White should predominate in these washable rugs, and the best as well as the simplest effect is produced by combining it with but one other color. Indigo blue and turkey red are safe and useful colors; brown and green gingham also look well with the white. Of cotton rags allow one and one-half pounds to the yard. When you are in doubt as to the permanency of your colors soak the rug, before washing, in a strong solution of salt and water; this will “set” almost any color. These cotton rugs may be woven in alternate strips of color and white, or the white be used for the centre and the colors for the border, or the centre may have dashes of color through it as shown in diagram.
In Stripes of Unequal Width.
Bathroom rugs can be entirely of white or, towel-fashion, have a narrow colored strip at each end. Any white cotton may be used in these bathroom rugs, old being better for this purpose than new, as it is much softer.
Warps and Fringe
Gray linen is undoubtedly the best-wearing warp and harmonizes with all colors, therefore for all-wool rugs it is the best. It gives, of course, a gray fringe, but that is not undesirable. When a colored fringe is wanted the cotton warp will have to be used. This comes in red, blue, purple, yellow, and white. Use cotton warp for cotton rugs, and where the filling is largely white the warp should be white also. When red warp is used with white filling a pink tone is the result, while blue and purple with white filling produce a gray effect.
At each end of the rug the warp should be woven with self-filling to the depth of one inch. This makes a heading for the fringe and prevents the rag filling from ravelling. It is, in fact, a selvage. You may knot the fringe, using six strands to a knot, or plat it and then knot as in diagram, or it may be stitched at the top and left to flow freely.
Dyeing the Cloth
Those who make a business of manufacturing rag rugs scorn to use the dyes that come ready prepared and think it well worth the extra trouble to make their dyes themselves. So it is, perhaps, when one has plenty of time to devote to the work, but a girl’s life is so full of interests and occupation she generally chooses quick methods, though the results may not always be as lasting.
