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torn into lengths of 
one and one-half 
yards. This is done 
because these 
lengths are in turn 
torn into strands for 
braiding, and if the 
strands are any 
longer they are apt 
to tangle in the pro¬ 
cess. First wash all 
the cloth, each color 
separately, with 
warm water and 
with either a borax 
or naptha soap. 
Rinse the blue cot¬ 
ton print until no 
more of the dye 
color runs off, and 
while it is still wet 
hang it in the sun to 
dry. Do not wring 
it out. Hanging in 
the sun while wet 
fades it somewhat, 
and the washing 
softens the fabric, 
making it easier to braid. Remember always in selecting and pre¬ 
paring goods for braiding that stiff materials do not crush up 
nicely in the braids, and as 
this braided rug is a washable 
rug, too, all likelihood of the 
colors running in subsequent 
washings must be done away 
with by a thorough washing 
before they are made up. 
After the blue print is dried, 
dampen it and press it out. 
The unbleached muslin must 
also be washed and ironed to 
soften it. Now tear both the 
blue and the white lengthwise 
—that is, the way of the sel¬ 
vage of the goods—into strips 
three and one-half inches 
wide. The cotton prints do 
not measure more than 
twenty-four inches in width, 
so in order to have seven 
strips of the blue it will be 
necessary to make each strip 
a thread or two less than a 
full three and one-half inches 
wide. 
The width of the un¬ 
bleached cotton cloth varies 
with different makes, but 
whatever its width it must be 
torn into strips three and one- 
half inches wide. If it does 
not come out exactly never mind. There are always uses for all 
sorts of left-overs in making other kinds of rugs. 
The best way to tear off cotton goods of any kind is the man¬ 
ner in which surgical bandages are torn. First measure off the 
three and one-half inch widths along the width of the cloth, mak¬ 
ing a cut three 
inches deep at each 
of these points. 
Take up the cut 
ends alternately in 
both hands, first one 
end in the left hand, 
and then one in the 
right hand, until 
none is left over. 
Then pull the goods 
apart into strips 
with one sweep of 
the hands. If two 
people tear the 
goods apart it is 
much more easily 
done. 
Fold in the torn 
edges of each strip 
for one-half inch on 
each side, then fold 
these turned-in 
edges together. The 
strips should meas¬ 
ure one and a quar¬ 
ter inches when fin¬ 
ished. The width 
may possibly vary a little, but that is not necessarily harmful, 
though it should not be narrower than an inch at any point. 
After all the strands are 
folded iron them and wrap 
them around pieces of heavy 
cardboard to keep them 
smooth and to keep the fold 
along the edge in place. Wrap 
each color on a separate card 
and do not wind too many 
strips on any one card. 
The design for this rug is 
planned as follows: The cen¬ 
ter of seven rows is of the 
medium blue. Outside of this 
there are four rows of mixed 
blue and white, the blue pre¬ 
dominating, as the braid is 
made of two strands of blue 
and one of white. Following 
this come four rows of the 
reverse—that is, of the braid 
made of two strands of white 
and one of blue. Next are 
two rows of all white, then 
one row of all blue, then two 
rows more of all white. After 
this come four rows of a braid 
composed of two strands of 
white and one of blue. And 
the finish is five rows of braid 
made of two strands of blue 
and one of white. This plan 
gives the rug a dark center surrounded by bands of graduating 
color going from dark to light. This is followed by an emphatic 
note of contrast made by the bands of rows of solid color, first 
white, then blue, then white again, the white being, of course, the 
creamy tone of the unbleached muslin. These contrasting bands 
Commencing the rug. The adjacent sides of the 
coiled braid are sewed together 
A round rug of good pattern, in blue, pink and white. It illustrates well how the 
outer rows should be of darker colors, thus tying the whole together 
The first seven rows which form the center of the rug. 
It is now time to introduce a new color 
( 3 / 8 ) 
