I'm about to weave my first rug.  I've chosen a coarse roving as the weft, and am researching what to use as a weft...any recommendations?  I am weaving on a Harrisville 8 harness...planning a tabby Summer and Winter in big blocks, 2ft by 3 ft...this rug will be used under my spinning wheel, or to cover my weaving bench...thanks for the help....Lindy

Comments

Fri, 10/30/2009 - 16:41

Alison (not verified)

Hi Lindy,

I assume you're asking about what to use for your warp, not weft.  Do you have a picture of what you're planning?  Since it is summer and winter, you could use the same yarn for the warp and tabby, is that your intention? 

Sat, 10/31/2009 - 12:44

claudia (not verified)

Hi Linday,

I have woven a few rugs and my favorite warp is Maysville 8/4 cotton rug warp.  I haven't tried anything else.  If the rug is getting a lot of wear, you should consider doubling each strand in the reed and threading each on separate heddles.   I have made 5 rugs this way and used them in high traffic areas.  They work quite well and endure traffic and washing in the machine.

Claudia

Sun, 11/15/2009 - 05:23

kds1679 (not verified)

Hi Linday

This sounds like something I would be interested in trying. Where would I find instructions?

Claudia, thanks for your info.

Sun, 11/15/2009 - 05:33

Sara von Tresckow

 You might also try to find some seine twine - 12 ply. This is a cabled cotton and much stronger than Maysville and lasts longer.

If this is your very first rug, why not work in tabby and get the knowledge of a good, firm rug set before trying patterns. There are quite enough things to watch out for - edge control, packing tightly, proper sett for the weight of your roving - you can use various techniques for color variation that are quite attractive.

After you've tried one small rug in this technique, you'll surely get better results with a move complex pattern later.

Sun, 11/15/2009 - 14:13

tommye scanlin

 I second Sara's recommendation of using seine twine for rug warp.  A good rug warp is also linen, like an 8/4 linen rug warp.  Joanne Hall at Glimakra USA has the cotton seine in several sizes--maybe the linen, too (my catalog is at the studio so am not sure).  For rag rugs I usually use Maysville cotton but not for more tightly stretched warps as with weft-faced weaves, whether tapestry or boundweaves--don't want to have to deal with potential broken warps from the tension and heavy beating needed.

Sara also mentioned working in tabby for first rug.  Lots of great design possibilities in weft-direction stripes of differing widths and also pick and pick stripes.  The book A Rug Weaver's Source Book (a mid-80s book pub. by Interweave Press) has an excellent chapter about plain weave for rugs.  Lots of other great information is contained, as well.  Of course, the classic for rug weaving is Peter Collingwood's The Techniques of Rug Weaving.

Tommye

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