When weaving patterns to woven rag rugs, the spots technique is important.
Spots are produced by weaving one pick of one A color and two, three, four or more picks of a second A color and then repeating the sequence.
If there is an odd number of picks between the single rows the spots will lie vertically, and if there is an even number of picks the spots will lie in a half drop position.
These techniques will guide you by showing how spots are woven onto an odd numbered warp so that they lie within the boundaries of the woven rag rugs.
If strips of weaving are to be joined, they should be woven on even numbered warp.
First we will look at weaving spots with an odd number of picks between them.
A is the color making the spots and B the color that is weaving to the selvages.
Start with A on the right and B on the left.
1.
Weave three of B, twisting it twice downwards on the last pick.
2.
Weave one of A from right to left, missing the selvage thread.
3.
Weave three of B, ending in the same manner as before.
4.
Weave A from left to right, missing the selvage thread.
Repeat this process.
Next, we have weaving spots with an even number of picks between them.
1.
Weave two picks of B (background color), from left to right and back.
2.
Weave one pick of A from right to left.
3.
Weave two picks of B.
It will miss the left selvedge.
4.
Twist A twice downwards and pass from left to right.
5.
Pass B over the float made by A at the beginning of the last row, and under the selvedge.
Repeat the sequence.
Then we will look at how to meet and separate weave.
This is a variation of a tapestry technique.
In woven rag rugs tapestry it is used to shade from one area to another, so giving an area of mixed color.
The result will be three areas of color, A, B and a mixture of A and B.
Method of working Lift the even-numbered ends.
Insert B color from the left and A color from the right, and bring them out between the raised ends 8 and 10.
2.
Lift the odd-numbered ends and insert A and B back to their own selvedge, between the raised ends 9 and 11.
3.
Lift the even-numbered ends and insert A and B into this shed, bringing them out between 4 and 6.
4.
Lift the odd-numbered ends and insert A and B back to their own selvedge, between 5 and 7.
By using this technique, patterns of varying complexity can be made, by altering the points at which the wefts meet and separate.
You can also use three colors which, with the two meeting areas, will produce five colors when woven.
The system of weaving is the same as with two colors, but it means that the centre color never touches the selvedge.
It is best to move the centre color first to establish the meeting points between the colors.
This type of woven rag rugs design is planned on squared paper, each square marking the point where the weft crosses the warp.