Braided Rugs

Jennifer Lantrip and Julie Sullivan (Eaton Rapids, Michigan)
As is true of many folk arts, braided rugs, made of readily available and often recycled materials, are both practical and decorative. Because wool is durable and stain resistant and the color variations in the braids hide spills, braided rugs are practical to use in any room. From their first use by early European settlers in America to today, braided rugs are an American folk art.

Hand-braided wool rugs are a family tradition for Julie Sullivan and daughter Jennifer Lantrip. Julie learned to braid from her grandmother and then, in 1999, taught Jennifer. Using pure wool, needles, and bodkins [a special awl-shaped tool], they braid strips, lace the braids together, and butt the braid ends to each other to create a seamless ring. They use the rugs in their own households and as gifts for others.