Mp3 
to seven square yards of material, will make one yard 
A little carelessness in cutting strips a little 
wider than an inch, would make a rug take from two to three 
yards more material, without improving the rug, so it is im- 
portant for economy’s sake, to be very particular about this 
detail. 
of weaving. 
Color Schemes for Rugs.—There is no end to the variety 
which can be given to a rug by clever border designing. Sup- 
pose a plain material is chosen for a border, and a figured 
material is selected for the rug itself. A dash of strong color, 
giving the appearance of a broken design, can be formed by 
Many Varieties in Borders 
getting a piece of material with blotches of color appearing 
at intervals of half a yard, such as clusters of Howers on white 
ground. 
Striped materials cut horizontally can also be introduced to 
give this effective treatment in borders. “Twists of two col- 
ored materials can be wound into a cop, and a line of the 
twist introduced in the center of a border, or to outline a 
plain border it is found to be very effective, and gives the 
appearance of a herring bone design. As the work pro- 
gresses the warp may be varied from time to time. Most of 
the color warps on the market are very ugly, but the golden 
brown, the dull green, indigo blue, and dark red, are adapted 
to nearly any coloring. Yellow material with tobacco brown 
warp and brown borders, makes an excellent rug for a sitting- 
room or hall. Brown figured material with tawny mixtures, 
with heavily designed borders, would look well in a sitting- 
room furnished with mission furniture. 
Green and yellow cretonnes and plain green muslin, are 
pretty with bright colored borders, matching the colors of 
the wall papers for bedrooms. For a delft room, blue mus- 
lins with white or blue warps are always charming. A bath- 
room rug is better made with white warp, as these always 
wash better than the colored warps. 
Cotton flannel is particularly desirable for bathrooms, as 
it is so soft for the feet. A dark warp is more suitable for 
staircase carpets. Brown on variegated brown, or red on 
variegated red, are colors that are especially adapted for stair- 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
April, 1906 
cases. Small rugs to match could be used on landings, and 
for halls with strong borders. 
If red carpeting and rugs are used, the introduction of 
black into the borders of the rugs will be found very effective. 
Besides the designs in borders, little strips of material can be 
run into the rugs, in the form of arrows or geometric pat- 
terns. If the warp is white these could be of fine white mus- 
lin, so that the extra material does not make the rug uneven. 
Another way of making patterns is to run a few lines of 
white with a bodkin after the rug is finished. ‘The ends are 
sometimes left sticking up, especially if used for portiéres or 
cushions, but for floor covering they look better neatly finished 
off. 
As the most interesting work is done by experimenting, it 
is well to spend a little time in evolving good color schemes, 
and designing borders, and as it is not necessary to use much 
material, it is best to use every little width of warp. A foot 
can be left in the middle, and a foot on either side cut off and 
left hanging down. ‘Then the experiments can be begun. A 
pretty wall paper can be taken, and material selected that will 
harmonize with it. If the introduction of fresh pieces is not 
liked, it is soon perceived they can be taken out, and others 
introduced in its place. If several yards of borders are woven 
in experimental weaving, the strip can be cut out of the warp, 
and kept as a sample of borders, and will be found very use- 
ful, as these borders can be tried on rugs in process of weav- 
ing, by laying parts of the sample on the fresh rug. The strip 
need not be cut into sections, but each border should have a 
margin of warp, and a woven heading of warp to keep the 
work in good condition. 
Some very pretty rugs lately woven were made of old rose 
Shaker flannel, with white warps, and white borders outlined 
with twists of green. In a bedroom with a pink flowered wall 
paper and old rose hangings, they were very dainty and har- 
monious. 
Warp Grouping—Vhe grouping of warps is another 
means of introducing variety in rug making, and it gives a 
variation of surface which is very charming. The warp can 
be set in groups of four, with an interval of four, made by 
turning back or cutting away every alternate four threads. 
This gives a honeycombed appearance which is very attrac- 
tive, and for portiere-making it is especially desirable, as it 
makes them hang in graceful folds. 
As the preparation of warp grouping takes some little 
time, it is well to use all the threads for the plain rugs, using 
the balance of the warp up for those which are to have 
grouped warping. 
Weaving Pillows—Weaving pillows can be done on a 
yard wide loom, by cutting the warp at either side. “wenty- 
four inches is the usual pillow width, and forty-eight inches 
would be a corresponding length. ‘This should measure at 
least thirty inches when stretched in the loom, as the length 
shrinks a little when cut out. The pillows, of course, would 
not need any fringe, but they should have at least an inch 
heading of warp, to prevent unraveling, which should be 
turned in when the pillow is turned up. 
Weaving Stair Carpets.—Stair carpets are usually twenty- 
seven inches wide, and at least a yard in every twelve should 
be allowed for shrinkage. It is always well in making stair 
carpets, to have them longer than the stairs, so that the part 
on the edge of the tread, which receives the most wear, can 
be changed from time to time, by moving the carpet a few 
inches either way. 
Those who have taken up weaving as a home industry, 
have become fascinated with the art, as there is no end to the 
opportunities for evolution and originality. 
