Crow Hill Rugs

Rag rugs are best made with the warp (string) under high and even tension, and with a very heavy beater to pack the weft (fabric) tight.

The weight and stability of my Swedish Glimakra Souvereign rug loom allows me to put high and even tension on the warp. The external frame consists of 3" x 6" beams of laminated yellow pine. The five interior horizontal warp and breast beams, and two sets of gears, are made of heavy steel, which eliminates torque. The overhead beater is massive and also heavy. It locks back, which allows me to use both hands and lateral movement when placing the fabric between the warp threads. The lock releases with a back swing and I add the weight of my body when beating the fabric into place.  As a result, Crow Hill Rugs are woven exceptionally tight. They lay flat, and secure, on the floor.

My rug structure is plain two harness weave. The harnesses are connected by rope to, and suspended between, simple (black) pulleys, above, then (not visible in photo) floating lamms, then to foot treadles just above the floor. When I depress a pedal, pedal cords (via the lamms) pull one harness down. At the same time, the action of the pulley brings the alternating harnesses up. The foot treadles lock. This allows me to use both hands and lateral movement when placing the weft fabric between warp threads,

This 10' wide loom has three sets-of-two locking pedals. I predominantly work solo and use the set in the middle. We use the two outer sets of pedals instead when a second person (usually my daughter pictured below) is helping me weave at widths greater than six feet.

The original Texsolve (nylon string) heddles are still in good condition. The pulley and treadle cords have been replaced several times. The back warp beam is non-sectional.