RAG RUGS have proved a big hit with visitors to Tolson Museum.

Perhaps it is the vibrant colours, the history of rag rugging or the chance to learn and use a craft alongside others that has made the museum’s exhibition, A Rough Guide to Rags Rugs such a success.

Rag rugging expert Diane West will be at the museum on Sunday April 18 with an afternoon of demonstrations and relaxed chat.

It will be a last chance to see the display at Tolson as it closes on that day after a five month run.

Diane, who has been teaching this traditional craft in a series of popular workshops, will be demonstrating different techniques and talking about some of the different materials that can be used and items that can be made.

She will be in the museum gallery from noon to 5pm on April 18 and if you’d like to ask a question or talk about rug making then here’s your chance.

This highly successful exhibition of traditional and contemporary rag rugs looks at the craft's historic origins and how it has developed into a global activity.

It includes colourful, hooked and prodded rugs, subtle, shirred and braided rugs, and even a stunning rag rug birthday cake!

Many visitors have returned to see the display more than once and it has brought back memories for some.

“During the last war 1939 to 45, my mother made rag rugs,” said one visitor.

“I had the job of cutting the strips. We would sit by the fire every evening. There was only lino on the bedroom floor so it was nice to have the rag rug by the bed.”

Rag rugging workshops held in conjunction with the exhibition proved such a success that two more have been arranged to meet the demand.

They are on Sunday, May 23, and Sunday, October 24, and will be led by Diane West. For details contact Tolson Museum, tel: 01484 223830.

The exhibition is moving to the Red House Museum, Gomersal, where it will run from Sunday, May 9, to Sunday, September 26.