Once there was a time when rag rugging would have been common practice in the hills of the Dales, crafting as a family in the warm firelight of a cold winter's night.

Now few hold these skills, passed down from generation to generation to hook and to knit and make by hand these soft rugs from rags and scraps. But there is a group in the region who, for some time now, have been sharing their knowledge and skill with a new generation.

As the Yorkshire Rugmakers mark their 20th anniversary year, they are keen to hear from folk who may be interested in joining.

Miranda Auckland and Nicky Ryden are two of those who meet once a month at Wakefield's National Coal Mining Museum.

Miranda Auckland and Nicky Ryden at the Textile Heritage Centre, Skelmanthorpe. Yorkshire Ragruggers marks its 20th anniversary year, and members show us some of the work they do on their monthly get togethers. Picture taken by Yorkshire Post Photographer Simon Hulme

placeholder image — Miranda Auckland and Nicky Ryden at the Textile Heritage Centre, Skelmanthorpe. Yorkshire Ragruggers marks its 20th anniversary year, and members show us some of the work they do on their monthly get togethers. Picture taken by Yorkshire Post Photographer Simon Hulme

This is a craft, said Ms Auckland, that has probably kept going right back from the 19th century.

“It probably came from necessity,” she said. “The floors would have been made of stone or just dirt, and families needed something to keep warm, to put their feet on, that was comfortable and cheap.

“They would have been made out of old clothes, cut into rags and made into rugs for the floor," added the former teacher. The older rugs would have had a red diamond in the middle, in case a demon or evil spirits came down the chimney. It kept bad spirits away.”

Rag rugging, with deep roots in Yorkshire's mining communities, saw families reuse these old clothes to craft warm rugs for cold stone floors. It would be a family affair, working together to make a new one for each Christmas. Most of the rugs would have dark colours, because their clothes would have been dark, in blues and greens and browns,” said Ms Auckland.

Nicky Ryden is pictured on the loom at the Textile Heritage Centre. Rag rugging is an historic craft, common among mining communities, of making rugs from old rags or woollen garments. Now members also knit, crochet, and yarn, as they keep the traditions and secrets alive. Picture taken by Yorkshire Post Photographer Simon Hulme

“They made rugs all over the country, but it's thought to be the poorer people. They would have been coalminers maybe, people who couldn’t afford a carpet. We call them rag rugs, they might be known as clipping mats,” she added. “Some call them peg rugs, as they might use an old dolly peg.”

The Yorkshire Rugmakers, set up 20 years ago, often open their doors to visitors or attend school trips.

There are close to two dozen members, who craft hooked rugs, or knit, or crochet, in a huge range of crafts. They also make not only rugs from rags but from old jumpers or strips of fleece, with wool now more expensive than it once would have been.

“I love making rugs, I have them all over my house,” said Ms Auckland. “People make them with different fabrics now, wool isn't as easy to find and is more expensive.

Miranda Auckland and Nicky Ryden at the Textile Heritage Centre, Skelmanthorpe. Picture taken by Yorkshire Post Photographer Simon Hulme

“The good thing about wool is, if you have a spark from the fire, it just singes it and it won't go up in flames.” The group is keen for new members, and in particular younger members to try their hand.

"There will always be people who are interested in the old crafts," she added. "It's getting younger members of society to share that interest."