How to make rugs

"How to Make Rugs" by Candace Wheeler is a guidebook on rug making written in the early 20th century. The book serves as a practical manual for individuals interested in the craft of weaving rugs, detailing techniques related to materials, weaving methods, dyeing, and the artistic possibilities available through home industries. The opening of the book introduces the concept of domestic manufacturing, emphasizing the importance and potential for women in rural areas to engage in rug making as both a form of artistic expression and a source of income. It discusses the value of home industries, particularly in the context of American society, where traditional crafts have declined. Wheeler explores historical reasons for the reduction of such crafts and sets the stage for the importance of re-establishing rug weaving as a meaningful pursuit that can enrich both family life and local economies. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Candace Wheeler, traditionally credited as the mother of interior design, was one of America's first woman interior and textile designers. She helped open the field of interior design to women, supported craftswomen, and promoted American design reform. A committed feminist, she intentionally employed women and encouraged their education, especially in the fine and applied arts, and fostered home industries for rural women. She also did editorial work and wrote several books and many articles, encompassing fiction, semi-fiction and non-fiction, for adults and children. She used her exceptional organizational skills to co-found both the Society of Decorative Art in New York City (1877) and the New York Exchange for Women's Work (1878); and she partnered with Louis Comfort Tiffany and others in designing interiors, specializing in textiles (1879-1883), then founded her own firm, The Associated Artists (1883-1907).