The Braided Rug Page 3

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After the blue calico 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 selvage 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 unbleached 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 over's in making other kinds of rugs.

The best way to tear off cotton goods of any kind is the manner in which surgical bandages are torn. Measure across, and divide the entire width of the cloth along the edge into spaces of three and one half inches. Make a cut three inches deep at each measurement. Take up the cut ends, one end in the left hand and another in the right hand, until all cut ends are held in the hands, a number in each hand. Then pull the whole piece apart into strips with continued sweeps of the hands. If two people tear the goods apart it is much more easily done.

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Fold in the torn edges of each strip for one--half inch on each side, then fold these turned-in edges equally to meet in the center. The strips should measure one and a quarter inches when finished. The width may possibly vary a little, but that is not necessarily inconvenient 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 card-board 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.

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The Craft Of Handmade Rugs - View The Rest Of The Book

Introduction - Some Old Time Rugs  - A Word About Dyes - The Scalloped Doormat Or Tongue Rug
The Knitted Rug - The Crocheted Rug - The Hooked Rug In Cotton And Wool - The Needle-Woven Rug
The Colonial Rag Rug - Some Applications - Newer Methods Of Stencil Making - The Tufted Counterpane
Old Time Lights - The Batik Or Wax Resist Process