Penny Rugs From Homespice

Penny Rug designs are among the most enduring and loved traditions of colonial Americana. Each one was handmade with colors chosen and hand sewn by the innovative pioneer creator of the rug and placed in an important spot in the home. Homespice duplicates the traditional way of creating penny rugs, carefully choosing the colors to delight the individual senses and sewing the layers of ‘pennies’ together by hand, ready for the creativity of modern home decorators to choose the perfect place for them.

A penny rug in that perfect spot in a home will spark conversation and questions. They are used as rugs, of course, but also as table runners, chair and bed throws, wall decorations or wherever a creative imagination wants to place them. And although traditional colonial pieces, some of them are suggestive of North American Indian or African designs.

Part of the charm of penny rugs and table runners is their bright mix of colors. Some appear to be haphazard, but in fact, colors and designs are carefully chosen to appeal and balance. Homespice has a variety of different examples of penny rugs and table runners in colors and sizes to fit unique tastes and color schemes. It’s just a matter of finding the style and color that suits each personality and home.

In spite of their popularity, no one knows who made the first penny rugs - although we do know that penny rugs were in many homes by the time of the Civil War - and that penny coins were used as a template. That was not, however, the same penny coin you see in America in modern times. Colonial penny coins were considerably bigger.

• Just how big do you think those first American penny coins were? Early penny coins were about twice the size of what they currently are and, incidentally, if you could find one now, it might be worth up to $2,600.

Using one of those large penny coin as a template, women fashioned layers of felted wool in circles, sewing the circles together with a blanket stitch and sometimes placing them on a large backing piece or other times simply sewing the circles together to create captivating designs. At times the coins were even kept inside to help the piece lay fat.

Initially made in darker colors with old clothes and blankets, the penny rug concept sparked the creative colonial spirit and brighter colors were used as soon as they were available. As creativity flourished, the appliquéd, hand-pieced rugs were sometimes made with other images – birds, animals, stars, flowers - and story rugs began to emerge.

Homespice Penny rug table runners come in 17 different designs that make beautiful accents for dining room and side tables. They provide an intriguing variety of designs and colors and although made for tables, creative individuals will also choose to show them as pieces of art on the wall or choose another perfect spot for each unique situation.

Homespice penny rugs come in 5 different designs – each a stunning piece of art. They will add a colorful conversation piece and huge visual appeal to homes that include traditional styles, primitive décor and other ‘new-meets-old’ styles. They will also be a gorgeous addition to homes that are designed to include handmade, artistic pieces.