The Rug Weaving Process

The Rug Weaving Process

A brief pictorial description . . .

Step 1.

Winding the warp

The warp consists of long cotton blend strings wound from spools onto the warping frame to prepare for weaving the rag rug.
Photo of a warp frame to measure the cotton warp for a rag rug.

Step 2.

Chaining the warp
The long warp strings must be looped into a chain to keep them from tangling while dressing the rug loom. The cotton warp made into a chain ready to put on the rug loom.

Step 3.

Threading the reed

The reed holds the heddles in the rug loom and evenly separates the warp threads. The warp threaded on the rug loom ready for the rag strips to be woven in.

Step 4.

Threading the heddles

The heddles must be threaded in perfect sequence to define the weave or the rag rug will have flaws.
Photo showing the heddles threaded on the rug loom ready to weave the rag rug.

Step 5.

Winding on the warp and tie-up

This attaches the warp to the loom while adjusting accurate tension, necessary for a well woven rag rug.
Photo showing the warp tied onto the rug loom, ready for weaving the rag rug.

Step 6. Weaving

This is the FUN part! Photo showing the first woven section of the rag rug.