Coverlet Rag Rug

This rag rug could be a coverlet if woven in different materials. The distinctive block design from a Landes Block Drawdowns collection gives me an exciting approach for weaving a double-binding rag rug.

Coverlet Rag Rug on the Glimåkra Ideal loom. Cotton fabric strips are sorted in the Ikea cart by the loom.
Double Binding uses two shuttles. The two wefts exchange places on the face and back of the cloth.

Double binding is a double-layer fabric in a simple two-block structure. In each block, one of two wefts appears on the face, and the other appears on the back. I switch weft blocks by reversing the order of the two wefts. It’s that simple. For example, one pick of dark weft is followed by a pick of light weft. This sequence is repeated for a few rows. To change to the next block, with the opposite arrangement of dark and light, start with one pick of light weft and follow that with a pick of dark weft, repeating for the remainder of that block.

Temple, removed and placed on the beater for pictures, is a necessary tool for weaving rag rugs.
Variation in the light wefts and in the dark wefts adds interest.
Changing blocks and changing colors.
View from further away shows more of the coverlet design. Only when cut from the loom will we see the whole thing!

A small change repositions everything. Simply reversing the weft order puts a different face on the cloth. What direction am I taking my life? Reverse course to make way for a new life pattern. When we are left alone in the dark, God comes and offers a better way. Give up my way, reverse course, and go his way. Everything changes in such an encounter. Darkness to light.

May you see when to reverse course.

Happy Weaving
Karen

10 thoughts on “Coverlet Rag Rug

  1. Amazing and beautiful – this is my goal in my weaving life – but I only have an old 4 shaft Leclerc – so will likely never get there, Karen. I LOVE your work and so appreciate all you have shared over the many years I have followed along! Just so wonderful!
    Bethany in Kingston, ON Canada

    1. Hi Bethany, It’s such a blessing to me that you have kept with me all this time. You can certainly do this on your 4 shaft Leclerc! That’s the thing about double binding – it’s simple enough that anyone can do it. Four shafts is all you need.

      Thank you!
      Karen

  2. Your bound rugs has me wanting to know more. After googling, looking for a YouTube demo, I found nothing. I have made many rag rigs and overshot coverlets on a four harness loom. It looks like yours is too. Any books with step by step instructions to create the checks. Confused
    Barbara

  3. Good morning Karen,

    Thank you for the detailed photos. The direction I chose was to enlarge the photos.

    Do you prewash your filler? It looks like new material, crisp. What did you use for warp?

    As always, beautiful color schemes.

    Happy fat Tuesday.

    Nannette

    1. Hi Nannette, I use new fabric to cut into strips. I always prewash and dry the fabric. My rug warp is Bockens 12/6 cotton. This is a 6-strand warp with very tight twist. I use it because I am certain it has the longevity I need for a rug. Color is fun!

      Thank you,
      Karen

  4. Another beautiful project. I love the doublebinding technique. Not only is it a four shaft weave and easy to weave, but the patterns are fun to weave. And your pattern is so interesting. I love that red stripe you put in.
    Joanne

    1. Hi Joanne, This is very rewarding to weave. When Charlotte gave me her old book of block drawdowns, my first thought was to see if I could use them for interesting double binding rug designs. I like how it is coming out. I was going to put more red in the rug, but Steve said the sketch he liked best was the one with the most blue. So I kept most of it blue, but added my little splash of red.

      Thanks,
      Karen

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