It was a hessian cloth printed with the pattern on the back - there was an open wooden box it was attached to by turns, to allow the cloth to keep stretched to punch the 'needle' thru easily.

The (patent) needle was a brass gadget with a wide section to act as a handle, with a hole down the middle to run the wool thru, and the working narrow end was on a slant, to allow easy penetration of the weave. You worked from the back.

When finished, the edges were turned and some cloth stitched over the back. The top loops were trimmed so that the top was level and all the loops were cut. the individual strands were thus only held in by friction, and the resultant strands were about an inch long.

I think the rug died sometime in the 90s.