The Braided Rug Go-Round
(Page 4 of 6)
November/December 1971
By Nancy Bubel
Now sew the three strips-each folded into four layerstogether across one raw end. With the three strips joined, start braiding just as you would braid hair or yarn . . . except that you must take extra care to fold the strips around to make flat—rather than twisted-edges (Figure 6).
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For the first few feet, the braid will seem to be everywhere and nowhere . . . you need to put some tension on it. Pin, tie or clamp—even close the window on or get a friend to hold—the very end of the braid so you can pull gently on it as you go. That'll help you keep it straight.
When the braid is a reasonable length, you can start lacing it together into an oval, rectangular, round or square rug. Since, like the egg, an oval is endlessly fascinating and pleasing, you'll probably want to use that shape for your first project.
The length of the starting braid will determine the finished size of the floor covering. Very simply, the projected length of the rug minus its projected width equals the length of the starting braid. For a 4' X 6' rug (6-4), then, you would theoretically begin with a starting braid two feet long. BUT, I always allow a few extra inches to make up for the slight shrinking effect that I get when I lace the braids together. Thus, for a 4' X 6' rug, I make a starting braid about two feet, three inches long.
Lay the braid on a flat, hard surface (such as the floor), mark the end of the starting length with a big safety pin and double the braid back on itself at this point. Force both sections of the braid to lie flat as you form this rounded corner.
Thread your bodkin with a double strand of heavy thread about a yard long. Much longer than that will tangle . . . I know because I've tried to save time that way, too! Knot the end of the thread and, starting at the pin-marked corner, poke the bodkin in between the braid folds. Take several stitches to secure the thread and then begin to lace by inserting the bodkin through every other braid fold, alternating from left to right (Figure 7). Pull firmly with your right hand as you hold the braids flat with your left (Figure 8).
At no point does the bodkin puncture the fabric. It always leads the thread between the loops of the braids. This is what makes the rug reversible.
Unless you're making a long, rectangular runner, cornering is the moment of truth when you realize that rug braiding involves some craftsmanship. If you sew too tightly around the corners, your rug will "bathtub" and be fit only for use as a doormat at the chicken house . . . if that. You must learn a slightly more sophisticated stitch for the corners.
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