Fri Jan 2, 2004  6:44 pm

Pic of the Day - Challenge Project - Braided Rugs

 
For those of you whom are new, every now and again we have an
"I Dare You/Challenge Project" with some kind of project that is
homesteading/farming/self-sufficient in topic. This time around it
is how to make a braided rug for your floors, or on a smaller scale
for your kitchen chairs. I have a small braided rug on one of my 100
year old + kitchen chairs and it is rather comfy though the green
paint on the chair MUST go one of these days.

The "Pic of the Day" can be located at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/organichomesteadinggardening/

Previous "Challenge Projects" (formerly called "I Dare You
Projects") are located at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/organichomesteadinggardening/files/
under the File "Challenges Dares and Projects"

I am basing these instructions from a 1932 Braided rug instruction
which was originally from a Womans Magzine in that year.

I have photos of various braiding and such in our PHOTO album which
is located at
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/organichomesteadinggardening/lst
and will be under the Folder " Braided Rugs"

The sphere of the braided rug has enlarged since great grandmother's
time. No longer must it remain solely underfoot in order to "keep
its place". Smaller rugs are intended for chair-seats, and are as
comfortable and good-looking as can be. A step or two higher in the
scale and we see them serving in delightful fashion as hot dish mats
for the table; there seems, indeed no limit to the uses that may be
found for this simple old-time handicraft.

Materials vary--a great deal depending, of course, on the purpose
for which the completed piece is intended. For table-mats--which may
be of any desired size, round or oval--white or unbleached cotton
will serve, with a touch of color, if liked, given by having one
strand of a shade which matches the predominating tint of the china,
perhaps; or there may be a bit of colorful embroidery in simplest
stitch. Again, two colors of chambray or other goods of similar
texture may be used, or white for the center of the mat with a braid
in color for the border. Ample opportunity is sure to be found for
the exercise of one's creative genius, in any case; and no matter
how material, coloring and uses may differ, the methods of making
are practically the same.

The rags are cut or torn in strips an inch and a half in width--
wider for thin goods--both edges are evenly turned under and then
the strip is folded lengthwise in the middle. By this means no raw
edges are in evidence. Some workers like to iron the strips,
thinking the folds stay in place better; others, especially when
using heavier worsted material, advocate cutting the strips narrower
and simply turning the edges under, omitting the middle fold. In
this way their right side of the braid--and the mat-- is kept free
from any appearance of frayed or raw edges and the finished piece,
lined, has an equally smooth wrong side, but of course can only be
used "right side up with care", while if the strips are prepared as
directed the rug or mat is reversible. By a little experimenting one
can readily determine the method best suited to her requirements and
material.

The three-strand braid is commonly used, being easiest to handle and
sew, and better in case of small articles, for which indeed, the
wider braids-- of four, five, six and seven strands are not easy to
manage. Using any color or colors desired, one, two, or three, join
one end of each of the three strips and attach to any convenient
object heavy enough to hold while the strands are evenly woven. Pick
up the first or right-hand strand, carry it over the second or
middle strand, then pick up the third or left-hand strand, bring it
to the right over the first, which is now the middle strand, then
take the strand at the right again, and continue; that is all there
is to it; a simple weaving back and forth. Do not draw the strands
too tightly; just keep a firm, even tension. When it is necessary to
joint two strips simply fold the end of one over that of the other,
half an inch or so, and sew both sides carefully.

Having braided a sufficient length for the center of the mat, "begin
at the beginning" of the braid, fold it to form a tiny circle,
sewing securely, then carry the braid around and around, drawing it
in on the inner or fulling it on the outer side, and sewing edge to
edge with strong thread, well-waxed. Add rows of other colors, as
liked. Completed the mat should lie flat and smooth. There are
different ways of doing the sewing; the old-time method of joining
the edges was by means of small over-and-over stitches or ball-
stitch--taking first into one edge, then the other Another method
thought by at least one good rug maker to be the best ever, uses
twine or carpet warp and a bodkin or blunt needle of sufficient size
to take the thread; pass through every other loop on both edges, not
catching into the braid itself. To make the joining extra strong go
over it a second time, taking into the loops missed before. This
method makes the work the same on both sides, and is really easier
than the usual sewing.

With standard braids, the outermost strands are brought to the
center of the braid. The common 3-strand braid is a standard braid.
Theoretically there is no limit to the number of strands that can be
used with a standard braid, except how many strands can be held in
each hand. Up to twelve strand standard braids were made to make
rugs. The virtue of these braids is that a nice thick braid can be
made of fairly light weight fabric strips. Many of the older braided
rugs made with cotton strips have multiple strands in a standard
braid, and unless you look closely at the rug you will think that
the 3 strand braid was used because all standard braids have more or
less the same shape and appearance.

With flat braids, the more strands used, the wider the braid
becomes. Flat braids of 4 to 12 strands were used for rugs made with
cottons or wools. The flat braids (except for the 4-strand) all work
the outermost strands over and under various combinations of one or
two other strands. This allows various striped, chevron or diamond
patterns to appear in the braid itself.

I used old blue jeans several years ago and though rough and rather
rustic, it made a great mudroom rug.

If you are gonna give it a try, please tell us, if you make one ..
PLEASE take pictures and post them for us to see, keep us informed
of your progress and the ups and downs.

tenzicut
 
