Bodging a Rug

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“A bodge rug is a rug made out of an Hessian base, if I remember right, we used to cut up bits of material and peg it back through the holes with a tool and drag it through the other side.”
Oral History Tape, Walsall Local History Centre - Mr L, Port Street, 1940s and 1950s

“A peg rug in front of the fire, that was one of the pastimes, pegging a rug, cutting up coats to make these small pieces, but mom sometimes used to get off cuts from the tailoring trade, Shannon’s I think it was, and they were all a creamy colour, we made this lovely cream rug.”
Oral History Tape, Walsall Local History Centre - Mrs H, Farringdon Street, 1940s

“I helped my father by cutting material and he made the bodge rug. The rug was 6 foot by 4 foot and when he finished he put a backing on it using another piece of sacking.”
Walsall Resident – Informal Conversation at ‘Memory Event’

“My grandmother would have a peg rug made twice a year, always had one for Christmas, out of somebody’s old coat… somebody in the street did peg rugs… they’d cut it all up into strips. I’ve done it myself when I was younger and my sister as well… it was nearly always made out of somebody’s coat and cut up into strips.”
Oral History Tape, Walsall Local History Centre - Mrs B, Margaret Street, 1940s and 50s

“My father got the sacks from work and we washed them. My mother pinched the sacking together (between her thumb and first finger) before using the bodger.”
Walsall Resident – Informal Conversation at ‘Memory Event’

“My mom would cadge: skirts, coats, anything, off people, and we would sit and bodge a rug. (We made) a big diamond in the centre, if someone gave us some red (material)... You couldn’t lift it, it was terrible to lift and take up the yard and try and shake it, you just couldn’t do it… One was in front of the settee, in front of the fire… and another was at the back of the settee, more like a runner.”
Oral History Tape, Walsall Local History Centre - Mrs H, Camden Street, 1930s and 40s

“They were nice and had a pattern… a ring in the middle or a diamond in the middle. Nearly always red, something bright, but the rest would be dark naturally because you used to have to shake them daily. There was no Hoovers. They’d be the brush to brush the lino, but the rugs would be shook outside in the yard or you’d put them over the line and give them a good old clouting!”
Oral History Tape, Walsall Local History Centre - Mrs B, Margaret Street, 1940s and 50s

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