Rug making by Knox Gerald ed

Author:Knox, Gerald ed.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Rugs
Publisher: Des Moines, Iowa : Meredith Corp.
Published: 1978-09-19T16:00:00+00:00

The original pattern

Enlarging on a grid

Enlarging withouta grid

Finishing Techniques:

Hooked ond Needlepoint Rugs

Careful and expert finishing Is the final step in crafting a beautiful handmade rug. Here are some techniques for backing, blocking, and hemming hooked and needlepoint rugs that will help you achieve a professional-looking result.

Finishing Punch-Hooked Rugs

Sealing the pile on a punch-hooked rug is essential to preserve its beauty. Otherwise, the loops will pull out. particularly if they've been clipped.

To secure the loops, you will need to coat the bacK of the rug with liquid latex rug backing — a strong but flexible rubber coating that binds the rug fibers to the fabric backing to hold them ih place. It a ISO helps to make the rug skid-proof.

There are two ways to back a punch-needle rug with latex, both of which are explained in the directions below.

One method of preparing a rug for the latex coating requires some tools and equipment: a board at least 2 to 3 inches larger all around than the finished rug (a piece of plywood works well), a hammer and nails, a carpenters T-square or framing square, and a l H- to 3-lnch-wlde paintbrush.

Remove the rug from the frame and lay it facedown on the board. Using the T-square or framing square, carefully align the corners of the rug, so the lengthwise and crosswise threads of the backing fabric are at right angles to each other This is an extremely important step, for if the corners of the rug are not square when the latex is applied, the rug will be permanently distorted. Next, anchor the rug to the backing board with nails, spacing them 2 inches apart and 2 inches from the worked edge of the fabric.

An alternative method of finishing the rug is to apply latex to the back of the hooked area while it is on the rug frame. This is especially practical if the loops of the rug are long. To do this. make sure warp and weft threads of the fabric are at right angles. If they are not, adjust the backing fabric on theframe until

they are. Then coat the back of the loops with latex, following the directions below.

Following manufacturers directions, use a paintbrush to apply liquid latex to the back of the hool^ed area only. If neces-sary,apply two thin coats of latex rather than one thick coat. Be careful not to paint latex onto unworked areas of the fabric.

Allow the latex to dry undisturbed for at least 24 hours. Then remove the nails from the fabric (or the fabric from the frame) and trim the unworked areas of the backing to within 3 inches of the hooked edge, if desired, add a fringe to the rug at this point by working two rows of rya knots into the margin along the hooked edge (see page 60 for directions).

To hem the rug. carefully apply a 2-inch-wide border of latex to the back of the rug around the hooked edge. Then double-fold the unworked margin and firmly press it into the latex with your fingers, sealing it to the back of the rug.

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