Hello All Quilter's,

I visited a flea market today and came across a booth with rag rugs for sale. Rug weaving is something I would like to learn. I have been reading about the different type of looms available. There is a weavers class offered not too far from my home. Any insite on the appropriate type of loom needed for weaving rugs would be appreciated.
Thank you, Kelly

I thought about getting a loom but am currently seeing how frugal I can be. The frames to weave a rug are actually very simple the internet and youtube have all kinds of info.
I have found that the "toothbrush" rug is the easiest rug to make . Second to that is crochet rugs if you know how to crochet. Look up the toothbrush rug, It will make you want to start tearing up all the cloths and old sheets in the house lol. Super simple, all you need is a clothes hanger,duct tape and rags! This is a wonderful site to start.

http://ragrugcafe.com/toothbrush-rug...rt-1-beginners

Welcome from Virginia

Welcome to the message board.

I second the idea of crocheting the rugs. All you need is the material and a good large crochet hook. You can learn to crochet from You tube videos.

Hello, and welcome from Michigan!

i make hooked wool rugs, locker hooked rugs, wrapped clothesline rugs and even crocheted rugs...I LOVE RUGS! almost more than quilting (did i really say that???)
but i don't have room for a loom- or the desire to start yet another different technique---so- i sold my loom
i suggest you visit the place offering classes- and ask questions about looms- the one i had was a table top loom-not real big- but for some reason very expensive (at least i thought so) my mom had picked it up at an auction and given it to me- i moved it from spot to spot for about 10 years- then decided it was just in the way- when i finally decided to look it up and find out about it i found out that they sell for anywhere from $400= $750 for the one i had!!! it deserved a better home than what i had been giving it! so i let it go
rag rugs are seldom (if ever) made with a loom
rag rugs tend to be hooked- or crocheted- or tooth brush rugs---which is another technique- easy to learn- easy to make- uses up those scraps!
prehaps do a rag-rug search

Welcome from Michigan.:)

Hello from Kansas

I found weaving rugs very unforgiving. One mistake, and it is very obvious and difficult to undo and also keep the tension correctly (at least for me). I opted to hooking rugs and had more success.Now I don't make them as I have enough. However, Turkey rug wool was the best quality to use, in my opinion.

I make crochet rugs using homespun strips. They are very, very easy to make and look like expensive rugs purchased in stores. And talk about durable! I don't think you can wear them out.

Sorry, I beg to differ on the loom made rag rugs, especially as you live in the UP. Surely the older-than-time rag rug Finnish ladies up there have not given up their looms and rug making. Surely not. I have been gone for many a year, but some of my fine rugs from the hand made Finnish looms are still alive and well. I so well remember my grandma, sitting on the front porch of an evening, after the dishes were done, cutting and rolling rags until she had enough to take to one of the ladies with a loom and pretty soon, a new rug would appear in the kitchen. I would so hate to think that this time honored skill has gone by the wayside.

Sew happy to welcome you from Michigan!

I just took a class on the toothbrush rug and fell in Love have 2 done with the most ugly material one would ever see and the rugs look great. My next one is going to be from scraps a true scrappy just pull strips out a box and go for it. I found that the vido from
http://www.auntphillys.com/index.cfm/id/1/Home/

I found much better then the one you mentioned. I also made my own tool but find the one from Aunt Phillys much easier to use. I want to order a couple of patterns from her also, I wanted to learn this for something to do in the winter, besides quilting and crocheting, and knitting slippers and sewing. The frist few rows you swear that it isn't going to work out but it does they are great and will last a long long time. I also have a friend that has boxes full of material that isn't good for much else. Plus you can use old sheets, new items to serach for at garage sales and resale shops.

Hi and welcome from Arizona.

Can't help you with looms but I love your name....from another Henry.

Kelly, welcome from Brasil.

Just wanted to say welcome from New York.

welcome from se TX

O.K..... a question for you rug makers. I have always used homespun and don't have to worry about "wrong" side fabric. When using other types of fabric, do you fold your fabric wrong sides together before you start? Always wondered about this. Thanks!

Welcome from northern California!

Welcome to the board from Southern California!

Hi and welcome from Houston TX!

Hi Kelly, welcome from ME Ohio.

I don't worry about it at all :)

I actually was able to find a cheap tooth brush that had a large hole in it . They do work wonderfully.

welcome and be sure to check out aunt phillys rugs....really easy!

greetings from Colorado :-D

rug weaving, hmmm........sounds interesting

Welcome from San Gabriel, California

Hello and Welcome to the board from North Carolina.

My mother was a weaver and one of my sisters still is. You will need a very sturdy loom as the rag strips get banged into place! A great way to take out your aggression! I remember several very large looms, some antiques from way back and smaller floor models like the Harrisville and Baby Wolf. I would check with the place where they teach and probably use what they have there to begin with.

As a retired weaver with 32 looms in storage at present, rag rug looms are of the simplest as they only need 2 harnesses to make the rug, its when you want to do more complicated weaving you need the additional harnesses to make fancier more detailed designs. 2 harnesses make rag rugs with just an over under yarn or you can do a twill with just 2 harnesses depending on your threading. In choosing a loom, width is the next consideration, many rag rugs are just 2 feet wide so you don't need a loom much wider than that, and when one wanted a wider rug then strips were sewn together. Many old rug looms are huge and too big for homes now. Can be seen in museums and living history farms, etc. new looms are mostly for folks who want to make material in wider widths with multiple patterns. You can also just make a rectangular frame with nails to tie the warp to and weave the rags over & under the warp threads usually a cotton thread.
Good luck in deciding what you want to go with.

Debs & Hemi
in H.O.T. that has finally cooled off, but is so dry that wildfires are everywhere!

Hello and welcome from Minnesota!
I love rag rugs! :)

Welcome from Oklahoma

Welcome from Ireland

welcome from MN

I am an EX-handweaver. Just no patience for the warping anymore, thought I would love to weave. Quilting is so much better for me.

Here is a link to used looms. You can also check craigslist. (or if you live near MD and are handy, PM me ... I know someone with a replica barn loom in storage.) You need something sturdy, for example in this link they have a used Hammet. Try to pay less than $500.
http://www.kbbspin.org/taxonomy/term/6

Hello and welcome from sunny Myakka City Fl.You'll love this board. Little sue
Haven't done any rugs in over 40 years. Enjoy quilting way to much more.

Hello and welcome to QB, from western Nevada!

Hello from Western Mountain Maryland !! :-D