![]() There are several different ways to assemble a rag rug. Mixing types of fabric can result in unexpected changes in shape and size, as some fabrics may shrink more than others when washed. But, I recommend using fabrics that have a similar weight or thickness. You can use many fabrics to make rag rugs. ![]() ![]() I’ve made them from old t-shirts, socks and pantyhose, worn bed sheets, sweatpants, even worn denim. When made properly, rag and scrap rugs can last a very long time and can be some of the softest in your home. Today, those of us who like to reuse and repurpose find beauty in bringing new life to old fabrics. Through many eras, only upper classes could afford to purchase finer textiles and most everyone else made do with scraps and leftover fabric that could be scavenged or gathered over time. Rag rugs have been made almost since weaving was invented. By the early 1800s the Jacquard Machine emerged, which used a punch card system to operate the loom, creating a fabric according to holes punched into the cards. The fly shuttle was invented, removing the need to have a weaver place the weft thread into the warp threads by hand. Weaving became a mechanized industry during the Industrial Revolution, when steam and water powered looms were developed. By the 10 th or 11 th century, weavers created trade guilds to regulate quality, trade, and selling prices – among other things. By Medieval times, cotton and silk were introduced to the upper classes, which increased production and innovation of intricate weaving techniques and fabric patterns. The first loom that used pedals to move the thread through the heddle (which separates the warp threads for passage of the weft) appeared in or around Syria during the Islamic Golden Age (the mid-7 th to mid-13 th centuries). Weaving looms were developed from this basic form in China, where silk from silkworm cocoons was utilized and the weaving of this silk was a well-defined craft.ĭifferent forms of weaving spread throughout Asia and Africa and both everyday and specialty looms were developed to meet cultural needs. ![]() The first, crude weaving looms were likely developed in the Neolithic Era. Weaving together this primitive string by hand was the next logical step. Tens of thousands of years ago, man began to develop string by twisting together plant fibers. Very rudimentary woven cloth has been found in prehistoric graves and settlements. Weavers have been valued craftspeople almost since the beginning of humankind. The longitudinal threads are called the “warp” and the lateral threads are the “weft.” Though hand and finger weaving is suitable for small projects, larger fabrics are usually woven on a loom. In its most basic definition, weaving is a way to produce fabric using two sets of thread, yarn, or fabric, that are interlaced to form cloth. I remember my grandmother saving fabric to make rag rugs and there was always a rag rug in front of her sink. I have long wanted to incorporate rugs into our lifestyle collections, which would also be a wonderful way for us to utilize scraps and decrease waste. Lately, the team has been experimenting with a large floor loom in The Factory. In Alabama Stitch Book, we showed how fabric might be used to repair and repurpose farm chairs – an idea that we explored further in our MAKESHIFT 2013 Chair Workshop. We have used ruffles to create texture in our textiles and jewelry have featured crochet work in our collections and projects, and love how something so simple as a knot can add complexity and depth to a piece. ![]() Our team experiments with all types of fabric manipulation here at Alabama Chanin. ![]()
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