Please look at pages 4 and 5 in your rug book and follow along on the chapter called “warping the frame” on the dvd.
This week we will warp your frame. The warp strips can be any old strips because they won’t show. You might see a tiny bit of the warp if it’s a totally different color than your twining strips however when you walk on the rug, the rows get pressed tightly together.
In the past I’ve kept track of approximately how many full width strips I’ve used for the warp. Depending on the fabric I have used 50-55 full width strips. Of course that will differ if your strips are a different length. Join 50 strips together and don’t even bother to roll them into a ball.
Your assignment this week is to warp your frame. Read the book and watch Chapter 2 on the dvd. The only point missing on the dvd is holding the warp on the frame with rubber bands across the nails. The first row of twining wants to pull the warp off the nails so the rubber bands hold it secure.
It’s at this point that you should add the rubber bands.
Do not stretch your warp strips too tightly – the rug will be easier to twine/weave if there’s some “play” in the warp.
If you have questions about warping your frame, please ask in the comments. If YOU have the question, others will likely have the same question.
Next week we will put on the first row and go around the upper left corner which is the critical step in making the rug. If you don’t get that step done right, your rug will come apart. That’s next Monday. For this week just get your frame warped with rubber bands across the nails and set it aside.
Camber with an ear of corn last weekend.
Thanks for the info..Can you use old sheets for the warp?
Midge Holzinger – yes, old sheets are perfect!
Thank you!!
Old sheets are the only thing I have ever used for warp!
I am not making a rug, as we are in our camper this month in Montana. However, my husband is a weaver and is quite interested in this process. We have your book, so maybe this will be a winter project.
Camber is adorable!
Jeanie S from sw IL – if he’s a weaver this is a snap because twining is basket weaving
I’m actually in the process of finishing my rug from your last Rugalong (it’s one of my dirty dozen). I only have about 5 inches left to finish, but I’m hesitant because my warp strips aren’t tight any more, there’s quite a bit of slack. Is that normal?
Linda from MN – no, it’s not normal. I’ll bet as you added strips you pulled on the warp strip as you were moving the woven strips up. You can finish but be very careful not to stretch them further.
Well, I guess I’ll be able to provide a photo of what NOT to do. 🙂
Have you ever used old tshirts for the twinning strips? Would you use them for the warp?
Diane Ballard – t shirt strips are perfect for weaving strips but are much too stretchy for warp – use regular cotton for warp if you’re using knit strips
Hi Mary – I have been meaning to do this for ages! I bought a frame on eBay years ago, and I probably have the first edition of your book (if I can find it). Since you said the rubber band trick isn’t in the book, and I can’t see them in your picture, do you put one on each nail, or stretch them across several nails?
Thanks!
Stretch across multiple nails
Wow! I remember pictures of Camber when she was a baby, she is so big and very pretty. Have a nice week, Mary, Felicia.
Wow, did Camber grow fast! She is a cutie.
Question from few posts back . . . you mentioned RIck’s garden. What is he growing?
Hi Mary! I’m making a rag rug but I’m crocheting it. It ends up looking very similar to your woven rug and they wear forever.
That Camber is a real cutie! Little ones keep us young with running after them. That’s what I’ve been told anyway!
Camber is a beautiful little girl. Wanna squeeze her!
I will finally meet my “ new” g.grandaughter in October when I fly east for her first birthday. Still hot here in Phoenix and it looks like monsoon season is on it ‘s way. Oh well, at least we don’t have to shovel it!
Good luck with your rug. Still working on #8.p
Camber is a beautiful little girl. Wanna squeeze her!
I will finally meet my “ new” g.grandaughter in October when I fly east for her first birthday. Still hot here in Phoenix and it looks like monsoon season is on it ‘s way. Oh well, at least we don’t have to shovel it!
Good luck with your rug. Still working on #8.
Wow–7 ads today. I never know how many there will be! Camber has the sweetest face; what a cutie:)
I have all my strips cut, but I need to join them. Will work on that this afternoon:)
Hi Mary! Finally 71 degrees here and as promised I am not complaining about the rain-actually reveling in the fact that I do not have to water the garden and that I can spend guilt free needlework time, I had a question for you-when you rotary cut do you starch your fabric? When I learned to quilt in the 80s I learned to do it all by hand from drafting the pattern to piecing to quilting but I am now embracing rotary cutting and machine piecing and although I cannot get the hang of machine quilting I am trying perle cotton and bigger stitches to ‘get ‘er done’. For chain piecing I start with a random scrap so as not to snaggle the sewing machine thread but I was reading about leaders and enders-but do you still need a random scrap as well to start -otherwise what keeps the thread from snaggling on the leader and enders? Thanks oh and also forgot to mention yesterday that my first ducks were Rouens (Pekin sized but with mallard feathering) and that I had some wonderful rescued Pekins that have since passed on.
Anniewiththeducks – the only time you need a random scrap is for the very first leader. After that your ender becomes your leader and all is perfect! I do not starch my fabric but I don’t prewash either so it’s much crisper than after it’s been washed.
Mary, I was merrily cutting strips assuming that BOTH the warp AND the weaving strips are 2 inches wide. Then of course I looked at the book again and it said the weaving strips are up to 3 inches. Do you consider 2 inch weavers ok or should I start over on cutting weaving strips?
Paula – you’re ok on both sizes – the 3rd edition of the book also says that.