Welcome to Braid A Rug

Please join us as New England Braids celebrates its 6th year of rug braiding classes with a 3 day event on October 18, 19, and 20, 2013. St. Basils Conference Center in Methuen, MA is the venue for this eagerly anticipated event each year. Classes run all weekend but many come just for the camaraderie of being with other rug braiders and to exchange ideas. This weekend of workshops is open to all levels, including those who have never tried rug braiding.

Not your grandmother’s braided rug anymore. Learn how to braid a rug with a pattern in it. Experience making a braided basket! Learn how to start and end a braided rug using different methods. Many classes including beginners. Many new techniques and creative color patterns are available to the students at this weekend.

This is the 6th year this event is being held to promote and preserve the art of Rug Braiding, bringing together those interested in learning to braid, as well as enhancing the knowledge of those already familiar with this historic craft.

This event is one of the best attended in the country. Last year 65 people from 15 different states enjoyed this beautiful weekend on the serene campus of St. Basils. Delicious meals, comfortable sleeping quarters and class rooms are all under one roof. Currently, it is the largest gathering of Rug Braiders in the country.

New England Braids teaches the basic techniques in making a traditional braided rug from planning to completion. Participants will be guided step-by-step through the process of making a braided rug from strips of wool fabric. Learn about types of materials, tools, and how to figure quantity of materials needed.

New England Braids at Methuen, MA will be held at St. Basil’s Conference Center, 30 East Street, Methuen, Massachusetts 01844, October 18-20, 2013. This weekend is open to all levels of rug braiding abilities, including those with no experience. A fee of $250 includes: 2 nights lodging, dorm style, 6 meals, 3 days of Rug Braiding classes (no materials included). You can save $25 by sending your check prior to July 31, simply send your check for $225. As of August 1st the price of $250 will apply.

For more information please call Carol Broadbent at 603-332-9038 or email carolbraids@gmail.com.

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Braiding Classes are being held on Tues. nights 6-9 and 2 Classes on Fridays, 11-2 and 2:30-5:30.

2 Saturday all day braiding: January 12th and January 26th 2013. $20.00 a day, bring a lunch.

Please check my website at www.braidarug.com and visit my calendar to make sure we are having classes.

Demonstrating braiding at the Alfred Festival on July 21st.

If you are in Searsport Maine, I will be teaching a braiding course, for 4 hours, go to the Fiber Arts College website in Searsport, and see the details, this is on Sept. 7th, 2012.

On Sept. 22 I will be at the Laudholm Farm in Maine, demonstrating my braiding.

I will be teaching a beginners class, a chair mat at Halcyon in Bath, Maine

Price changes for braiding classes effective on January 1, 2013

Beginners first day or night will be $15.00, then $10.00 for each session.

All Day Saturday classes are $20.00 for the day.

Due to prices going up, I will be charging for some of the other braiding things on the side such as: 

Pressing rugs:

$5.00 for rugs under the size of 3 x 5

$10.00 for anything larger then 3 x 5

Designing a pattern: $5.00

Industrial sewing on the strip rug will be $5.00 a rug, for just my students, $15.00 for non-students.

All instructional information paperwork will be .20 cents a sheet, to cover my ink and paper. 

Thursdays will be set aside for Private Lessons for Braiders. Cost will be $15.00 an hour. Call Pam at 207-608-3606 to set up a time on Thursdays. Also see my calendar.