Sue RatcliffeRag RUGS

Sue Ratcliffe

Rag RUGS

Cheltenham Gloucestershire.

Telephone: w: 01242 262183 m: 07879 493443 f: 01242 807881

Having lived on a narrow boat for some time, Sue fully embraced the culture of the waterways and canals. Sue Ratcliffe is a member of the Waterways Craft Guild and is a Journeyman.She's also a member of the Cotswolds Canal Trust. Always a maker and inspired by traditional crafts and textile design Sue Ratcliffe started making Rag Rugs and wall hangings. Sue explored the traditional techniques and started her raggytaggyrugs brand. The old terminology varies around the Country but "Tatting" is in common use, as is "Proddy mats" and "Progging". In areas like Wales and North East, recycling and make do and mend was the norm and tatting was passed down from grannies to grandchildren. Traditionally when the women joined the men on the narrow boats they would make and use the tatty rugs and hangings as a practical way of decorating the boats and keeping them warm. Sues' workshops include knitting, Rag Rugging, Spider web belts and other skills. They are held at the National Waterways Museum Gloucester Docks and also in Oxford.

Sue is a keen Green, producing environmentally sustainable works. Sue uses quantities of mixed fabric scraps, rich velvets, pastel cottons rainbow wools to sheer silks and satins. With these myriad colours and textures she builds up her designs in layers, graduating shade, tone & texture. Sue is a fan of Rothko and likes to emulate the colour phasing.