Stuff you’ll need:

A Mirrix Loom with a shedding device and an eight dent spring.  I am using the LaniLoom.

 

 

Carpet warp.  Maysville cotton carpet warp is fine.  I am using cotton rags however.  If you are using woolen rags, I would suggest wool warp:  http://blog.mirrixlooms.com/store/navajo-wool-warp/

 

This is a picture of my warp on a rag runner I wove 25 years ago (please don’t do the math!)

 

Rags.  These lovely balls of rags were stripped when I wove the rag runner.  I used first quality fabric.  Make a cut in the fabric about one inch wide (or however wide you want your strips to be) and then rip the fabric. It makes a lot of dust so you might want to do this outside.

A basket of balls of rag strips.

 

A good beater.  One of our weighted ones will work well:  http://blog.mirrixlooms.com/store/weighted-tapestry-beater/  The below beater is brass.  Again, something I have had since the last century and which is no longer made.

A tapestry needle for tying off the warp ends.

Warping your loom

My rag mug rug is going to be a tad less than 4 inches wide.  In order to accomplish this I have used an 8 dent spring and have put on 34 warps.  Please see warping instructions for Warping for tapestry using the shedding device: http://blog.mirrixlooms.com/beginners-guide/warping-instructions/

 

Weaving your piece

Weave a header with the warp material. Then weave your rags burying the tails in in the piece. In other words overlap the ends when you begin or end or rag so that the ends are not sticking out the back or front of the piece. Weave the desired number of rags to make a square. Weave a footer of the warp material when  you are finished.

Rotate your piece to the back of the loom

You will want to weave a second piece because why not?  Your loom is already warped and you have enough warp to do so.  And besides, you can’t make just one mug rug!

Cutting the piece off

I have cheated.  I only made one mug rug (got a deadline here!).  You can either cut the piece off cutting as close to the warping bar as possible, or simply release the tension on  your loom and let the warping bar slip out while your piece comes crashing down.

Finishing the Piece

I have incorporated the header end into my first overhand knot so there are three ends in the side knot.  Make an over-hand knot.  Stick your tapestry needle in the knot to push it close to the weaving.  Knot a pair of warps on the other side of the piece and then knot all the interior pairs of warps. If you end up with three warps at some point, just knot them together.

 

 

Trim the ends to a length you like.  Remember, these ends will show.

 

Your finished piece!

Now make yourself a cup of tea and see if this little mug rug does the trick.