Denim Rag Rug Samplers

Last week I warped up the loom with more of the test cotton warp and finally remembered to stop and measure up the overall loom wastage while something was on the loom. Turns out it’s the same as the Ashford Knitters Loom – about 50cm. So from now on I’ll try to sample on the table loom if that’s where the intended project is going to be woven.

I wove three mini rugs with denim rags, testing a couple of things:

1) if the cotton stood up to wear against a metal reed (yes)
2) if I could beat harder on the table loom (a bit)
3) what the denim rag was like to weave with (not much different to the trouser rag, but it was rather light denim)
4) if cutting the jeans up by removing the seams so I had four pieces – front and back of both legs – and then either cutting in a spiral or up and down in strips would make much difference (removing seams is good, but spiral is better as 90 degrees turns show less than 180 degree ones)
5) if I liked the method of joining rag by cutting two holes and threading the rags through each other (nope – its as bulky as the seams)

Reading through Handwoven and websites with instruction on rag rug weaving, I realised something: there were no instructions to put a shot of warp cotton between the rag shots. I suspect this was a method I picked up from the roving weaving and it got stuck in my head as one for rag rug weaving as well. So for the second and third sample I left out the cotton and found the fabric was just as even and stable, and I liked the look of it better.

So I’ve ordered more cotton warp from Glenora. At this thickness (12/12) it only comes in natural. I could dye it, but I also noticed while rereading tutorials that the warp they specify is often used double. The 12/6 cotton comes in a good range of colours, so I ordered some in blue. I’ll test this out in combination with some old sheets and table cloths I’ve collected together for another rag rug.

Yesterday I had an afternoon to fill in, but I was very tired from our weekend away. I put on some podcasts, starting with an episode of Weavecast (which I’m slowly catching up on), and wove up the rest of the purple varigated yarn.

I grew more and more certain I was going to use it as fabric, possibly to make a few of these.

In the meantime I need to get something else onto the small loom, to weave while I’m at the guild on Sunday. I have an idea for using colour with the leno method (used for the charcoal scarf), but I’m also tempted to try some basic shibori weaving.

2 thoughts on “Denim Rag Rug Samplers

  1. Loving the denim samplers. Shout if you need lightweight denim fabric. I’ve a dress that is worn and too big which needs a new use. Fitted top with gathered and voluminous skirt from under the bust to near the ground – lots of fabric.

  2. Thanks for the offer! I’ll decline for now, as friends donated a LOT of jeans to my rug weaving. I won’t have any idea if I have too many or too little until I try a full-sized rug.

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