Does anyone have suggestions for where to find weft materials for rag weaving? Are there any good internet sites which offer  materials? 

Comments

ridinteacher

If you are looking for new material, I can't really help you other than to look at where you can get warp.  They usually all have some type of weft materials available such as loopers and selvages.

As for me, I am a recycler.  I collect from rummage sales, thrift shops, and word of mouth to get denim, blankets, curtains, tableclothes, bedding, etc. 

 

maurak

Thank you, I will get myself out to some local church thrift shops! 

ridinteacher

I just came home from a church rummage sale.  If you go at the end of the sale, they are usually more than happy to let you help them reduce their pile of leftovers... I usually give a small donation for the pile I leave with!

Mary C (not verified)

I am always amazed at how much material you can get just from things people can't bear to throw away and will give you if you have a use for it.

T-shirts from goodwill or even your own closet are great if there are no side seams and rip continuously sometimes.

Old curtains or drapes and sheets go a long way between seams.

At the end of estate sales they are also ready to unload things you may want!

Recycle it, don't throw it away...

maurak

Thanks again-the sales are coming soon as spring arrives and I am excited about potential treasures I may find. 

maurak

 Actually the idea of dyeing some sheets is pretty intriguing. I don't particularly like to dye wool for knitting, but sheets for rugs may be a lot of fun. Thanks for both your posts!

villageweaver (not verified)

http://www.rugwarp.com/

steve104c (not verified)

maurak, I have been going to the Joann's half price on all bargin fabric sale. I've picked up $7.00-$9.00 a yard fabric for just $1.00 a yard. These are 100% cotton solids and prints that most people would make quilts out of. Some really nice fabrics. Also found at Great Northern Weaving, warp thread for $2.60 a 800 yrd spool. My first few wrap thread spools I bought at a weaving shop here in Texas @ $8.00 a 800 yd spool. Found out these were the exact same as the ones I bought from Great Northern but for $5.40 more. My wife ordered 52 spools last week from Great Northtern Weaving. I'm warping my loom right now to make three rag rugs. One for my wife, one for a good friend's wife, and one to sale. My birthday is soon and my wife bought me a Singer Featherweight. Really cool little machine. She collects sewing machines. She had bought a Featherweight last month and saw how liked the one she got, so she bought me one. Haven't  been to Salvation Army Store or the Goodwill yet ,but have heard you can pick up sheets, jeans, wool clothes to strip and make into really nice rugs for really cheap. Also check at Walmart, in their fabric dept. Have found qilting fabrics for $1.00 a yard. At a lot of the Walmarts here in Texas,they have discontinued their fabric dept, so you might want to call first. Sorry for rattling on, but hope this info. will help you in finding weft materials for rag rugs..........Steve.

Alaire Rieffel (not verified)

 

This is worth a phone call if you need old clothes to cut up: theaters often receive donations of "costumes" that they can't use.  At least the one where I once was the wardrobe mistress did.  Worn men's shirts, tshirts, etc., some people's definition of "costumes" is rather broad.

claudia (not verified)

Oh, that's a great idea.  I know, around the DC area, there are about 30 small community theater companies.  It would be easy to find one in your local community.  I'd love to hear from others in places around the US and the World to see if community theater is popular and if they have considered this as an option for old clothes.

Thanks for the tip, Alaire.

Claudia

kavarner (not verified)

Any body have ideas on finding mill ends for a bulky yarn, some thing like the roving bulky home spun from Lion brand, or the light and lofty by Red Heart? 

cew (not verified)

Edgemont Yarn Service in Washington KY may be a source for you.

cew

suzyhok (not verified)

I used to weave my rag-style rugs, bags and wall-hangings with mill end fabric I bought from Woolrich Woolen Mill in Woolrich, PA. www.woolrichfabrics.com/  It made beautiful lofty rugs that were very comfortable to walk on. The fabric was mostly wool with nylon added to increase durability - perfect for rugs!   I was lucky because Woolrich, PA was on the way to my in-laws house in State College, PA and we often stopped to see what they had.  Before I moved to Savannah I sold my entire stash because I didn't think I'd be able to weave rugs again.  (I have rheumatoid arthritis.) Fortunately with great meds I'm weaving again, but not rugs on my Union looms (that I also sold)... lighter fabric on a Mighty Wolf.

omaweave (not verified)

I just found a stash f boxes of fabric in our attic.  Has anyone every made a rag rug using coruroy for weft?  How wide did you cut the strips?  And how many epi for your warp?

suzyhok (not verified)

Lucky you! I think I'd probably cut the strips about an inch wide, but it depends on how thick the corduroy is... If it twists up to between the size of your pinky and a pencil... That should be good. I would use carpet warp at about 8 epi with this. Have fun!

jenjscott

I have whole bolts of fabric to be used for rag rugs, I've been trying to decide the best way to handle the fabric to get it cut.  I can have pieces long enough to wind the whole shuttle!  It's just a little hard to handle the large bolts. I haven't figured out how much I can fit on a shuttle yet, but I suppose I will cut off that length from the bolt and try feeding it through the cutter.  

ellen santana

i put a note up on the bulletin board at my job and asked people to bring in their ratty bluejeans that they were gettin rid of.  most of them were nice, worn but useable.  i put a box there and i got more than i will use in a  long time.

ellen santana

i put a note up on the bulletin board at my job and asked people to bring in their ratty bluejeans that they were gettin rid of.  most of them were nice, worn but useable.  i put a box there and i got more than i will use in a  long time.

Group Audience