Sewing a rug by hand - rya knot with needle

You can make rya knots with using only fingers when you make a rug in a loom. Rya knots can be made also with a needle when you sew a rug on a basecloth. In both cases the pile will be the same.

Sewing a rug is simple: all you need are basecloth, yarn and a big, blunt point needle.

UTENSILS

BASE CLOTH

You can use jute, gunny, or other firm, open weave cloth. You must remove some single threads where the pile row will be to make the sewing easier. Also canvas (aida) can be used. Then the thread removal is not needed.

Inexpensive, harsh, plain weave jute (on right) is good as a base cloth. You must remove some single threads from where the pile row will be. White cloth is dyed jute and you can use it also in so called half-rug when some of the basecloth will remain visible.

Can you sew a rug on a metal net?
You can also ask: Why not...?

In a special shop you cand find rug base cloth. It has been sewn in a way that you can sew pile rows onto just warp yarns. This kind of cloth has usually flaxen warp and woolen weft. Distance between pile rows is about 1.5 cm. Base cloth is sold in different widths. Because it is special it is quite expensive.

If the pile covers thickly all the basecloth the colour can be whatever. In so called semi-rug the pile covers only some areas in patterns and then also the colour of basecloth can be seen.

PILE THREADS

If you want to respect traditions use strong twisted woolen yarn. Also special pile threads are available.

Modern wall rug is no disposed to wearing and therefore it can be made from any kind of threads.

NEEDLE

The best needle is probably a real rug needle. It is big, it has large needle eye and blunt point. At least the needle should have those qualities. Large needle eye makes it possible to have many yarns simultaneously, same or different colours.

Tip: You can work faster if you have several needles with different pile combinations already waiting.

WHAT ELSE IS NEEDED?

design
chart and combinations of pile threads that will be used

pile splint
pile splint, for example a firm strip of cardboard ruler (to make pile of same lenght)

scissors, tape measure

WORKING

Oversew the base cloth. Leave a plenty of working spare on sides. You can draw your design on a base cloth, at least the main lines. You can also draw a precise grid design. Choose your own method.

Sew the pile in rows with the design. Start from the bottom. Study the sewing technique from images. Cut the links while working or in the en of sewing.

SEWN RUG TASSEL. In a tassel there are only a few short rows of rya knots. See more from here.

RYA KNOTS SEWN ON A CLOTH. The pile is not all cut yet, it has some links.

FIRST STEP: 1. STITCH. Rya knot is made of two horisontal stitches. Take 2-3 warp yarns on a needle.

SECOND STEP: PILE LINK. Pile is made of links. Make a link freely round your thumb or with a pile splint as in image below if you want pile to be even length everywhere.