Some of my earliest memories are associated with rag rugs. In the 1800s and early 1900s (and before that of course) rag rugs were common as a floor covering. They are made on a two or four harness loom warped with strong cord. The weft is made from strips of cloth cut from old or discarded clothes or bedding. None of the cloth was wasted. The cloth was either cut into squares for quilts or woven into rag rugs. Some of these are so durable that they are still in use in modern homes today. Rag rugs are a visible symbol of a society that had as a motto, "Waste not, want not." This would be a good thing to remember today.
My great-grandmother had some braided rag rugs in her home. I always associate rag rugs with visiting her.
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