Rug Knotting

Dear users, dear authors,
have you ever tried knotting, or even knotting rugs?

When I was a child, my siblings and I used to knot cushion panels. We cut equal-length strands from old yarn and knotted them onto stramin canvas in fantasy patterns, mostly just colorful squares or diamonds. We didn’t have a template, after all. It’s quite a lot of work, and you really can’t skip any little square.

Maybe it was practice in patience and perseverance for later. Because later on (about 25 years ago), I knotted a large rug. Of course, there was a template and pre-cut strands of pure wool. The rug is 2.30 m in diameter. It has been in our sunroom for years and keeps our feet warm.

Since you never knot completely evenly, at the end you have to even out the threads with rug shears. Then the patterns would also stand out more clearly. Then the rug still has to be stretched and needs a backing, and actually also a rug edge all around. Companies will do this part for a fee, but I couldn’t afford that back then. Maybe I’ll have it reworked someday.

There is a lot of work in it, and you really need perseverance. For beginners, I would definitely recommend a smaller project, such as a rug with a nice motif for a child’s room. It’s fun when you see the pattern gradually taking shape. And it’s also lovely and soft, thick, and cozy.

Best wishes from Ina

I used to weave little wall hangings.
It’s been quite a while.

When my mother was still alive, she was passionate about weaving carpets.  She gave me this one (52 years ago) as a wedding gift. It’s a little worn (at the edges), but it’s still in my living room and reminds me of her. And after all, I’m not the youngest anymore either and have my own signs of aging, so the rug is allowed to have some too 😉

Ruth, that was beautifully written. A lovely memory of your mother.

I also tried weaving 40 years ago—a runner. But I don’t have such fond memories of it—all I remember are my aching fingers. Maybe I didn’t do it right and was too tense.

In any case, I’m not at all tempted to try it again. 

Wow, Ina and Ruth, you really do have some true treasures there, and such amazing designs. I love roses.
If you didn’t know better, you’d think they were store-bought—they’re that pretty.
Cherish your rugs and hold on to those memories.

No, I didn’t do any rug knotting back then. But my grandpa did—just a small wall hanging—and I watched him do it once. It wasn’t for me.