Alpaca Core Spun Rug
This is Alpaca spun onto cotton or jute cord. It makes a very thick and soft rug. I use mine as a wall hanging. Overall, very pleased with the outcome.
2012 custom rug shuttles
Custom rug shuttles, 20" long and 1 3/8" H & W. Curly cherry tops / bottoms with bird's eye maple centers
Blue Rug
Found out how to join ends so that it doesn't show. It takes a lot of time up, but is worth the time and effort.
First Wool Rug
This was my first wool rug or maybe it is a saddle blanket. I still need to finish the edges but I am quite proud of it. I had a lot of trouble with the warp breaking so decided to only weave one rug. Luckily I only put on a small warp. The yarn was some that I bought on E-bay, so I don't know much about it, but the weft was wonderful.
Room size rag rugs
I used pre-washed fabrics strips sewn together and ironed before putting on the shuttle. I found both poke shuttles and ski shuttles worked best. The sett turned out a little closer than I wanted but the rug turned out very nice. This is the first time I have woven 2 rugs this size and I was concerned they would lay flat and the selvedges would be even for the length of the rug. I used a metal temple for the entire weaving and the selvedges are very even and the rug lays beautifully flat. The client who placed the order for these 2 rugs seemed pleased with the result.
My only criticism is that I found it very stressful working with a deadline. I spent all day every day either sewing strips together, ironing or weaving. I purchased the 20 yards of fabric I determined I would need for this project. I washed and ironed all the fabric when I brought it home. I used a rotary cutter and a mat to cut 18" strips from every fabric purchased. Once all the strips were cut and piled individually on a table, I chose, at random, 10-12 strips to sew together. I sewed the strips right side together at right angles, cut the selvedge and continued sewing. After I completed sewing 9-10 lengths of strips, I ironed them and wound them onto the shuttles for weaving. I used 9-10 strips/foot of weaving. It was a very time consuming process and the result was worth it.
Oaxacan Rug - woven with Churro Wool
In Oct., of 2010 I participated in the first ever class given by Wence Martinez (Martinez Studios, Baileys Harbor, WI), a masterful Oaxacan rug weaver. After a small trial piece, this rug is the first full sized result of using the techniques learned. This rug is 31" x 48" including fringes.
Yesterday, Nov. 6, 2011, I picked it up from Loominosity, the annual show from Wisconsin Handweavers, and it had won the HGA award for excellence.
I used Cchurro wool for this project which gives it the proper hand - the test piece was done with softer knitting yarn and lacked some of the character of this rug.
Next it on to a class with Sarah Natani in Navajo techniques next week at Hillcreek Studios.
Four-Patch Corners Rep Rugs
These rugs took some time to weave due to rag preparation. I dismantled 20 men's dress shirts and cut them into 2 inch strips. Then the strips were sewn together.
I like the end view of the rolled rugs fresh off the loom because it shows the shirt colors so well. The first rug was mostly from white shirts with a few striped ones. The next three rugs went progressively to the darker colored and striped shirts. It is always fun to mix rag colors.
One of the rugs shows an experimental bit of inlay. I don't think it is very effective and may pick it out.
Overall these were a lot of work. But I like this design and will tie another color way to this warp.
RepWeaver
Basic Rag Rug
These rugs are usually what I make, so I posted an example. The idea is not hard to see; allowing space for a fringe, then a denser header, then the body, another header and room for fringe.
