Imagine Rag Rugs on the Drawloom
- By Karen
- December 3, 2019
- 14 Comments
Rag rug weaving on the drawloom! I can only imagine the delight. In the meantime, the drawloom is getting dressed. It takes time to group the pattern heddles into units, add lingos, thread pattern shafts, thread eight ground shafts, sley the reed, move the ground shafts and pattern shafts to their positions, and tie on. After I finish all that I can think about adding all the single-unit draw cords and finish tying up. Whew!



I became acquainted with the single-unit drawloom at Joanne Hall’s studio (see Drawlooms in Montana), but this is my first go at it on the drawloom in my studio. Because of the reward that awaits, I will gladly tackle all the tasks of dressing this loom. Weaving rag rugs on a drawloom will be phenomenal!


Joy sees hidden treasure. We go to great lengths to unearth high-value treasure. Jesus did this, seeing us as the reward. That’s what Christmas celebrates. Jesus left his splendor in heaven to come to earth as a baby. He entered this world and endured the worst because of the joy set before him. He did it all for the joy of having us in fellowship with God. We come to him and find that we are the Grand Weaver’s reward.
May your joy be full.
Joy to you,
Karen
14 Comments
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Process Review: Fresno Canyon Small Tapestry
- By Karen
- November 26, 2019
- 15 Comments
The Park ranger had told Steve and me that if we were willing to drive six more rugged miles we would witness a spectacular overview of the Fresno Canyon that few people get to see. This is an opportunity we wouldn’t dare miss. And the park ranger was right. Oh, what a view! From this high point above the valley the view is phenomenal! I welled up with emotion as I looked over the glorious beauty of God’s creation.
The memory of that scene is in this small tapestry. Most of my small-tapestry weaving happens when we travel, where we make even more memories, which I store up in my heart. I pull from these stored treasures to weave tapestries that reawaken the fond memories.











May your memories become treasures.
Thankful for you! Happy Thanksgiving,
Karen
15 Comments
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This is beautiful, Karen! Such a creative way to display.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Beth -
Awesome,Karen! What a wonderful way to use the talents God has given you to display His glorious creation! And, I agree with how perfect this great way is to display it. Love your photos. How about one with your smiling face in it sometime? 🙂
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Beautiful!! Good design with the gift of color. I hope your heart sings with memory every time you look at it.
Happy thanksgiving!
Nannette
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Happy Thanksgiving, Karen to you and your family!
What a blessing that you and Steve are able to meld your talents together to create such beauty.
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Wow. What amazing textile shorthand, Karen. It’s all there, even for someone who hasn’t been there. I can almost smell the wonderful Texas blend of hot dust and baking evergreens perfuming the air and sense the vastness of the landscape. Just lovely.
Am I correct in thinking Steve’s frames make it possible to change out your tapestries? Do you rotate them to prevent sun damage?
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Very nice, Karen and Steve! You’re two very talented people. Hope you will enjoy a lovely Happy Thanksgiving!
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Hi Karen,
I don’t know if you noticed: In the picture of your tapestry on the cement patio in front of your Casita, your tapestry seems to have a moon landscape in a dark sky. I had to take a long second look to realize that what I thought was a moon was in fact the tire to the Casita!
Great work! Your talent to recreate beautiful landscapes is definitely a blessing! You must take after our (heavenly) Father for your creative skills.
Linda
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Wary Weaving
- By Karen
- November 19, 2019
- 3 Comments
Sugar Pie has been waiting in the wings. Now, his nose wriggles up to the fell line. The day that Ari and Lucia went with me to visit my neighbor, their attention went to the cute furry thing in the rabbit hutch. At first, the bunny was wary, but before long, Sugar Pie was nibbling carrot slivers from Lucia’s hand.

Now, I’m the wary one. The rabbit will make or break this tapestry. I made notes when I wove the rabbit on a narrow sample warp several weeks ago. With careful review of my notes, I am inching forward, giving attention to value contrasts that shape and define the animal. The good news is that when I reach the end of Sugar Pie’s soft, furry back, I will be at the tapestry’s finish line.


In trying times, our senses are heightened. Will we flourish, or merely squeak by? In all the confusion, where is clarity? In the chaos, where do we find calm? The Lord extends an open hand. The open hand is an invitation. Come and taste. Trust. Find deep satisfaction that reaches the soul. Courageously inch up to the greatest challenge of your life.
May you step into a worthwhile challenge.
With you,
Karen
3 Comments
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Amen
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Thank you so much for your words of wisdom today. The lord is with us all and loves and encourages. May your day be blessed with joy.
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Tried and True: Five Steps for Rag Rug Selvedges and a Quick Tip Video
- By Karen
- November 12, 2019
- 24 Comments
What do you look for in a handwoven rag rug? How do you detect quality of craftsmanship? I look at the selvedges. First thing. I look for selvedges that are nice and tight, and that have a uniform twist at the edge. A few simple steps, consistently practiced, produce the kind of quality you can see and feel. It’s one more reason I find delight in weaving rag rugs.

Five Steps for Firm Selvedges on a Rag Rug
- Throw the shuttle, leaving a loop of the fabric-strip weft at the selvedge.
- Hold the weft out taut, and turn the weft under twice at the selvedge.
- Untwist the weft in the shed, straightening it, as needed.
- Pull the weft tight against the selvedge.
- Position the weft in the shed and beat it in.


Watch this Quick Tip video for a short demonstration.

May the quality of your work be the first thing noticed.
Happy Weaving,
Karen
24 Comments
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Your rugs are beautiful!
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Thank You for showing this tip. What pattern did you use for your warp. Always learning.
Dorothy
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Thank you for that valuable tip and demonstration. Can’t wait to go and tidy my edges. The wise never stop learning!
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Karen,
Thank you for the lesson. I loved the fumble of the shuttle technique. Something from my world. 🙂Nannette
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Great tutorial, and beautiful work! Maybe my selvages can improve now 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing so generously!
Have a wonderful winter day weaving!
Elisabeth -
Great tip and video, thanks Karen. I’ve already mastered the ‘shuttle-fumble’, but need some practice on the double twist!
Best wishes,
Joanna -
Hi, Karen!
These posts on weaving rag rugs are so timely for me. I am threading a loom right now to begin a small sampler for Rosepath rag rugs as I have never done one before. I kept my notes from the class you gave at our WOW meeting last year but the video really clarified the technique.
Thank you to both you and your husband. -
Thank you!
How do you handle it when there is still fabric on the shuttle? Turn the shuttle over to straighten? -
Thank you for the great tip! I will be trying it ASAP. 🙂
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Hi, Karen,
What a beautiful rug you’re working on! I wonder if your weft twist might also work on rep weave wefts. Hope you’re enjoying the Hill country.
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Hi Karen, Thanks for the video. I’ve got my loom warped up for a rag rug at the moment and can’t wait to try your technique. Love your humour in the video.
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Thank you
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Rosepath Unlimited
- By Karen
- November 5, 2019
- 12 Comments
This seems unreal, like pulling an item right out of my imagination and touching it with my hands. It is exhilarating to watch a concept sketch develop into a tangible rag rug on the loom. Even though I enjoy designing at the loom, I relish the challenge of preparing a design in advance. In order to make a workable sketch I must study, think, and explore. It’s in this process that I realize the design options are limitless for rosepath rag rugs. This compels me to keep pressing in to learn and explore even more.

The concept sketch is a scaled-down map of the rosepath rag rug. Each square on the gridded paper represents 6 centimeters. The sketch shows me which fabrics to use where, and specifies the placement of each design element—borders, plain weave, rosepath diamonds, dashes and dots of specific colors, etc. I add notes to the page as I weave, like specific treadling sequences and measurements, so that I can mirror them on the second half of the rug.



Nothing can measure the greatness of the Lord. His greatness is truly limitless. Greatness is compelling. We step closer to search the unsearchable, and know the unknowable. God reveals himself, sketch after sketch, until we finally realize that we need all eternity to fully know him.

May your concepts become tangible.
Happy Weaving,
Karen
12 Comments
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Ooooooooh honey girl! I do adore your newest creation!!!! The red certainly “pops”!
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Beautiful! Out of curiosity, how wide is your Glimakra? And how wide will your rug be when finished? And do you have two rugs on the loom and do you separate them with wooden slats? Thanks!
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Yeah!! Ditto what Charlotte and Rachel said!!!
You took the warp in a direction I did not realize. So much to learn.
Thank you.
Nannette -
Lovely rugs. What are the Blake bands keeping the cover on the loom bench in Place? More fabric strips or large elastic bands?
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Do you have a weighted beater?
I didn’t like the recommendation to drill holes and add weighted bars, so I put ankle weights on both ends of my beater for rugs, seems to help. -
It’s going to be AMAZING!
I must admit that I find this mind-boggling and will be sitting back, admiring your work on this one. 😉 Amazing!
Hi Beth, It’s all part of the process, so it just means taking a step at a time. I enjoy the steps to get there, but I sure am looking forward to weaving this.
Thanks,
Karen
Ooohhh, I can’t wait to see this!
Hi Geri, You and me, both!
Karen
Good morning Karen,
I’m just coming to the end of my first draw warp, 16/2, and I’m very curious to see the end result of using the drawloom to weave rag rugs and the 12/6 warp. Look forward to the process and end result.
Janet
Hi Janet, Congratulations on completing your first drawloom warp! I have wondered about weaving rag rugs on the drawloom ever since I began to understand what can be done with a drawloom. I’m eager to jump in!
Happy weaving,
Karen
Ooooh, I can’t wait to see how this looks!!
Hi Betsy, It’s getting exciting around here!
Happy weaving,
Karen
Bravo, yes, joy indeed. I have loved this type of project, but I have not put it on my loom. I look forward to seeing your photos as you progress through this warp and weave the rug.
Joanne
Hi Joanne, Your encouragement means a lot to me. It’s comforting to know that you are looking over my shoulder. We’re going to have fun with this!
Joy indeed,
Karen
Looks fascinating! How long is your warp? As complicated as dressing the drawloom looks, I’d be inclined to put on a looooog warp!
Hi Lyna, Yes, a long warp would make perfect sense. I’m still in the learning stages, though, so I want a lot of practice in dressing the drawloom. This warp is long enough to weave two large rugs.
Happy weaving,
Karen
Hi Karen,
I am eager to see the rag rugs you weave on your drawloom. What is the sett, using the 12/6 rug warp? and why have you chosen an 8-shaft ground weave? Your blog posts are a joy!
All the Best, Carol Berry
Hi Carol, I’m using a 35/10 metric reed and the sett is 7 ends per cm. The ends are doubled. That’s close to 18 doubled ends per inch.
I’m using a draft by Kerstin Ålsling-Sundberg from “Damast,” edited by Lillemor Johansson. Her draft calls for the eight-shaft ground weave. When I have more experience I’ll be able to tell you why.
Thanks for joining in!
Karen