While I’ve spent the last couple of weeks slaving away getting my rug warp onto the loom, I’ve foregone blogging about it since loading up the loom is about the same whether for a scarf or a rug, and who wants to read about that laborious process twice?
One thing I did in the loading this time that I just watched last time was attaching the harnesses to the treadles. And, now that I’ve done it, I’d have to say I prefer watching it done. It wouldn’t be so bad but it requires cramming your body into an uncomfortable position on the floor where there’s no real leg room or head room, and it also requires no fewer than three hands. Glad I’ve been doing yoga or I’d probably still be stuck under the loom, although yoga does nothing for a hand shortage.
With that done, it was time to start weaving with the fabric I’d torn into strips. That is, after I untangled the mess they’d become since, instead of balling them up into an organized manner, I’d just stuffed all the fabric into Giant Eagle bags in a big fat hurry. Not ideal. So, if you ever decide to make a rag rug, keep your rags balled.
For a project I was told would be quick and easy, so far it’s been anything but. I’m guessing I was told it would be quick because the fabric strips take up so much room that it’s easy to weave a large piece in a short period. However, because I’m a little picky (OK, a LOT picky), I have to make sure all my fabric strips are perfect, and that is not a quick process. There’s also the issue of the pattern I chose. Not as easy as it originally seemed, especially when looking down on it. Oddly, I can’t discern the diamond pattern unless I stand about three feet away from it and at an angle to it (back up if you can’t see it either). But, I must say, I’m loving it and know that all the difficulty will be totally worth it.
