TRADITIONAL METHODS OF MAKING RYIJY

1. WEAVING ON LOOM AND KNOTTING
2. SEWING BY HAND

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TECHNIQUES - BY SEWING OR WEAVING?

Both techniques are valuable!

From a ready made rug you can not even notice the difference - at least very easily. Professional eye can see which technique has been used when examined especially from the back side.

TOOLS, SIZE, SITUATION

How to make a rug depends usually on the equipment that is available. If you can not use loom, you will sew a rug. Of course it is also a question of liking and situation. You can make a rug by sewing even in a train but apparently not by weaving...

A big rug is easier to handle in loom than only in own hands, as is the situation when sewing. That is why a bigger rug may be at least little faster to make.

A small rug can also be woven in table loom or frame loom. You can also make the frame.

CONSTRUCTION OF A RUG: BASECLOTH AND PILE ROWS

Rug construction is always based on a basecloth where the pile is attached to.

• When a rug is woven on a loom you actually weave the basecloth and as weaving goes on a row of pile will be knotted in between.
• When a rug is sewn you need a ready made basecloth. The pile is sewn row by row and some basecloth is left in between

TRADITIONAL MATERIALS

Traditional material is wool. Also pile yarn and basecloth has been woolen. Hundreds of years ago it was a material that could be reached - people had their own lambs. Wool is also warm, insulating and water resistant material. Because pile structure even adds the insulation it has been originally used when blankets and capes were used to cover from cold and moist weather.

CAN RUG BE MADE WITH OTHER TECHNIQUES AND OTHER MATERIALS?

The answer is simple: yes! Nowadays a rug is mostly a decorative element, a work of art, it has no "rules". Every designer and maker decide on their own.

Although, if you make a traditional rug or a rug designed by some artist you should also follow the design and use also original material designed for that specific rug.

Wool is still the most important and mostly used rug material. But in todays rugs you can use whatever material if you can make pile out of it.

Along traditional techniques pile surface can be made with many different ways. Is it then a rug, you can only ask, but at least it is a variation of a rug!