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The Rag Rugmaker's Exchange Do you have a story, rug photo or tip you'd like to share with
other
traditional rag rugmakers? The Rag Rugmaker's Exchange is just the
place
to do it! If you'd like to participate, you can send us photographs
(we'll
scan them in--please include return postage if you want them back). Or
you can attach a photo in a .jpg format (72dpi) to an e-mail. There
is no charge to participate, but we will post only those
submissions
that relate to individual rugs and traditional rugmaking. We also
reserve
the right to edit or refuse submissions that we deem inappropriate for
any reason. Coincidences do happen! In the past twenty years we've heard from just a handful of people who had family traditions with the knotted shag rugs. Then in the space of two weeks this spring we heard from two different families, that not only had the rugs, but also very ingenious hand made tools to make the 2-string variety of the rugs. They are both marvelous tools and family stories. Many thanks to Naomi and Carolyn for sharing these with all of us! Naomi's Knotted Shag Rug  My
grandmother
is in the process of cleaning out her house, and recently sent me a
knotted
shag rug she just finished making out of some old sweaters of my
grandfather's.
Not only that, but she sent me the two knotted shag rug looms that were
her mother's. The story is that my great-grandmother drew up the
design,
went down to the blacksmith, and he made these for her. I know that
such
rug looms are often pretty simple (wood with nails), but I thought you
might be interested in these. I also enclose a picture of the rug,
which
I'm quite attached to already. It's so thick and soft (extra soft
because
the sweaters were cashmere, merino, or lambswool)! 
My mother remembers helping my great-grandmother make rugs
with these
looms when she was a very small child. The cord that everyone in my
family
has always used for the base is candlewicking, though I suspect that
once
I run out of what I've been sent, I'll just use whatever cotton cord I
can find. Carolyn's Knotted Shag Rug   The
enclosed pictures show the Two String Knotted Shag Rug Loom that my
Great
Grandfather, Charles Huff, made for my Great-Grandmother, Carrie
Huff.
Grandma Carrie gave the loom and a partially completed rug to my mother
when she was about 13, she guesses (about 1950). It is made from
fir and the clamp is made from maple, I think. Great Grandpa was
a master builder so never did anything if a plain or simple
manner.
(Must have been a "Born Engineer; nothing could be simple). He
died
in 1951 at age 86. He married in 1895, so the rug loom has the
possibility
of being between 52 and 109 year old. More than likely, it was
made
after they moved from Michigan to Pasedena, CA, after 1910.  My
mother thinks
that he may have made the loom after he retired, maybe arount
1935.
The pink rug that is work in progress was started in 1962, when I was
about
5. My mother's kitchen was pink and turquoise and I assume that
she
wanted a pink rug to match the pink walls. I remember helping to
knot the fabric. I have had the rug loom since I was a teenager
and
have ripped apart and restarted this rug many times. I vow to
finish
is this year. However, since this rug loom is getting rather
fragile,
I have now retired it and am using one that my son's girlfriend made
for
me in woodshop. Thanks. Carolyn Thomas MORE "Rugmaker's
Exchange" on page 2: An unusual crocheted rug; a vintage shirred
rug;
wagon wheel rug. Copyright Rafter-four Designs, P O Box 40, Cocolalla, ID 83813 |