The wonderful folk art quality of hand-made hooked rugs endears them to all who encounter them. Over the hundred and fifty year history of their popularity in rural North America, thousands of diverse rugs have been made by cottage industries and individual craftspersons alike. Today older rugs are collected and cherished and new rugs are continually being made. This book will be a guide for antiques dealers and novice collectors alike. This handsome new book preserves, for a new generation of interest in hooked rugs, the historical background of the often whimsical designs and instructions for starting a rug of your own. The sections present over 300 color photographs of different rugs in lively geometric, abstract, floral, animal, Oriental and original designs, and factual discussions of the interesting people who motivated the designs. The author takes a look at the prolific rug producers at the House of Burnham, and gives the complete story of the Grenfell mats of Newfoundland and Labrador. The contributions of rug making promoters such as Philena Moxley, Pearl McGown and Joan Moshimer are heralded with examples of their original designs and hand work. After inspiring them with old designs, the author encourages the readers to pick up some burlap, wool rags and a rug hook and follow her step-by-step illustrated instructions to make their own rugs. Then she explains how to preserve the rugs for the future.