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are followed in their turn by more rows of the mixed braids, 
graduating this time from light to dark, thus bringing the darker 
tone on the edge and finishing the rug in the most practical man¬ 
ner. Edges always get more wear and therefore soil more quickly. 
In the actual making, take three folded strands of blue and, 
holding the ends together, sew them. Pin or tie these at the end 
where they are sewed to something heavy, so that they may be 
firm and taut while braiding. Braid them together until within 
three inches of their ends. Then pin or tie these ends so that 
the braid will not unravel. Measure off fourteen inches of it 
from the end where the braiding was started and double it to¬ 
gether to form a loop. Overhand this together along the inside 
edges of the braids, beginning to sew where the three strands 
were first overhanded and working down toward the other end 
of the loop, which is the rounder end, as shown in the left-hand 
illustration on page 378. Go back 
now and take the loose end of the 
braid and overhand it round the 
two first rows and go on thus un¬ 
til, counting from side to side, 
seven rows are sewed. 
Be careful when rounding the 
ends of the oval not to full the 
braid too much nor to hold it too 
tightly. If the braid is fulled the 
finished rug will ripple on the 
edges. If, on the other hand, it is 
held in too much in the overhand¬ 
ing, the rug will buckle in the 
center. 
The worker will notice that the 
sides of the oval are as yet very 
straight. They will begin to curve 
out as more rows are added. 
These first seven rows form the 
center of the rug. Now stop off 
with all the blue braid. 
When starting a braid of dif¬ 
ferent color add it to that already 
sewed at the curved end of the oval, rather than along its straight 
side. Always start off the rows that are to be discontinued on 
the same side of the rug, as will be seen on examination of the 
first illustration. If some of the braid just sewed on is left over, 
when the time comes to add another kind, cut it off. but do not cut 
it straight across; unbraid it a bit and then cut the three strands 
off separately, each at a different point. Sew the ends of the 
strands of the new braid to these ends. Likewise, when adding 
more strands of the same color, or in introducing new colors to 
lengthen the braid, overhand these new pieces to the ends of the 
already braided strand. Let the seams come on the inside of the 
folded strand, where the raw edges will not show. 
Tn braiding the strands it will be found that the ends do not 
come out evenly. This is because the worker pulls more on one 
than on the others. This is all right, however, for the seams in 
the strands must not all come at one point. If they all came 
together the braid would bulge and be clumsy at that point. This 
is the reason for cutting the strands at different points when it 
is necessary to cut them at all. Sometimes, of course, a length 
of braid just finishes the required number of rows, but, if it does 
not, be sure to save all the clipped off ends of the strands. One 
may need even the smallest piece to finish up a row of some de¬ 
sired color. 
Lay the rug down on the floor from time to time during its 
construction, to see that it is keeping its form and also that it is 
smooth and flat. When the last row of braid required has been 
overhanded on, sew the ends down as flatly as possible on the 
wrong side of the rug, turning the strands under one by one. 
The braided rug of the farmhouse, though substantially made, 
is not always attractive because it is seldom well planned. It is 
usually of a variety called “hit or miss,” and it is generally “miss,” 
with a scattered effect resulting. As a matter of fact, the braided 
rug has certain features which are characteristic of it and which 
consequently distinguish it. But it has remained for the modern 
handicrafter with a knowledge of design to discover them, to 
realize their importance and to use them to advantage. Thus from 
being an accidental form, these features advance to the dignity 
of real ornament and become a characteristic figure in the design. 
Being made of three strands of muslin sewed in rows, the braided 
rug shows a form like a little arrow-head on its surfaces, which 
results from the braiding together of two strands of a darker 
color with one of a very much lighter tone of the same color, or 
with a sharply contrasting color. 
For example, one might choose a 
medium blue strand, with two 
strands of white or two strands of 
black and one of red, according to 
the color scheme one has planned. 
The point is that the contrasting 
colors come together in such a 
way that they form this little 
characteristic pattern in arrow¬ 
heads as seen in the illustration on 
this page. 
Thus a constructive feature be¬ 
comes a decorative one as well 
and a surface pattern occurs from 
the rug’s structure. If the rug 
were made in any other way this 
particular effect in surface could 
not result. 
The preparation for making 
the braided rug really takes more 
time and patience than the actual 
sewing together of the rows of 
braid. But there is not the slight¬ 
est use in beginning until all the rug material is in order. It must 
be all washed, ironed, torn, folded, before one is ready to begin. 
Once this is done the rest is very simple. The braiding and sew¬ 
ing can be easily done at any time, because, like any other needle- 
craft, it does not require special tools and equipment. 
For a round bedroom rug in blues and pinks, select figured cali¬ 
coes, preferably the Washington prints. Wash and iron them as 
already directed. There are four colors: a medium blue, some¬ 
what grayish in tone if possible; another blue of the same color, 
about two tones lighter; a medium pink, and a calico with a white 
ground sprigged with pink and black, the pink predominating. 
In starting the round rug begin to turn the braid at once with¬ 
out allowing any length in the center. Begin with five rows of a 
braid made with two strands of the medium blue and one of the 
lighter blue. Continue with three rows of braid of two strands 
of a lighter blue and one of medium pink. Follow these with 
two rows of braid of two strands of medium blue and one of 
medium pink. Then four rows of braid of two strands of 
medium pink and one strand of pink, black and white. Finish 
with three rows of braid made of one strand of medium blue, one 
of light blue and one of medium pink. The size of this rug is 
twenty-six inches in diameter. 
Another very successful plan for a bedroom rug can be carried 
out in grays and pinks. These colors should be of the same tone 
value or degree of color, either in medium pink and medium gray 
or light pink and light gray. Either the pink or the gray should 
(Continued on page 405) 
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