One of our most recent projects we have finished is a large Rep weave rug for a dining room.
Rep is a different kind of weave structure than we usually work with. Most of our rugs are “weft face”, meaning that the color and pattern comes from what is woven into the rug horizontally, while the vertical threads, the warp, create the matrix to hold it all together. In a Rep weave however, the color and pattern is warped onto the loom, and threaded very densely, so that the warp creates the color, and the weft holds it all together.
Our clients chose a complex stripe pattern, with colors in a cool, beachy palette perfect for their island home.
I began by using watercolors to sketch out the rough idea using the clients color inspirations.
Next came the strike-off…
The colors weren’t quite right, they wanted more of the blue-green seafoam look. After some changes, we got it right and were ready to put the warp on the big loom.
Next came weaving and backing, after which the finished rug was revealed, and it turned out beautifully!
This rug was a definite challenge and took a lot of hard work planning and weaving. In the end though it is so rewarding to bring such beauty into the world and into the homes and lives of our clients.