Swedish Rag Rug (expanded format)
Instructor: Becky Ashenden
Prerequisites: none
Max enrollment: 8
Course fee: $450 (includes all instruction and studio time, course handouts, lunch Wed–Fri)
Materials fee: $40
Room & board: $185 (includes lodging Tue–Thu evenings, breakfast Wed–Fri, dinner Wed–Thu)
For more detail: See also costs & logistics, food & accommodations
Days offered: Three-day session, Wednesday–Friday
Dates offered: (2010) August 18–20 (class full; waiting list only)
No home in Sweden would be complete without rag rugs. Come to this expanded three-day session to make a Swedish style rag rug from start to finish. We'll spend Day 1 designing a rug and dressing a loom with our Swedish cotton rug warp, which is an important feature of these high-quality and long-lasting rugs. The pre-cut cotton rags will be doubled in the weft, which pack down harder and make a firmer rug. Utilizing the two-strand method also allows expanded design possibilities.
On Day 2 we will start out weaving a proper header and learn to manipulate and splice rags. Students will have the option of weaving plain, basket or twill weaves. Techniques to be covered throughout the session will be inlay, clasped weft and chevron. We will not neglect our selvedges, as you will learn the tricks for making them strong and crisp.
On Day 3 we'll leave time to finish weaving your rug, as well as making the sturdy twisted fringe.
