River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-03-22
something About Floor Rugs.

These useful articles were never more
in vogue than now In many houses
they cover the greater part of the floors,
taking the place of carpets Anybody
who has money can buy rug, but it
takes skill and taste and industry to
make one out of such material as are
furnished by out-wear of everyday
clothes. This can be done, however
and the homemade article be service
able and almost as handsome as tbs
purchased article.
A very good way to use up old wooden
stockings and WOODEN knit goods of
every sort is to wash them very clean,
then ravel them, and knit the yarn in
strips the len 9Th the rug is to be. Have
the knit strips an inch wide, and after
dampening them press them till dry
with a warm iron, this sets the crinkle
in them. Then cut each strip down
the middle, making two of it. Sew
these strips to foundation of ingram or
three-ply, fastening the selvage edge to
the carpet, then ravel the cut stitches.
The strips should be placed together so
as to cover the foundation perfectly
The colors can be arranged to suit the
taste of the knitter. Al wooden yarn
works up well in this way, and as odd
moments can be used while knitting it,
the investment OF time is not bad one
and the result is very satisfactory.
Another way that is easy and effective
is TO cut the goods to be used in strips
an inch wide, and gather them along the
middle with strong doubled linen
thread. When enough has been done
to cover the foundation prepared, begin
4. IA 4 n Io4
the rope thus made round ana
round till all is sewed on Fill
up the corners, and if the edge has been
finished before the rope was sewed on, as
it should have been, your rug IS done.
This uses up the rags very fast, and
more economical method is the follow
ing: Cut circular pieces an inch in dia
meter, and having prepared the founda-
ton, which should be of carpeting or
heavy WOODEN cloth, sew these pieces
one by one through the center to the
foundation. Have them very close to.
gether. Outline forms may be made on
the foundation which shall make pretty
figures in the rug when finished This
method utlizes all the little pieces one
Lay have.
Another way is, after having designed
your pattern, to cut out pieces Of cloth
broider them more or less deliberately,
then sew them to the foundation and
fill in the groundwork with any little
device your fancy may suggest. Bor-
der the whole with fringe OF some
sort. Small rugs made in this
way may serve as choice bits oil coloriug
and are to be laid before small table.
Braided mats everybody can make.
Cotton and wooden are almost equally
made up in this way. The center of the
mat may be bright piece of carpeting
neatly bound, and it may he cut circular,
oblong or square, according TO the shape
desired in the rug. This method uses
up rags very fast, and is to be recon-
mended where it is desired to get them
out of the way quickly. The thread
used in Sc wing braided mats should be
oil the very strongest, az this is always
the first to wear out.
Knit rugs are very pretty when prop
erly made. Tear the rags into strips.
sew them together, and wind into balls,
as for making rag carpets. Then with
wooden needles Knit them in strips, two
inches or more wide, and as long as de-
sired. Sew these strips together, line
the whole with burlaps, put on fringe,
and the rug is done. Soft wooden goods
work up very we'll in this way.