1058 



The Cornell Reading-Courses 



Rag rugs are excellent in many places. A widespread admiration for 

 this old-fashioned floor covering has led to its commercial manufacture. 

 It must be admitted that the rag rugs on the market, while perhaps not 

 so substantial in weight as the homemade hit-and-miss variety, are better 

 in design because attention has been paid to assorting the rags for color 

 value. This should be a suggestion to all women who love to experiment 

 with carpet rags. The usual hit-and-m.iss pattern will be much improved 

 by omitting the white rags from the body of the rug and using them with 

 some other light or bright color for the border. It may be said, in general, 

 that dark rugs of any kind containing patches of white in the pattern tend 

 to give the floor a disorderly appearance. If the rug is hght in color value 



Fig 24. — .1 good style of design for any kind of rug 



the white is not so noticeable. A rag rug with a moderately dark flecked 

 body and a broad contrasting border becomes an artistic product in 

 contrast with the usual hit-and-miss carpet, which is merely a practicable 

 product. Very original results may be obtained by sorting into balls 

 the various shades and colors that blend well, keeping all harmonious 

 colors for the same rug. Thus, blues and greens woven with a white 

 warp and a broad light band near the ends give one effect, while if these 

 colors are woven on black warp with a dark band across the ends the effect 

 is distinctly different. Dull reds and browns woven on a tan warp with 

 a lighter or brighter border make an appropriate rug to spread before the 

 fire. Old blue-jeans make a bedroom rug of good weight; usually, if 

 cotton rags alone are used, the rug is too thin. The old-fashioned round 

 or oval braided rugs are quaint and all too scarce. It is well to scan all 

 available material before investing in new floor coverings. 



