Hello

I would like some advice about weaving a bathroom mat with t-shirt strips as weft. When measured on a ruler, the strips produce a 2 epi sett. What thickness (epi) yarn  should I use for warp and which reed in order to weave a rosepath pattern? Thanks.

Comments

Tue, 08/20/2013 - 13:39

Sara von Tresckow

I think you means 2 wrape per inch with the strips. THis is not sett, but wpi. Sett is for the warp threads - and 12 epi is standard for rag rug type weaving - with 2 threads working together, producing 6  working ends per inch.

Perhaps you want to experiment with plain tabby to see how the strips behave when tightly packed before going with the rosepath threading.

Tue, 08/20/2013 - 17:56

JacRoyce

Hi

It sounds like you're starting from scratch and making your first rag rug. I recommend looking at the "Rag Rug Weavers" group and also downloading the free ebook on rag rug weaving from the weavingtoday.com site. 

I like working with carpet warp, crochet cotton is kind of a reasonable substitute. The number of ends per inch depends on how you want the rug to look (how much warp you wish to see in comparison to how much weft), and on how you want it to "wear." More warp threads enable more washing, with the warp taking most of the abuse of being a rug. Fewer warp threads leaves the cloth strip weft to take most of the abuse, but need to be washed more gently. For your Rosepath idea to work, you want more warp so that it can be seen.

I think that Sarah's suggestion of 12 epi is a good one for a mostly warp-dominant, strong rug. Her suggestion of sleying and threading the ends as doubles (6 doubled epi) should really show off the Rosepath.

Have Fun!

Jac

Tue, 08/20/2013 - 17:59

miri37 (not verified)

Sara, thanks for your reply. Indeed, I meant that the cotton strips are 4 wraps per inch. I tried a warp of 8 epi but the result was that the threads were excessively visible. In photos of rag rugs, the warp threads seem very far apart. Can you comment on that, please?

 

Tue, 08/20/2013 - 20:15

weaver1126

I have woven several rugs with t shirt strips.  The mistake I make was to cut them in loops and loop them together.  This made them too thick.  I did it again and cut them in continuous strips and wove them and it was much better.

Tue, 08/20/2013 - 21:00

Sara von Tresckow

The rag rugs you see in photos have warp ends that are usually the 6 working ends I spoks of - 12 epi in the reed and treadled to work in pairs at 6 ends per inch. You don't want to put the warps any further apart than that or the rug will not be firm.

Also, when weaving rags, the weaver needs to use a loom with very firm tension, preferably counterbalance or countermarche and beat so hard that the warp "bites" into the weft. This is accomplished, in part by beating firmly on the open or closing shed, changing the shed and beating firmly on the next shed prior to inserting weft.

If your fabric material is cut too generously, you'll have a hard time packing it well enough for the effect you want. Some experimentation will be in order.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 00:32

sandra.eberhar…

When you say that the warp threads in rag rugs that you have seen seem farther apart than yours are (I think that's what you're saying) you should look at the type of weave.  If you are trying to make a twill rosepath, if the warp threads are too far apart, you will not see the pattern.  The warp in plain weave rugs will be further apart.

Thu, 08/22/2013 - 16:24

JacRoyce

Hi Again

Sounds like you are trying to make a rag rug that is predominantly weft-faced--and it is possible. I make (and sell) lots of them. You can set the warp at 3 doubled ends per inch (6 ends sleyed and threaded in pairs) and weave tabby. As with all rugs, you do have to squeeze each weft shot as tightly as possible. Also, the rug will require at least 10 weft shots of your carpet warp at the beginning and end for extra stability.

A weft-faced rag rug should be 'washed' by soaking it (bathtub or soak cycle in a machine) and being laid flat to dry. They are strong and wear well on the floor, they just don't appreciate the agitation of regular machine washing.

If you want to use Rosepath, you'll need to use more ends per inch to keep the warp from being visually overwhelmed by the rag weft and to keep the rug stable. Experiment. Maybe 4 or 5 doubled epi (8-10 threads) will give you the look you desire while maintaining the stability of the rug. 

Have Fun.

Jac

Fri, 06/17/2016 - 19:19

Mellymoo

Hi, I've just come across this old thread and about to embark on my first rag rug.  I'm confused about the 6epi which are doubled.  Do I sley them in pairs or separately?  Also, I'm doing a straight draw so should I thread 11223344?  

Thanks!