r/weaving • u/SmallWombat • 1d ago
Work in Progress Rag rug
Finally working on it!
It’s made of yarn and canvas strips from Trader Joe’s bags. I’ll be cutting up more cloth soon to make strips for weaving. My hope is to mostly use canvas but I’ll likely use old sheets and clothing I no longer wear.
I feel like the most arduous part of this is cutting fabric. It takes hours. I can’t wait to be done with that part and get back to weaving.
I’ve never done this before. Wish me luck!
The loom is DIY made of cardboard. The measurements are 49 x 28.
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u/Jealous_Glass9170 22h ago
Came to say what Sweetannie did-you're going to have to pack that down, and I don't think your cardboard loom will hold enough tension to do that. You might want to look up Tom Knisely-he's well known for his rugs. See what he does and learn to wrap your weft around the edges, end in the middle.
You might also want to build a 'loom' out of wood and nails, which will be sturdier.
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u/Happy_Dog1819 20h ago
If you really want to make a rug out of the material, take a look at braided rugs. Not weaving, but definitely a traditional method for using "rags" for floor coverings.
And for cutting- have you got a rotary cutter and an appropriate cutting mat? The cutting wheels are frighteningly sharp, but they're efficient (and easier on your hands than scissors).
A cardboard loom is not nearly strong enough for rag rugs.
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u/Master_Control_MCP 20h ago
Very creative! Unfortunately, as others have said, you will need a more rigid setup and you will want your weft to end inside the warp. You have the right idea, though!
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u/sweetannie52 22h ago
Without wanting to discourage you, what you may end up with is a wall hanging instead of a rug. Rugs like rag rugs need to be beat pretty hard on a more rigid loom. I actually use weights on my beater bar. Your cardboard is not rigid enough to bear the weight and tension that making a rag rug requires. By all means keep on weaving your project. It will be interesting to see what you produce!