Rag Rug Rya

I have an enormous brown paper cartoon hanging under the warp, suspended by a contraption of wood, string, and rubber bands.The pattern area of this rag rug begins with rya knots. The dark colors of the rya pile contrast with a background of whites, off-whites and light prints. The rya knots follow a geometric design that I drew onto the brown paper with a Sharpie.

Rag rug with rya knots.
Brown paper under the warp hangs over a slat which is suspended with seine twine and rubber bands.

As the designer and weaver, I already see the finished rug in my mind’s eye, and understand what is needed to complete it. I am weaving this rag rug for our own home, so naturally I am already thinking about where it will be placed. This makes it personal, and the slow weaving process grants me the opportunity to know this rug, inside and out.

Tightly-woven selvedges on hefty rag rug with rya knots.
Tightly-woven selvedges. Doubled weft gives extra fullness and weight to the rug, as well as contributing to strong rug selvedges.

Yes, it is important for me to know my Maker, but even more important that He knows me. All of life has meaning when God knows you by name. He knows what is needed to give our lives purpose. And the slow process becomes that much more personal as he weaves the design that he has seen all along.

May you accumulate many meaningful moments.

Happy rug weaving,
Karen

4 thoughts on “Rag Rug Rya

  1. I can’t wait to see this one. It looks like so much fun. The first weaving project was 44 years ago and it was a rug with Rya loops and a worked in pattern. I KNEW NOTHING. directions said to wind X # of threads for warp so I very carefully wound individual balls of warp , no warping board here and no idea I should have one. I ended up tying each to the back beam, taking ALL the balls across the 30′ of living room and hall, out the front door and down the steps… needless to say it was a challenge, but I’m still weaving and the rug lasted 40 years. Have a great time as you go you may as the designer/weaver change your mind about the design….GO FOR IT, LP&J, linda

    1. Wow, Linda, fabulous! I can just picture what a sight that was, warping your loom – and the joy involved in a brand new adventure. You really made me smile! And the rug lasted 40 years. Of course, it did – it’s a handwoven piece of love! 🙂

      And it is very possible that I may “adjust” the design as I go. That’s the great advantage of being designer AND weaver!

      Love to you,
      Karen

  2. I would really like to see a post of this finished please? I have made rag rug bags but not a rug yet, will have to be next weaving project!

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