The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-01
Al Present All Kinds Of OId-Fash-
toned Household Things Are
Being Revived.
HANDSOME RUGS MADE OF SILK
RAG CARPETS a GREAT INDUSTRY
OF COLONIAL DAYS.
and Carpets from SILK and
Cotton Rags.


American tapestry. since floor coverings
of this kind were the first carpets woven
in the early days of this country. At the
present time there are many sections
throughout the United States where car
pets are still woven on hand looms. Dur
ing the last score OF years very few OF
these rag carpets were TO be seen In In
dianapolis. but the present fad for reviving
all old-fashioned household things and
naments has brought TO light many OF
these quaint floor coverings. Local house
keepers not already owning any OF them,
are now having them made 10 order; but
to supply and cut ones own rags and to
choose the color OF the thread for the warp
is considered far more fashionable than
TO buy rag carpet complete.
Last summer brought out a good many
rag rugs, or short strips OF rag carpet,
for the spacious porches of indianapolis
homes, and, judging from the steady
growth of the fad. no porch in this city
will be regarded complete this coming
summer without this old-fashioned tapes
try. In many of the suburban homes near
this city the floors of entire suites of
rooms have been covered with rag carpets
in order TO give the houses the rustic APP
pearsnce desired by their owners. Mrs.
Addison Harris has had some beautiful
rag carpets placed on the floors OF her
handsome country home north OF the city,
and the elegant country house Of Fletcher
8. Hines. near Millersville. has two bed
rooms devoted to old-fashioned furniture
and old-fashioned carpets. the latter hav-
ing been prepared for the loom by men,
bers of his family who spent a great deal
of time in cutting the long strips of rags
and then sewing them together in almost
endless chains. IN tiny fat OH North
Meridian street are to be seen some very
artistic carpets and rugs, the owner not
only having cut and sewed the rags with
great care, but also selected the warp
upon which they were TO be woven. One
of the rugs has the appearance of the
priceless Oriental sort.
SOME MADE OF SILK.
While most of these carpets are made
from cotton or wooden rags. there are also a
number in this city that have been manu-
featured from strips of silk Miss Eliza c..
Browning, the public librarian. owns one OF
these handsome silk rugs. made by her
mother many years ago. The silken floor
coverings give a wonderfully rich color to
the room in which they are placed. while
portieres made in the same way are very
effective and last lifetime.
In the colonial days the manufacture OF
rag carpets was a widespread industry
Every village had its weaver with his prim-
tive handloom and many farmers wives
had their own looms. which were brought
into service whenever the rag bag became
full. Rag carpets were made then as they
are now, with a warp of cotton thread or
Irvine and welt Of rags. There were also
the hooked rugs" made by drawing bits
of rags or waste wooden yarn through n
foundation of burlap. A pattern was drawn
in the burlap and worked in with the rags
or yarn. The burlap could be bought with
the pattern stamped on IT. Also there were
rugs of braided strips of rags. dyed and
sewed into circular floor coverings The
first factory to manufacture carpets OF
yarn was established In 1871 In Philadelphia.
and this may be called the very beginning
of the American carpet industry. In many
farmhouses throughout Indiana these rugs
and carpets continue to be made in mod
est way, and there are still a great many
shops producing rag carpets in various
parts of the United States and Canada
In Canada, and especially in Quebec, the
weavers manufacture very artistic carpets
a speciality Of silk portieres and take the
greatest care in combining the colors. In
the mountainous and other isolated regions
of this country many Of the natives, weav-
ing their own carpets. display great skill
in combining the colors. There Is an old
pioneer woman living down in the town OF
waverly, Ind.-Mrs. Mary Sawyers by
name-who weaves exceedingly beautiful
-
mountains Of North Carolina, where she
learned the art thoroughly. Several In
dianapolis people have been sending collec-
tons of rags TO Waverly, together with the
strings for the warp. and they have been
delighted with the artistic results which the
old weaver has obtained.
l There is a new way Of joining the rags
without sewing. which will be of the great
est interest TO the many people who have
been saving rags for carpets and deferring
the sewing together of the strips because
of the monotony OF the work when once
started. The rags should be cut into strips
about half an inch broad. at either end OF
each strip a little slit or opening should
be cut, large enough for a strip TO go
through; the Sits OF the two pieces OF rags
to be joined should then be placed one over
the Otner, the opposite emu Oh one OF the
strips should be passed through the two
openings and pulled gently into a loop and
IL will make firmer joining than can pos
sibly be made with any thread. The noun
taineers of Maryland use this plan in pref
erence to the old style.
HOW TO CALCULATE
In making rugs Of silk rags the amount
of material needed may be calculated by al
lowing one pound Of silk rags for one square
yard of carpet. The best effect 10 be
achieved I'm sewing these rags together is
to have the strips Of silk quite short and
joining dark piece to one OF lighter shade
In this way the rugs when woven present a
beautifully blended appearance. with no
startling streaks of color to break the har-
mony. BY keeping out all of the black
pieces and sewing them together separately
one can have the weaver make border
foot deep at each end OF the rug. Another
odd effect Is to have woven I'm at intervals
a little gold braid. which gives a very
artistic appearauce.. especially when the