I am making bathroom rugs from the old towels in the house. I know I will need to use some form of heavy cutting device, the old rotary cutter is not strong enough. I am planning on using a seine twine warp and probably will alternate picks of twine and towel for the weft.
Has anyone else used towels for weft? Any suggestions, thoughts, etc.
Thanks,
Claudia
What's your weft?
I depend on my Kai's. http://www.kaiscissors.com/ i have the really long blade. Cut like butta! If you can put some umpf into each close, you can get a couple layers of denim!
I bought the good stuff, seine twine, and I just need to finish the shawl that's on the loom now and I'll start planning and cutting. I have great scissors that were sharpened a few months ago and may try them first. I don't think the rotary cutter will get through the towels, even single layer, without breaking. We'll have to see how the scissors work out.
I am lusting after something heavier but not sure how much I have to spend, that's an issues.
Claudia
I snip and rip almost all of my weft materials. including towels. I like the texture that results from the raw edges, so if you are looking for a "cleaner" look, this may not be fore you.
Would you share your reed size, twine type (and where do you get this, at the hardware store?), your sett, and how wide you will cut your towel strips? Still absurdly new, but planning a week of study at the John C Campbell Folk School this summer (YEA!)
OH, a week at John C Campbell learning weaving. That's fantastic. Was that a gift? I'm a little jealous but mostly happy for you.
I will probalby use a 6 dent reed and seine twine in natural that I just bought from Glimakra-US (they are one of our advertisers and Joanne Hall is extremely nice and well experienced in all types of weaving).
As for cutting the strips, that was one of my questions for this thread. I will try to tear them first since that's how I do most of my rag rugs (all 6 that I have made-LOL). I have a friend willing to cut them for me if I can't do it. I have to get on the weaving calculator and decide on the size but I have an 8 shaft loom that is 40" wide so I can handle a good size rug. My plan is to put a long warp on and do several rugs at the same time. I could really use a big one for my studio and why not do it while the loom is dedicated to rugs.
Claudia (I talk about our advertisers because I am one of the founders of Weavolution)
Hello,
Since you mentioned John Campbell, I should mention that I will be teaching a rag rug weaving class there the week of April18-24. I like to teach there in March and April, as the spring bulbs and the trees are blooming. And the weather is really nice. And it is one of the few places where you can go to weave where they have full sized floor looms to use. The food is also very good. It is so nice to go someplace where you can concentrate on weaving and not have to do anything else.
Every other year, on the odd years, I teach the Scandinavian weaving in March.
Joanne
Joanne
Guess what we just got another 54 inch Glimakra loom donated to the John C. Campbell Folk School weaving
studio................ Woo Hoo!!!! When I saw it I just jumped for joy. It is an 8 harness one at that!!!
I do try to have a blend of large looms as well as smaller looms for the teachers that teach at the school. Now we are up to 5 countermarch looms!!!
I will talk to you in the next month or so.
Pam Howard
Resident Weaver
John C. Campbell Folk School
Brasstown, NC
Hi Pam,
That is great news. I assume it will be available for my April class. See you then.
Joanne
Does anyone have a picture of a something made from towels? I'd love to see one.
Sorry, that one sold right away. If i remember the next time I get one made, I will post one. I don't get alot of those made because I usually need the towels to use in the barn :)
I just posted a picture of a pair of rugs made from towels on the project page, if you care to take a look!
I buy bath towles that have been stained form a linen service for 50 cents a piece. then I wash them in hot water and dye them. my rotery cutter works very well. I am going to cut the strips 3/4 of an inch the next time.
these strips also crochet up nice ly.
I have a scarf on the loom now and am heading to the towels next. We desperately need new bath rugs in the second upstairs bathroom (used to be the kids bathroom but everyone is grown and gone). Can't wait to get back to the loom. I miss weaving very much.
Claudia
