Handmade Woven Rag Rugs

Styles

• Different styles of handmade woven rag rugs lend themselves to different uses. Soft pile rugs called worm rugs are traditionally made of a weaving mill byproduct, the selvage edge trimmed from woven fabric. Such rugs, effectively twice woven, may be created from washable fabrics such as cotton for easy care. Wools woven from selvage edges make spongy, cushionlike rugs that require dry cleaning. Finished, these rugs can be colorful, contemporary looking, soft and durable for home use and decoration.

  Other handmade woven rug styles include twist rugs and loop rugs. Twist rugs are woven of cord, with each cord made of many strands of combined yards. The colors within the cord can be bold or subtle tones to create a rug that echoes other design elements in a room. Sock loop rugs are made from factory waste created during the manufacture of socks. Because these are especially absorbent, they are often used as bathroom rugs.

Fabrics

• Usually, rug makers choose fabrics of similar weight and texture. This keeps the finished look and depth relatively uniform. Rug weavers choose colors to compliment rather than clash, so that the final weaving creates a balanced, harmonious look. Whether the fabrics are washable is another consideration. The combination of wool destined to shrink, with polyester that does not shrink would create a woven rug that would pucker and lose its shape were it to ever become wet. White cotton can withstand washing in bleach, but when combined with nylon, bleaching the finished rug would likely damage the nylon fabric. Rugs styled for an earthy, casual look are often woven from recycled blue denim jeans, cut and sewn into strips.

Looms

• Looms for making handmade woven rugs can be of professional quality or simple and handmade. An item as simple as a sturdy picture frame can be made into a loom. Whatever the type and construction of the loom, its interior dimensions define the rug size. Additionally, a frame that is lightweight may be suitable for use with lighter fabrics, but heavy and dense fabrics require a heavier loom.

Warp

• Warp is the yarn or string through which the strips of rag are woven. In the simplest of looms, a series of nails or tacks are affixed to the top and bottom of the loom. The yarn or string is tied around a nail or tack at one corner, pulled tightly around the tack or nail parallel to it on the opposite end, wrapped and looped continually until a uniform pattern is achieved. Fabric strips are woven through the warp, over and under in an alternating pattern. As each additional fabric strip is pushed tightly against the previous strip, the rug takes shape. The warp provides the strength that binds the rug together.