lightly felted new items
  
• Assorted wool yarn (DK weight and heavier)—various weights of yarn are acceptable, as they can be doubled or tripled as necessary. Note: About 14–16 ounces (400–450 grams) of wool and yarn will be needed (exclusive of the wool yarn used to bind the edges)
  
• Briggs and Little Regal (100% wool), 272 yd (249 m)/4 oz (113 g): 1 skein of color to coordinate with rug (for binding the edges)
  
• Rug hook, size 5.0 mm
  
• Rug hooking frame or sturdy quilt hoop, 18"–20" (45.7–50.8 cm) square or circular
  
• Scissors, fabric
  
• Tapestry needle, size 18
  
• T-pins or quilters’ binding clips
  
• Permanent black marker, such as a medium-point Sharpie
  
• Sewing machine or serger (optional)
  
• Rug hooking cutter (optional)
  

Finished size: 14" (35.6 cm) square.

About: A onetime handspinner and knitter whose main focus has turned to embroidery, Judith Copeland was introduced to rug hooking by members of her embroidery guild (the Southern Maine Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America) and was drawn to it for the way it allows for rich explorations of color. Judith lives in New Hampshire and is a member of the White Mountain Woolen Magic Rug Hooking Guild.

All items in the library are intended for personal use. Please do not distribute without written approval.