Hello, I am thinking about weaving a rug next. However, my understanding is that your loom has to be pretty strong in order to do a rag rug. Is there a good way to determine if my loom is strong enough? Or should I just put on a warp and see what happens?

Thank you!

Comments

Sun, 04/21/2013 - 19:08

JacRoyce

Hi

There's also a rug weavers group where you'll find some discussion about this.

Your loom does need to be heavy, solid, and well-built. This is mainly because you need to squeeze really tightly when you press the weft into place, then change the shed and squeeze again. (You're aiming for no 'air' between the picks; each squeeze also presses previous picks tighter.) This effort is easier on your body when your beater is already sturdy. And it's easier on your loom when your loom is heavy enough not to 'walk' and the joints are strong enough to remain intact.

I've seen a lot of Common Wisdom that only heavy counterbalance and countermarche looms are appropriate. There are, however, jack looms that have been designed with rug weaving in mind. I use a Gilmore that I love. 

Anyhow: Give your loom a try. Be sure it sits on a carpet. Sample with a narrower warp than your desire (say, 12"-18"); try your 'rags' at varying widths; experiment with different setts to see if your loom (and/or YOU) prefer a specific ratio of warp-faced to weft-faced weave; etc.

Have fun and good luck!

Jac

Sun, 04/21/2013 - 19:25

Susan Styrchak (not verified)

There are a lot of variables-  what is your loom? and what is your ideal rug surface- how much of the warp do you want covered?

Force equals mass times acceleration, right? So you may have to beat really hard and fast or add weight to your beater. ( I have iron bars that screw into the top of my Leclerc counterbalance, but the holes in the wood are getting worn and I have to drill new ones the next time I do that)   Then again, how wide do you want the rug? 28 inches will beat more easily than 36 or 45, and twill will pack down more closely than tabby because it is going over two (or three) threads rather than just one.

I guess the good part is, it doesn't take long to thread a warp at 6 or 8 epi and rags weave quickly so if your first effort doesn't work, you can (undo it ?) and try again (!)

 

Sun, 04/21/2013 - 20:22

kerstinfroberg

"Sample" by doing something less critical: a floor rug has to be sturdy etc - do a "bench rug" instead. IF the "bench rug" comes out as floor rug quality, then you know (and have a bench rug that can still be used). If the sample can't be woven to floor rug quality - then you know, and have a bench rug that can still be used... best of both worlds?

Mon, 04/22/2013 - 00:18

sandra.eberhar…

The most important reason why you need a sturdy loom to weave rugs is that the warp must be VERY highly tensioned to get the tight beat that JacRoyce was talking about.  Think piano strings.  Purpose built rug looms will have a steel ratchet and pawl on the warp and cloth beams to get this tension, and a long handle on the cloth beam ratchet to easily crank it up. It takes a heavy frame to hold this tension, and most rug looms are square frame, but there are some X-frame looms that can work, Kessinich and Eureka come to mind.  Kessinich looms are jack looms that can do rugs and are still made; Eurekas were made until about 1920 and are purpose made counterbalance rug looms.  You see them in the Midwest a lot.

Mon, 04/22/2013 - 00:26

sandra.eberhar…

Actually, the energy you give to the beat is 1/2 mass x velocity squared.  So beating fast packs better than a heavy slow beater, in theory.

Mon, 04/22/2013 - 15:30

marmaladefiend

Thank you all so much for this advice.

I am thinking based on this information that my loom isn't up to the challenge. I think something is wrong with the front brake that makes it slip if I put the tension really high (or maybe that is just part of the charm of this loom!)

That said, I like the bench rug idea and will go and give it a shot!

I will also look into the rug weaving group, I would like to see what is going on there anyway.

And maybe think of getting a rug loom in a couple of years.

Thanks!

Sat, 06/15/2013 - 09:49

jodydodd

If You are unable to decide which rug loom to buy, You might consider making one by Yourself. Its not a difficult task and just requires some wooden pieces and few tools. Here You can vary the tools as per Your rug design.

stair rugs