Rag Rug on Spring

[Jeanne Rankin]

I have included a photo of a jeans just off the loom and a second photo, after being machine washed and slightly dried in a dryer. The warp is 8/4 cotton set at 16wpi. I cut the old soft jeans into 1 1/2” strips (misread the instructions –should have been 1” strips). I had manypieces which I sewed  together with a straight seam because I didn’t want to loose length. You can seen the bulges of these seams. I had trouble beating hard enough. I put the rug in the dryer because there was daylight between strips of weft after washing. I treadled on opposites, 1/2 and 3/4. I think the sett is too close at 16wpi. I should have laid the strips over each other rather than sewn them together. But wow the results. What else went wrong? As you can see from the first photo on the rug on the loom the tension looks good. From reading your excellent forum, it is not a good idea to put a weight on the beater of a spring loom because of the rocking breast beam. I have wondered about doing this. I also see on the forum to beat with an open shed. My son who is stronger did make a nice jeans rag rug on this loom awhile ago. Thank you in advance!

 

[Sandra]

Were looking for a warped-faced weave or a weft-faced weave?  If you were looking for weft-faced, 16 epi is far too close for a weft that is 1½ wide.  Your jeans just didn’t know where to go and had to pop out anywhere they could 😉  What sett did your son use and how wide were his strips?

[Jeanne Rankin]

Yes, I get it. I’m starting to figure this out. The sett was way too close and the bulky seams pushed the weft around. My son used the same sett. Uncharacteristically I didn’t note the width of the rags when he made the rug a few years ago. I will try again. Maybe the rug becomes a wall hanging. Thanks for helping!

[Jane]

Hi Jeanne,

It would really help if the rags were cut thinner too and just overlaid….all those heavy bits pushed the warp apart.  Open up that sett to around 8 or 10 and you’ll be fine.

Hope you are well sweetie, its been a long time since we’ve had a good visit 🙂

xo Jane

 

[Jeanne Rankin]

Thank you Jane. I get it and will do another rug. A real live visit would be something!

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