Evening star., 1911-01-20
Weaving Rugs.

When NE look at the beautiful hand
made rugs portieres and hangings dis
played in the shops. how we long for the
! looms of our grandmothers days! II
we only had old colonial looms stored
away In our attics or could afford new
Swedish ones, what marvellous tapestries
| and rugs we could design and weave!
/ OF course. all the rugs Of pioneer days
We're not works of art or beautiful, as
too often the meaGer supply of rags was
dull and sOmber in tone or lacked har-
mony Of color when combined, but out
of those early efforts grew a sufficient
number Of wonderfully distinctive, per-
feet rugs to warrant the continuation of
the craft and its widespread revival to-
day, resulting in rugs that are entirely
satisfactory for their use. and when We
say that We can say no more for We
mean that they embody the primal prin-
ciplcs of true ara.
It is these rugs that are worth while
that we need in our homes. And in this
day or artistic endeavor there is always
some one to come forward to perfect what
was best In the rugmaking OF pioneer
days. 1t was Mrs. Helen Albee who saw
the possibilities in the old farm hooked"
rug Of colonial times. These rugs are
now called "Abnakee" rugs and are
made by pulling strips of twilled flannel
by means Of a hook through burlap
stretched on frame similar to quilting
frame The old "looped'' or hooked
rugs were utility" rugs pure and simple.
and were but the means of covering bare
noors with wOrn-out sacking and cloth
Ing. And 1t was Mrs. Albee. who by ex-
perimenttng with materials, dyes and
primitive geometric designs lifted them
out of commonplaceness to an unusually
attractive type. so much so that they
have almost the color effect OF Jewels in
a room that is furnished in quiet color
key
Another utility rug which sprang from a
sense of economy is the monochrome"
rug. woven from strips Of Worn-out and
cast-on ingram carpets. This rug, with
It's hard harsh character. and nearly al
ways. If not displeasing coloring, at least
not attractive enough to excite comment.
mas happily been the means Of introduc-
Ing the "nun' rug. And. like Mrs. AL
bees rugs, the use of warm-toned dyes,
suitable designs and new materials has
transformed crude work into an art
Flun' rugs are made on simple pine
looms. either square or rectangular to
suit the measurements of the rug If
the rug is to be two yards wide and
three yards long the loom should be
eighteen by eighteen inches. because the
rug Is made in blocks and sewed to-
gether In such way that the rug is
alike on both sides.
The four strips of pine wood that form
the loom should be eighteen inches long
three-fourths inch thick and two inches
vide. and the upper and lower strips
should be laid on top Of the two side
STRIPS and nailed securely at the corners
Brads to string the warp on should be
nailed a quarter Of an inch apart on the
| upper and lower strips directly opposite
each other
Using carpet warp to match the color
| of the rug, fasten 1t at the upper left
nand corner and string the loom by plac-
ing the warp around two brads each
time. going up and down the loom from
left to right and tying it carefully at
| the last nail.
common yellow pine ruler makes a
good weaving needle by planning and
rounding one end for the point and cut
ting a hole In the other end for the head
;.s you are % now ready to weave. But as
with all things that are worth while suit
able material, motive. time and patience
must figure largely for success.
:, Ihis rug is best developed when made of
| the cheapest factory" a most inexpen-
slVe cotton cloth. coarse and loosely
| woven. 1t takes the Gye easily and ef-
| fectiVely. OF course, in a rug Of this kind
vegetable dyes are to be preferred on
account of their soft and lasting colors
! in books in the libraries. Dyeing is al
ways one of the most fascinating and
| daring features Of rugmaking and besides
| 1t is the most difhcult. for no matter how
| colors that make the rug. and no device
can cover up incongruous colors 1t is
essential. therefore, that you dye and dry
sample pieces Of your material to test tine
| dye bath before you dip the whole
| amount. Although the cloth must be stir
| red or shifted in the dye it is not at all
| desirable that the material be dyed
| evenly. as varying tone shades enrich the
colorfng.
When the dyeing is over cut the cloth
| into bias. not straight strips. one inch wide
and rough them by pulling them gently
4 through the hands. The strips require no
sewing. They are drawn through the
| weaving needle and woven in and out
| under and over the threads Of the loom
darning fashion. Push up each row of
weaving at a time. being careful that the
rug never draws in at the sides of the
loom. 1t is good idea to have wire
fastened right over the last string at
either side OF the loom to keep the rug
perfectly straight. acting as the tenn
ples' in the carpet looms.
| While this sort of rug lends itself bet
| ter to the solid color center with broad
stripes at either end or encircling border
it is unusually striking when. worked up
| in simple. geometric designs IL one is
skillful and ingenious in weaving. But
| for the beginner the stripe ornamentation
/, is easier and effective. As the end or
encircling border must be made in blocks.