What a Little Yellow Can Do

It’s an ordinary double-binding rag rag in many ways. Standard draft, normal 12/6 cotton rug warp, weaving with two shuttles. Honestly, though, I’m thinking of it as art for the floor. With that in mind, I have a yellow stripe going across the rug. It’s a line of contrast to draw the eye. As the brief glimpse of yellow weaves under the intermittent blocks of red I am satisfied. My plans on paper have revealed themselves on the loom. Something unexpected draws the eye. And I get excited all over again!

Design element at the 1/3 mark.
Yellow stripe makes its way across the rug “under” the red blocks.
Double binding lets me play with design. By changing the color of weft on the shuttles at strategic times, I can create an eye-catching element in the rug. Art for the floor.

Expect the unexpected.

May you find satisfying ways to express creativity.

Happy Weaving,
Karen

11 thoughts on “What a Little Yellow Can Do

  1. I love all of your rugs and have to get back on the looms soon.. a passion for this novice weaver and I am getting so much inspiration from your posts! Thanks so very much!!
    Bethany in Kingston, ON

    1. Hi Bethany, If I can have any part of helping you get back on your looms I’m happy. Weaving rag rugs is certainly satisfying, and no less important – Fun!

      Thanks for leaving your thoughts,
      Karen

  2. Love this rug! The rug draft you published in Handwoven a few years back is on my to do list of projects and I would love this one if you don’t mind sharing it!

    1. Hi Renee, I’ll give that some thought. Thanks for the suggestion. I consider that a great compliment that you would ask.

      Happy weaving,
      Karen

  3. Good morning Karen,
    Beautiful colors. Reminiscent of a place you’ve probably never been to. The north coast of Michigan’s upper peninsula. Pictured rocks, Munising. (There are photos on my blog ~ 2008…. from a boat tour.)

    The oxide cliffs of Cu, MN, Fe, S over lake Superior. Topped with the greens of coniferous trees. God’s work at its best. Water, earth and sky.

    The S and Mn bring the light that enhance and enrich the other elements.

    I’m glad your double binding did such a good job showing off the colors.

    Kind regards,

    Nannette

    1. Hi Nannette, I may have been there as a child – at least somewhere around that area. It’s interesting that you relate these colors to the colors in nature. There’s no better place to find unique color presentations than those our Creator has put on display for us. Thanks for the reminder.

      Karen

  4. Hello Karen,
    New weaver, only two projects on a won at auction vintage, home built, refurbed by me counterbalance loom. One project to learn how this mechanism works and another project as part of a learn to weave class. I want to weave rag rugs (I’m a quilter, I can relate to fabric…and we need some new rugs in the house). I’m game to just ‘go for it’ without a pattern. I’ve got the ‘how to calculate warp’ info, but I don’t know what ‘sett’ I need for my warp. Is there a common sett when using carpet warp? I’ll be using Carpet Warp, Maysville cotton 8/ 4. The site from which I’m ordering doesn’t give a sett. Thanks for any assistance you can provide.

    1. Maybe the question is what is the epi you use on your rag rugs…? Found this on The Woolery which doesn’t help me figure out my epi…..

    2. Hi Carla, I only use 12/6 cotton (Bockens) rug warp because of its quality and durability. I have no experience with Maysville cotton 8/4 rug warp. The sett for most of my rag rugs is 7.5 or 8 epi.

      Happy weaving,
      Karen

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