| Author |
Stitching & Crafting Room:  Braided Rugs  |
|
|
Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 21 2004 : 08:03:14 AM
|
Hi Gal Friends!
I have decided to add this tag line to my profile: "Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb
That has been sooooo true for me lately. I was particularly interested in the braided rug section of the Handful issue and picked up alot of pointers, as I had started trying this craft last winter, mainly using some cotton fabrics for small rugs.
Then this issue arrives and I'm intrigued to try braiding a wool rug. Do any of you ever get premonitions to do something? I will frequently, and I've learned to listen to them. Got one yesterday: "Go to Goodwill after work."...so I did. (Tip: go late on Friday as they've spent all afternoon stocking for the Saturday rush.) Love to browse through their craft table and I've picked up lots of yarn there previously... just good values. So many older women had extensive collections and when they pass on, their relatives just aren't interested in carrying on these traditions, I think. So that is my gain! The craft table yesterday was full of yardage... unused wool yardage, to be specific!!! My heart did a pitter-patter as I thought of braided rugs. I ended up with 11.5 yards of new wool fabric in mainly gray tones, with some brown and green in one piece and a beautiful blue/black/gray/ivory tartan in another piece. All for $14.00, which I figure is a terrific value given that I do not have to rip anything down.... all I need to do is wash it.
Which brings me to my question. I know in another topic we discussed felting wool by washing it in hot water. But if I wash wool in cold water with woolite and line dry it, how does this change the quality/texture of it? Will it remain close to how it is now, or will it condense itself some, just not to the point of felting it? Kind of want to know before I dive in and do it. Thanks in advance for your advice!
Wish any of you the same good fortune if you're contemplating trying to braid rugs, too!
Cheerio!
****Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural****
|
Edited by - Clare on Aug 21 2004 08:09:51 AM |
|
|
Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Aug 21 2004 : 09:53:50 AM
|
WOw..I am impressed. I did alot of rug hooking with wool strips for a long time, not as often now, and always ended up using old wool skirts..the ripping down was the not fun part. You have that part to NOT deal with..hooray! and $14 !! can't beat that!!
I think you may want to hang the wool do dry out of the sun, but with cool water and woolite it should stay the same as it started. That is what I did if I wanted the same texture and all. Sometimes when it was felted it was a little too thick for hooking.
have fun...wasn't that article great!! I am loving looking at the new issue too...beautiful pictures in it!!
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
 |
|
|
jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Aug 21 2004 : 1:48:02 PM
|
Clare -
As a quilter, my daughter once bought me this tiny framed piece of old quilt, and below it, it said, "When life gives you scraps, make quilts". Your weave/thread quote made me think of that. Both are very true!
Good luck on your rug made with love, and with using wool from a person who probably loved it, too! Today at an antiques show, I bought two old wooden oval embroidery hoops that were felt lined and worn silky smooth with age. I just knew someone had loved them, so I rescued them and will use them with love too.
Keep us informed about your rug! I have two braided rugs, one in my kitchen, and one on my deep porch. They are wool, and have lasted and lasted.
jpbluesky
Love those big blue skies and wide open spaces. |
|
|
|
Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Aug 23 2004 : 09:48:56 AM
|
Jenny, Thanks for the tips! I will give it a try here as soon as cooler winter weather mandates more inside time... Now that I have it all, it seems rather intimidating to begin, but if I approach it methodically, I should be fine.
Jeannie, I like your quote too! The quote that I used can be interpreted many ways, as I believe that DREAMS can be woven, and thread is whatever means it takes to accomplish them, so it's a multi-purppse type quote! I also feel like I'm sometimes rescuing these items. It's like--- why can't anyone else see the value in these things.... used and worn with love, they are. Glad I have a kindred spirit in the endeavor to save these items.
Maybe we should start our own side business.... market our creations made the "old-fashioned" ways..... wonder,wondering, how it would all come together... I have these grand visions sometimes! If I hit a terrific idea, I'll let you all know! 
****Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
Edited by - Clare on Aug 23 2004 09:50:29 AM |
|
|
|
jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Aug 23 2004 : 12:21:45 PM
|
You are right, the proverb can be interprated in multi-faceted ways. But the thing I hear when I read it is that we must begin to weave first! Then the means will be made clear and available. That is what Ii find most difficult - that leap of faith to go out and make the first move!
I, too, try to follow my intuitions. And mine have been telling me for a long time to take that leap and begin to weave and create my own quilt from the scraps I have to work with (that sure is a lot of metaphors, isn't it?) - but I still have not been able to accomplish it. At least in a profitable way! :) You are right - if we were ever all in the same room, the creative energy would be amazing.
jpbluesky
Love those big blue skies and wide open spaces. |
|
|
|
AnnieT
True Blue Farmgirl
287 Posts
Annie
287 Posts |
Posted - Oct 31 2005 : 1:38:53 PM
|
Clare,
My grandmother braided a few wool rugs. I have the only one left (the others were lost in a house fire when my mom was a little girl). It is made out of my mothers and uncle's old school clothes, and some of my grandmother's things, too. My mom can point at a little piece of the braid and say, "Baba made that dress for me when I was seven," or, "that was John's camp shirt." What a treasure it is to us!
Annie |
|
|
|
KarenP
True Blue Farmgirl
666 Posts
Karen
Chippewa Falls
Wisconsin
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2005 : 03:03:10 AM
|
The issue with the braided wool rugs has interested me too.
But alas, to many projects too little free time.
Clare, please keep us informed on how it goes!
KarenP
"Purest Spring Water in the World" |
|
|
|
realme52
True Blue Farmgirl
106 Posts
Klara
Gatesville
Texas
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2005 : 05:24:19 AM
|
Clare, as far as I know, felting occurs mainly through the heat opening the little scales on the hairs, then the agitation interlocking them and then the temperature change causing the scales to close and this setting the position of the hairs. Voila: felt! (That's why -to felt wool- you need to put it into hot water, add soap to get past the protective oils, agitate, and then rinse cold.)
So, if you do NOT want your wool to felt, you should be fine when using cool water, just more or less DIPPING the item in and out (i.e. NOT agitating a lot!), then rinse with the same temperature and hang or, if it is prone to stretching, lay flat to dry.
Exposing it to sunlight will most likely cause stretching and/or fading.
From this hour I ordain myself loss'd of limits and immaginary lines. Walt Whitman |
|
|
|
CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2005 : 4:35:46 PM
|
everyone interested in felting wool .. might want to check out this site:
http://www.allfiberarts.com/library/aa00/aa110900.htm
I have some friends who felt wool for dolls and other projects, if you have specific questions, i can send you along to them .. or can just ask them your question and 'report back'. xo, frannie |
|
|
|
Tatiana
True Blue Farmgirl
98 Posts
Tania
Boise
ID
USA
98 Posts |
Posted - Nov 04 2005 : 2:13:55 PM
|
Clare:
What a neat thing to start. My grandfather's second wife braided rugs. She used to go down to Oneida(?)Iowa to the woolen mills and get wool blankets. I suppose you could go to Pendelton, OR to get them too. Anyway, I got one of the rugs that was going to be thrown out. It is in reds, apple green and golds. It fits right into my decorating.
Good luck with your newfound hobby. They will be family treasures.
Tania |
|
|
|
Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Nov 04 2005 : 2:28:44 PM
|
Well, since this topic has been revived, an update is in order.... I have TONS of wool material washed and sorted into color type boxes.... perhaps this will be the winter where I actually tackle this project... maybe I just need to have a rug braiding bee, ya think?  What I'd really like to get is one of those cloth cutters that do several strips at one time... but they are pricey....hmmm.
"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have." - Abraham Lincoln.... http://farmstyle.blogspot.com
|
Edited by - Clare on Nov 04 2005 2:30:21 PM |
|
|
|
Fabulous Farm Femmes
True Blue Farmgirl
792 Posts
Diane
Lakebay, Tacoma
WA
792 Posts |
Posted - Nov 04 2005 : 10:27:26 PM
|
| Clare,can't you use a rotary cutter and mat? That should save some time. |
|
|
|
KarenP
True Blue Farmgirl
666 Posts
Karen
Chippewa Falls
Wisconsin
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2005 : 04:57:07 AM
|
Hi Clare, I don't know if this will help or not.
I have been cutting strips of fabric with my rotary cutter and mat, but instead of cutting all the way to each end, I leave about an 1" then I take my scissors and cut one end the not the other the one end.
You end up with a giant Z pattern back and forth and have one continous strip. I trim the corners have seem to have less bulk than sewing, but it depends on the fabric.
Just a thought.
KarenP
"Purest Spring Water in the World" |
|
|
|
Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2005 : 08:03:41 AM
|
Wow, Karen, interesting idea! I'll have to think about that one... I think I get the concept...
"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have." - Abraham Lincoln.... http://farmstyle.blogspot.com
|
|
|
|
KarenP
True Blue Farmgirl
666 Posts
Karen
Chippewa Falls
Wisconsin
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - Nov 06 2005 : 07:25:56 AM
|
Hi Clare,
I did find a strip cutter, more reasonable prices.
http://www.halcyonyarn.com/rughooking.html
I think I'll still use the mat and cutter though.
I fold the fabric in half, and almost half again, leaving the salvage edges
about 1 to 2" past the fold.
Then just cut only the edge to release it and continue to wind your strip, then cut to release another section, and so on.
doing this I end up with a very large ball of fabric all connected.
I trim the corners as I wrap to reduce bulk as I wrap.
Sorry for repeating myself.
KarenP
"Purest Spring Water in the World" |
|
|
| |
Stitching & Crafting Room: Braided Rugs |
|
Braided Rugs
