Rug hooking is a unique American craft. It's origins are in New England and Maritime Canada in the early 1800's. It was a craft of poverty to make rugs for cold bare floors. Rags and scraps were pulled through burlap such as feed sacks forming a looped pile. In the 1940's rug hooking was rediscovered and raised from hooking primitive designs to tapestry-like pieces. Today, the technique of rug hooking is used in both folk art and fine fiber art.