Hand-Loom Weaving Part 13

There is no sleight of hand about it.

[Sidenote: _Panels of silk canvas for boxes_]

Silk canvas panels are made by adjusting the loom for the required size of the sides of the box, and weaving a plain mat for the top. A number of suggestions have been given on page 52, under the head of Materials.

Pretty neckties of fine knitting silk can be made on the loom by using a continuous warp of the same material.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _A square of silk canvas with cross-st.i.tched pattern of chenille_]

[Sidenote: _Sofa pillows, cus.h.i.+ons, sachet cases and veil cases_]

The accompanying ill.u.s.tration, and another on page 98, and also the vignette on the t.i.tle page, show squares of silk canvas, and will give one many ideas of how they may be used. One has a cross-st.i.tched pattern of chenille, and in another the chenille was alternated with silk in the warp, and both chenille and silk were used in the woof. The squares can be made up in cus.h.i.+on and box covers, sachet cases, sofa pillows, or the larger squares can be used as veil cases. A number of them can be joined for large sofa pillows. In the latter case they can be made of wool, and many of them could be crocheted together for an afghan or slumber robe.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Pattern for rugs or squares_]

The design in the ill.u.s.tration is a pattern which may be used for either a Wilton or Axminster rug, or for mats, sachet cases, cus.h.i.+on or box covers, or cross-st.i.tch embroidery on burlap, or silk, or wool canvas. The patterns given on pages 120, 125, 130, and 134 will be found adaptable for rugs or squares.

[Sidenote: _Slumber robes or afghans_]

[Sidenote: _Portieres_]

Slumber robes or afghans have been previously mentioned on page 54, under the head of Materials. It will be found very easy, after a little experience with a continuous warp, to make strips of any length. It is better to wind the extra lengths of warp upon spools, as has been suggested, or around the tops of the rods. Large portieres can be made of long strips of silk or silkoline cut bias. Fasten the long strips together horizontally in imitation of Bagdad curtains.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Borders for rugs or squares_]

[Sidenote: _Hair receivers_]

Hair receivers are easily made from raffia. Make a square mat and fold it in cornucopia form.

Chapter Twelve

ORIENTAL RUGS

[Sidenote: _Rugs and draperies_]

To be quite up to date, Miss Dolly should have oriental rugs and draperies in her house beautiful. These are easily made on the loom, and the little girl or boy, who has first copied a pattern and then seen it grow under patient fingers, has a thing of beauty and a joy forever.

What could give more pleasure than to be able to say fifty years from now: "I wove that, my dear, when I went to school"? Truly the grandchildren would reply: "How I wish I could have gone to grandma's school!"--only they may have something equally beautiful which will take its place in that far-off time--who knows?

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Border for rugs or squares_]

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Borders for rugs or squares_]

[Sidenote: _Patterns_]

[Sidenote: _Oriental colors_]

The patterns for oriental rugs familiar in the East have descended through hundreds of years, and the exquisite colors, produced by vegetable dyes, and increasing in richness and beauty with age, are only to be seen in old rugs. We have nothing in our modern dyes to compare with the old color. One is soon interested in the study of these Eastern treasures, and it becomes second nature in a short time not only to chat familiarly of Kermans, Serebends, Khivas, Bokharas, and Kiz-Kilims, _ad infinitum_, but to jot down now and then in one's notebook, or still better in one's design book (made of the kindergarten squared paper, one-eighth inch), a pretty border or centerpiece for the rug which is to grace some doll house. The patterns of Turkish rugs (see page 127) are of geometrical or arabesque designs--an edict from the Koran having prohibited the reproduction of living things. The Persians, however, weave animals, birds, etc., as their ancestors did in days gone by.

[Sidenote: _Inscriptions on Persian rugs_]

There is some very interesting reading in "Oriental Rug Weaving," by V.

Kurdji, on the subject of inscriptions often found on Persian rugs. He says: "If the possessors of some of the rare pieces that are sold in this country knew the meaning of the inscriptions woven in their rugs, the knowledge would add a charm and interest which would make them more valuable than the harmonious colors so beautifully blended."

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Pattern for border of Persian rug_]

[Sidenote: _Bokkara rugs_]

[Sidenote: _Khiva rugs_]

Oriental rugs take their names from the countries or provinces in which they are made. Bokhara rugs are made in mountainous districts of Turkestan, and have never been successfully imitated, because the dyes used are made from a plant grown only in that district. The designs are geometrical, and the colors deep maroon or blue. The pile is woven as close as velvet. They are noted for the superior quality of their dyes.

Khiva rugs, sometimes called afghan, are made in Turkestan. They resemble the Bokhara rugs, but are coa.r.s.er in texture and heavier in pile, and they differ from them in having a wide selvage at each end.

Some Khivas have a small pattern in red mosaic over the surface with a circle in the center. One often sees a rug made of a rich golden yellow with a background of dark red.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _A Kiz-Kilim rug pattern_]

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Pattern for a Kiz-Kilim stripe_]

[Sidenote: _Kiz-Kilim rugs_]

The Kiz-Kilim rugs have no nap, and are woven with a needle. They are thin and almost alike on both sides. The larger sizes are woven in two strips fastened together so that they can be taken apart and used for curtains. "These Kiz-Kilims are woven by Armenians and Turks in Anatolia (the land of sunrise, and the Greek name for Asia Minor). The literal translation of the word Kiz-Kilim is bride's rug, it being a custom in that country for a bride to present to her husband one of these rugs, which she has woven during her engagement to him. The quality of the rug is supposed to measure the quality of the husband's affection for his bride, consequently we have many beautiful specimens of this cla.s.s, the brilliant hues and intricate designs of which could only have been inspired by the whisperings of Cupid. They are in open-work patterns--called perforated--and often have long tufts of colored silk tied to the rugs with blue beads, in order to keep them from the effects of the Evil Eye." The Kiz-Kilim rug in the ill.u.s.tration was copied from a genuine rug. The filling is a deep blue and the borders are in oriental colors. The center figure is white, with red, brown, and yellow inside. There are four kinds of Kilims. Much interesting and valuable information can be found in John Kimberley Mumford's "Oriental Rugs"; New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1900, where directions for weaving Kiz-Kilims, Khivas, and Bokharas are given, with a few patterns.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _A Kiz-Kilim rug_]

[Sidenote: _Materials used_]

[Sidenote: _Perforations_]

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Pattern for a Turkish rug_]

Oriental wools or carpet ravelings are used for these rugs. Copy your figures and colors from genuine rugs. The accompanying patterns were obtained in this way. See directions on page 47 for stringing a double warp with fringe at each end. First fasten the pattern under the warp; then weave about one-quarter inch at each end with carpet thread like the warp. This will make it look like a "truly" Kiz-Kilim. Next to this, weave a very narrow strip of several colors each twice across, regarding the double strings as one. Then weave each part of the narrow border. To make the perforations, take up one thread of the double warp for one side of the pattern, and the other thread for weaving the pattern next to it. For instance, the "steps," as the children call them, of triangle No. 1, when finished, will stand close to the steps of triangle No. 2, with a little slit between. These perforations occur only where one pattern joins another of a different color, or the dark filling. For instance, in the white figure in the center, where three or five squares come together, the slits occur at each end, the part between being woven over the double strings as if they were only one. In this way the perforations of other parts are closed top and bottom. Use a tape needle and weave each section of the pattern separately. Weave the filling last. As this peculiar tone of blue could not be obtained in carpet ravelings, an eighth of a yard of terry was raveled for the purpose. Take care not to draw any part of the pattern too tight, or the perforations will be too large. The right and left edges of the rug are woven over the rods to keep them straight. Both narrow borders were woven before the center was commenced. The pattern in the ill.u.s.tration is for a Wilton or Axminster rug, but can be used for mats, or box, sachet, and cus.h.i.+on covers. It is made with cross-st.i.tch embroidery on burlap, silk, or wool canvas. (See also page 120.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: _A pattern for a rug or square_]

[Sidenote: _Turkish patterns laid with tablets_]

The children can lay these Turkish patterns with square tablets upon their desks, the pattern being drawn upon the board, or on paper with a rubber pen. It will be a delight to the children to transfer them to paper by drawing and then coloring, or by cutting and pasting colored papers.

[Sidenote: _St.i.tches for Khiva and Bokhara rugs_]

The genuine Khiva and Bokhara rugs are made by weaving and knotting alternately. It will be easier at first to weave a web, or foundation.

Choose a tight twisted yarn about the color of the rug to be woven.

String a close warp of the wool and weave plain up and down, one string at a time, until you have a rug of the desired size. Put in the pattern first, and then the filling. This work will be almost too difficult for _little_ children. Carpet wools and Germantown wool can be used. It will not be found difficult to follow the pattern, especially if one is used to cross-st.i.tch embroidery. Each st.i.tch counts for one of cross-st.i.tch.

Keep the st.i.tches very close together so that the nap will stand up well when finished. Silk rugs can be copied in the same way, using floss or rope silk for the pile. If one prefers, a piece of burlap may be stretched across the loom and secured to the rods, instead of weaving a foundation, as suggested.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _St.i.tches for pile weaving_]