Naturally Bamboo
Size: 58" x 36"
Yarns: linen, hand-dyed wool
Poppies
Size: 5' x 8'
Yarn: wool
Square Butte
Size: 40" x 60"
Yarns: linens, hand-dyed wool
Moonrise
Size: 36" x 58"
Yarns: linen, hand-dyed wool
Chapter Ten
Double Warp Overlay: Rugs and Table Runners
Barbara Hand created this variation of the Moorman technique. Images of her work are included here.
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Naturally Bamboo Size: 58" x 36" |
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Poppies Size: 5' x 8' |
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Square Butte Size: 40" x 60" |
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Moonrise Size: 36" x 58" |
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Happy Birthday Runner Every family has birthdays that need a special table setting for the occasion. This runner was designed for just that purpose, yet the underside of the runner can be used all year for other occasions. The words Happy Birthday stretch the full length of the 60" with a sunburst design awaiting the birthday cake. The underside in stripes of several blues could be used on other occasions. An occasional yarn color from the opposite side peeks thru but it does not detract from the overall effect. Technique: double warp overlay |
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Blue Boxes This rug is entirely wool with all the blue colors hand-dyed. I wanted to make a formal statement by using all wool. Technique: double warp overlay |
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Sample This sample used several colors in the pattern weft. The ground weft was a fine neutral yarn in between the top and bottom layer. The heavy rug wools in the pattern weft made as close a turn-around as possible, sometimes utilizing shaft 6 at the beginning of a block of color. Technique: double warp overlay |
Rya Tapestry-A Brief History and links to viewing traditional and contemporary rya on the internet
Paivi Handwoven Textiles Inc.
Zimmerdahl 20th Century Design
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Using a Temple Weaving with a temple will help keep the selvages of your rug from drawing in. In addition, if you have not had some experience with rug weaving or with the Theo Moorman technique, you may wish to begin by making a table runner or other small piece. |
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Celtic Twist One Celtic music and knotwork design were the inspiration for these two rugs. Cheryl Samuels has workbooks on drawing and designing Celtic knotwork based on a grid system. Start with her workbook Celtic Line Drawing, Workbook One: Plaitwork. The pattern inlay for Celtic Twist is hand-dyed cotton chenille. The upper ground is dye-painted variegated cotton chenille. The lower ground is mock-ikat dye-painted cotton fabric. Technique: double warp overlay |
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Celtic Twist Two Celtic Twist Two was featured in Weavers' Winter 1998. The pattern inlay is hand-dyed cotton chenille yarns. The upper ground is dye-painted variegated cotton chenille yarn and the lower ground is several different commercial drapery fabrics cut into ¼ inch wide strips on the bias with two strips used together. Different fabrics were combined on the shuttle for a tweed-like effect. Technique: double warp overlay |
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Rug on loom In this photo of a rug on the loom, the pattern weft (on netting shuttles) as been woven; the upper ground is in place behind it; and the lower ground is in back. The weaver is ready to beat all three wefts into place. |
If you are weaving on a table loom and are a word person, this little rhyme I wrote might help you.
Sequence A
Raise the 5 high in the air, throw the pattern weft if you dare
Now add 2 to join number 5, see the upper ground before your eyes
Next raise 3 and 6, followed by the lower ground, quick quick
Lower all your shafts, while lifting number 4, sequence A is out the door (beat beat beat)
Sequence B
Now you're ready to start sequence B, throw the pattern weft, set it free
Add number one to number four, throw the upper ground once more
3 and 6 are raised last, now the lower ground is passed
Lower all your shafts while lifting number 5, beat beat beat, you've made it through alive
The double warp runners are a version of the double warp rug threading. Using the same draft as for rugs, use finer ground warp and tie-down warp. Generally using a 5/2 ground warp and 8/2 tie down will work with 2 or 3 yarns, 3/2s probably the best for covering the warp. Upper layer and bottom layer should equal each other. If cut fabric strips are used on either the upper layer or under layer, they need to be equaled by the thickness of the yarns on the other layer.
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Summer Blossoms The summer runner in this series uses the alternate way of achieving the design element in the double warp overlay runners. The bright yellow yarns, the white, and the deep blue yarns are woven in each motif in the pattern weft shed while a smaller white yarn was used all across before the underside weft was placed. This allows the design element to be much stronger while still making a good fabric runner. All three passes of the upper ground, middle ground and lower ground weft yarns are made before beating in place. This design gives a strong centerpiece feel with the oval setting of simple flower shapes and a small amount of green outlining the white yarns. The underside of yellow and white yarns did not quite cover the strong blue yarns on the upper side and so you can see some of the drawbacks of this technique Technique: double warp overlay |
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Winter Roses / Holidays Red roses on one side of this runner could be used for several occasions during the winter months--Christmas holidays, Valentines Day celebrations etc. The very white background for the roses and green leaves stretch across the 40" runner make a dramatic centerpiece for a table setting. The underside is done with fabric strips, reds and greens that could give a background for candles or decor for a festive occasion. Technique: double warp overlay |
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October Leaves I chose to make this runner with dark greens so that the fall leaves would show up well on it. The green novelty yarns were textured and covered well. The reverse side was done with orange, brown and yellow cotton yarns to give a pleasant background for a fall centerpiece. The woven in leaves were done in the same way the Winter and Spring runners were done with the design yarns being laid in with the upper ground weft yarns. Technique: double warp overlay |
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Spring Flowers / Pastel Skies Spring-like flowers appear on the front of this runner. The mute effect is achieved by weaving the flower and leaf yarns along with the white yarns that cover the entire width. The reverse side is mostly fabric strips, a soft toned cotton fabric with variegated blue strips and yarns. Technique: double warp overlay |
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The Cat's Meow This drawing of a cat has been in my files for many years, waiting to be used. The beautiful Lopi yarns have been in my collection of yarns to use for some time also. One day they came together and seemed just right for a double warp overlay rug. The idea of a completely different underside to go with the upper side design seemed a challenge. The brown and brown/grey yarns matched a printed piece of polar fleece at my favorite fabric shop. I had not used polar fleece strips for weaving and wondered if they would lay flat or jump up when woven in. I did start out with plans to use some of the same Lopi Yarns on the underside but decided that might not be compatible. The polar fleece was cut with a rotary cutter into approximately 1/4" strips on the diagonal. Other related polar fleece fabrics of brown and turquoise were added to the design of the stripes that are usually woven in on the underside. The striations of browns and greys, with the white tail and grey/white face took shape as I was weaving. Many #6 tie-down yarns were used at the beginning or the end of a design sequence. The #6 tie-down yarns are used mainly to give a more nearly rounded effect to an area. Technique: double warp overlay |
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Draft for Double Warp Overlay for Rugs or Table Runners Click the icon for a printable copy. (Not available on the Internet) |
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Double Warp Overlay for a Vest Size: 14 |
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Mock Ikat Dye-painting Directions Click the icon for a printable copy. (Not available on the Internet) |
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Springtime / Baby Blocks on the Double The front side is based on a log cabin quilt. The reverse side is supposed to look like Monet's tulip garden. Technique: double warp overlay and mock ikat dye-painting |
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Blue Intersections Both the upper and lower ground weft is mock ikat dye-painted cotton fabric. The geometric pattern inlay design is a contrast to the swirling ground. This rug is much thinner than double warp overlay rugs woven with wool or cotton yarns. Technique: double warp overlay and mock ikat dye-painting |