June, 1909 
silk and rags. To thread the 
needle pass the strip backwards and 
forwards through the slits, and 
back again under the strip through 
the first slit. This makes it secure. 
When finishing the work use a large 
tape needle, thread with woot 
threads to make a finish for the top 
and bottom of the rug. This is 
called a heading. 
The small rugs in the illustra- 
tions have been made by little chil- 
dren from four to nine years of 
age, who take the keenest pleasure 
in making rugs for the doll’s house, 
and blankets to cover their dolls. 
The looms must be threaded 
with a number of warp strings that 
suit the weaving. The little rugs 
illustrated have been done in the 
following manner: The warp string 
is fastened securely at the top and 
then carried around the tooth and 
taken to the bottom and returned 
around the next tooth until the en- 
tire loom is filled with warp threads. 
The warp should always be one 
continuous string, and a few inches must be left over to 
fasten securely when the work is finished. The first and last 
strings of the warp must be passed directly over the rods, 
and when weaving, the woof threads must be passed entirely 
around the rods of the side to insure straight edges. 
Frequently the warp is of the same material as the woof, 
but practically anything can be used—cotton string, wool, 
rafia, or whatever is preferred for weaving. Germantown 
wool has been used in some of these little rugs both for 
warp and woof. 
Within the last few years there has been a great impetus 
given to fancy pattern weaving by the advent of Swedish 
women into this country, who are experts in the making of 
exquisite woven fabrics in the loom. It is a delightful occu- 
pation and can be used for many purposes—cotton towels, 
bedspreads, gowns, and folk-lore friezes for the nursery— 
so that there is really no end 
to the charming pieces that 
can be evolved by the woman 
clever and deft with her 
fingers. 
The Swedish loom is built 
on the same principle as the 
rag-carpet loom, but the 
treadle is not a necessity, as 
in the carpet-loom, for pat- 
tern weaving. The small 
looms show how a_ long 
needle, like a knitting-needle, 
is used in place of the ordi- 
nary shuttle, while the pattern 
itself is woven by means of a 
darning-needle. A_ separate 
needle is used for each color, 
and very beautiful patterns 
can be made in this primitive 
way. 
In the small loom leaning 
up against the wall the warp 
and woof are both of blue 
linen, while the birds of pale 
blue are worked in with a 
darning-needle. Such weav- 
AMERICAN HOMES 
Weaving in a Swedish loom 
A loom in which fancy pattern weaving can be done 
AND GARDENS 221 
ing would be appropriate for a 
chair seat and would outwear any 
kind of upholstery. The warp 
threads are divided by moving the 
part of the loom which divides the 
warp threads just as the treadle 
does in the front loom. The loom 
with the seat does not show this 
part, as the rollers are operated by 
an attachment on the far side of 
the loom, which divides the warp 
threads after every throw of the 
shuttle. The warp threads are 
usually of ivory linen, and the shut- 
tle-needle is filled with the same 
kind of linen. Mercerized cotton 
can be used if preferred. Sometimes 
the design is of cotton and the warp 
and woof of linen. It is not easy 
for everyone to make her own de- 
signs, but cross-stitch patterns can 
be utilized, as they have very much 
the character of Swedish weaving. 
In the table-loom very pretty linen 
towels can be woven with beautiful 
border designs made from cross- 
stitch patterns. 
Almost all weavings have a few inches of plain weaving 
at each end. When this heading is made at one end, darn- 
ing or pattern weaving is then introduced, the alternate 
threads of the warp being taken up with the needle. The 
threads are not cut off until the work is finished, but when 
a needle needs replenishing the thread must be fastened 
securely to one of the warp threads. As the cloth is being 
woven, it can be rolled by means of the spikes on the right 
hand of the cloth beam. It is really remarkable how many 
yards can be woven in a day in a small loom of this kind. 
Coarse fiber, jute and string are often used for rugs. The 
Priscilla rug illustration is made in a rag-carpet loom. 
These can frequently be picked up in the country at a trifling 
cost, and delightful and serviceable rugs can be made in 
them at home. Any material, such as denim or unbleached 
muslin, can be woven after first being torn into strips 
and sewed neatly together 
and wound into balls. Usually 
the person from whom the 
loom is bought will supply it 
filled ready with warp threads 
of the desired color. White 
or tan is the most useful, as 
they harmonize well with any 
color used with them. If the 
loom is not already warped, it 
can always be sent to a profes- 
sional beamer in any town, 
and in the country an old 
weaver can usually be found 
who understands how to put 
in a warp. There are supply 
stores in every town where 
warp threads may be bought, 
and they are usually able to 
give the name of a beamer. 
The loom being prepared and 
the material balled, it is then 
wound off the balls on to an 
iron rod, which is placed into 
a winding wheel sold with 
the loom. It is then ready for 
the shuttle, the iron bar being 
