Proggy Menagerie: 20 Soft and Snuggly Rag-Rug Animals to Hook and Sew

by Hayley Smith

Making rag rugs, or “progging,” as it is called in the author’s home base of northeastern England, is a time-honored craft that requires few materials and tools. Author and crafter Hayley Smith takes progging up a notch as she goes beyond the traditional rugs to bring readers 20 fun and easy stuffed-animal projects. You don’t need much more than fabric scraps and burlap to give it a try, and this beautifully illustrated guide presents step-by-step instructions to get you progging with adorable results.

Inside Proggy

•An introduction to and history of rag-rug-making

•A look at basic progging techniques and how to get started

•How to select and prepare your fabrics

•Creating proggy crafts for different uses around the home

•Detailed, illustrated instructions, and patterns for creating 20 cuddly stuffed friends by hand

128 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2017

Reviews

[Tracy Shephard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hayley Smith has brought us a fabulous book..

filled with cute and adorable animals from bunnies to foxes to 'proggy'.

Proggy craft is a modern twist to the traditional art of rug making.  This simple but very tactile and creative art can be really quite inventive, and what Hayley has done is brought this craft right up to date with her beautiful toys.

I had never heard of 'Proggy' until I came to live in the NE. My librarian told me that as children her mother used to make proggy mats, which then in the cold cold winters the mats were given a shake then put on the bed to keep everyone warm. 

The books comes with various templates, which have to be enlarged on a photocopier, and includes all instructions and techniques which are simple to follow. 

I think older children may be able to 'proggy' but may need some help sewing the pieces together, so it is a craft to be enjoyed by everyone. 

All the animals are superb and would make exceptional and unusual gifts. 

[Catherine Peel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received an advanced copy for review...
Such cute animal projects to make! The directions are step by step and easy to follow. There a several different animals to choose from in each level of difficultly. I had never done any of these before and it had easy to follow instructions and supply list! If you like doing hand crafting you should totally check this book out!!

[Plum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting but I wish the “how to” part that is at the back, was actually at the front, because it seems to launch straight into the first critter, with no tips for noobs. Fabulous for recycling old T-shirts and stuff though, top marks for creativity.