Keeping An Old Art Alive

Gig Harbor woman promotes the nearly lost art of rug braiding through teaching and events.

GIG HARBOR - Donna McKeever teaches classes regularly and sells supplies by appointment.

She may be contacted at (253) 853-4583 or

The braiding and hooking group meets at the Peninsula Library every third Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and welcomes anyone to join in.

Donna McKeever has been in love with "old things," antiques and such, for a long time. Nearly two decades ago, that fascination spurred an interest in a class on rug braiding — an old art has been nearly lost in modern times. She enjoyed the hobby so much, she has not stopped braiding since, and now teaches others in hope of keeping the art alive.

When McKeever's husband took a job in Gig Harbor and the couple moved here from Kansas, she couldn't find other rug braiders in the area. She decided to start her own business teaching classes — something she had planned on doing in Kansas before having to move.

"I couldn't find braiders here and wanted to create people with similar interests," she says.

She launched Rug Braiding by Donna about eight years ago, with the goal of teaching classes. At her home studio filled with a variety of wool fabrics, she hosts groups no larger than four people at a time for regular sessions, and also teaches individuals. She sells her beautiful rugs occasionally, but doesn't focus on that aspect.

The wool rugs McKeever makes are the kind of heirloom items that could be passed down through generations. She only uses wool, due both to the quality of the fabric and the way it weaves seamlessly. Wool, which is naturally water-repellant, stain-resistant and flame-retardant, doesn't wear and get dirty as readily as other fabrics.

"Rug braiding is a time-consuming craft," she says. "My philosophy is, if you're going to put the time into it, you might as well use the best products."

Finding good quality wool that's not priced over the top, however, is no easy task — one of the reasons why the art could be lost, McKeever says. In the past few years, many American wool mills have closed, unable to compete with the Asian factories that produce less expensive (and less superior) wool fabrics. Which is why she has not only her studio stocked up with wool, but also a large part of her garage filled with yards and yards of various colors and patterns. Her selection includes a semi-truck's worth of wool she bought from a mill that went out of business. Students who sign up for classes can choose from the wide variety of fabrics from her studio, and McKeever also sells wool by appointment to the general public.

Rug braiding started out centuries ago as a necessity. The rugs were mostly utilitarian, usually made from ripped-up, old clothes. But even in those days, many artisans elevated rug braiding to an art, creating beautiful rugs with intricate patterns.

For McKeever, braiding is a little bit like comfort food. There's so much heart and soul that goes into the process, it's a great way to relax, for one thing.

"I don't do it for speed," she says, adding that it takes an average of three hours per square foot. "I do it because it's soothing and relaxing. It's a creative outlet for me."

McKeever's advanced skills and techniques have allowed her to experiment with various things, such as rugs that are differently shaped (vs. the traditional round or oval) and three-dimensional items like hats and decorative art. She produces a regular newsletter that includes tips and techniques, and is part of a group of artisans who meet at the Gig Harbor Library. The group includes both people who braid rugs and those who use the hook technique, and McKeever does hooking as well, but doesn't teach it.

To take her passion one step further, McKeever began organizing a conference in Gig Harbor. This year, she will have 25 rug-braiding enthusiasts coming from all around the country, as far as Florida, for three days of intensive workshops. They will spend about 12 hours a day learning, braiding and sharing the camaraderie. The conference, at The Inn at Gig Harbor, will include an open house for the general public from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18, for anyone interested to come see the rugs on display and purchase supplies.

Although some of the process of rug braiding is mechanical, there's a lot of creativity involved, with unlimited color combinations and patterns possible. "I always tell people it's not rocket science, but there's a lot of trick to the trade," McKeever says. "I believe it's something anybody can learn, with some help."