Rags to Rugs

In this challenging manual, weaving instructor Knisely (Spinning 101) details how to transform old clothes, blankets, and other pieces of fabric into rugs. Knisely offers a detailed overview of looms and what to look for when purchasing one for weaving rugs, explaining that the shuttles need to be relatively big so they can "hold large amounts of rags" and that floor looms are strongly preferred over less sturdy portable looms. Weighing in on the best materials for threads, the author notes that half cotton, half polyester blends are durable and easy to work with, and that linen thread is strong but "has little to no elasticity." Each project involves tearing recycled fabric into strips, preparing thread on the loom, and then weaving the rug. Unfortunately, the complicated instructions mean this is easier said than done. Knisely falls short in his attempt to make attaching thread to the loom less "overwhelming";beginners will struggle to follow the confusing photos and wordy instructions on "winding the warp" and "sleying the reed." The designs themselves are inviting if straightforward, consisting largely of variations on diamond, stripe, and checkerboard motifs, but the omission of directions on how to follow a weaving chart feels like an oversight. This is best suited for experienced weavers.

Weaving instructor Knisely (Huck Lace Weaving with Color and Weave Effects) says he loves taking his grandsons' clothes that they have outgrown and weaving them into rag rugs. His book offers 30 projects for rag rug creators, and he provides clear, easy step-by-step directions and detailed patterns for each one, along with a photograph and brief story about the rug. He also tells readers how to repair their beloved damaged and aged rugs. He tells readers that his motivation to repurpose and recycle materials stems from memories of his childhood when his family gave away what they no longer needed, and what they could not dispose of easily, they burned. He shares that he shudders to think of the harm they may have unwittingly done to the environment. If readers missed his first book, Weaving Rag Rugs, they can learn basics in the "Rag Rug Weaving Basics" section that appears in the book after all the projects. The book ends with a visual index of all the featured rugs. VERDICT A superb offering for readers who want to repurpose and recycle materials in a creative way.

A superb offering for readers who want to repurpose and recycle materials in a creative way.

Rags to Rugs: 30 New Weaving Designs for Repurposed Fabrics expands on author Tom Knisely's previous book: Weaving Rag Rugs. In this new book, master teacher Knisely offers 30 stunning new designs for rugs created from repurposed and recycled fibers. Fiber sources for wefts include antique quilts, moth-eaten blankets, discarded bed linens and towels, plastic bags, and even used rag rugs! Warp fibers include 8/4 cotton carpet warp and 12/6 seine twine. Designs range from the expected plain weave to various twills, overshot, Krokbragd, rep, shadow weave, and boundweave.

One of my favorite projects in this new book, albeit in plain weave, is a rug entitled "Dry Paint." Knisely recounts an interior-painting project at his new home. Rather than admiring the new paint on the walls, he focused on the colorful painter's drop cloths covering the floors. The drop cloths reminded Knisely of a Jackson Pollock painting, and he immediately asked if he could acquire a used drop cloth. The author describes the resulting rug as his "most unique use of an unlikely source of materials" and I must agree!

Whereas Knisely's previous rag rug book focused on beginners to the craft using new materials, this book assumes some basic weaving knowledge and promotes the use of recycled fibers. Knisely does, however, include a condensed set of basic instructions for weaving and finishing rag rugs at the conclusion. Illustrations and diagrams are abundant and clear. Photographs throughout the book are especially colorful and inspiring.

This book appeals to weavers interested in recycling, reusing, and repurposing materials to create beautiful new and useful pieces. This book will appeal to the many fans of weaving teacher Tom Knisely - and we are legion! For those of us unable to attend one of Knisely's classes in person, this colorful and inspirational book offers a happy glimpse into one of our favorite instructors.

In Rags to Rugs, his latest rag rug weaving book, Tom Knisely shows how you can incorporate used clothing and bedding linens, discarded plastics, worn-out rag rugs, and even used drop cloths into your rug weaving.

You might assume that rugs made from discarded fabrics would be solely utilitarian, but that is not the case. Knisely is a proficient weaver and designer who spent the time up front to plan beautiful rugs made from relatively humble beginnings. When the rag weft is uninteresting, such as a plain army-gray wool, he uses colors and patterning in his warp to create an attractive design. For a rug using a blue plaid weft, he lets the warp drop into obscurity and allows the fabric to dictate a new overall design. . . . Within this pages, you'll find instructions for weaving rugs using boundweave, plain weave, twill, overshot, log cabin, summer and winter, and clasped wefts. Each of the 30 patterns includes a draft, warp and weft descriptions, setts, and basic directions. . . . Apart from the inspiring rug patterns, I was happy to find a robust "Rag Rug Weaving Basics" section that covers everything a rug weaver might want to know about tools, warp and weft considerations, various weft preparation methods, warping, weaving, and finishing. This book is a great jumping-off point for anyone interested in weaving rugs using fabrics and fibers that would otherwise be added to our landfills. I highly recommend it.