Knitted rag rugs have been in existence since the mid- 1800’s in one form or another. Knitted rag rug creations range from quite simple to extraordinarily elaborate.
The knitted rag rugs are most frequently made using the simple garter ( knit stitch only ) and stockinet ( knit one row, purl one row, and so on. ) stitches. However, many other stitches can be used to make more intricate rag rugs. These stitches include the reversible shingle stitch, corn-on-the-cob stitch and woven or fabric stitches.
The shapes of the knitted rugs were traditionally round, oval or rectangular. These days, many different shapes of knitted rugs have developed, including heart shaped, half-round, and hexagon. Also rugs known as “winding path” shapes have been made by combining differing types of knitted stitches, which makes for an interesting appearance. This look of combining different stitches can also be achieved with other shapes as well.
The different types of knitted rag rugs may include : block and strip ; round ; hexagonal block ; heart knitted ; winding trail ; cross woven ; and rake knitted rugs.
The block and strip knitted rugs are described as the most primitive of the knitted rugs. The reason they are described as such is that simple strips of knitted fabric are joined side by side to form the rug. However, they can be made with a little more detail when blocks of knitting are laced together in a duvet style pattern. A bit more detail can be supplied when hexagonal blocks are used.
Examples of round knitted rugs include coiled, bulls-eye and wedge. The bulls-eye round knitted rugs were commonly employed in the Shaker colony of Manhattan. These rugs were made with a small round knitted center ; then sections of knitted fabric strips were curved around the center in rings. To make a coiled knitted rug, commence with a narrow strip of knitting, then coil it to the center and keep going with a spiral in the same continuing knitted fabric strips. The wedge knitted rugs were quite straightforward to make. They are knit in a single section on the radius of the rug.
To make a cross-woven knitted rug, knit a rug base with rag strips and include sections which aren’t knitted. These unknitted sections are woven across with rag strip. This leads to a regular formation with alternating strips of knitted and woven fabric strips.
Rake knitted rugs were basically manufactured by using the tines of a rake. They could also be made with a succession of pegs in a board which are like the teeth of a rake. A primitive knitting machine was fashioned with loops of fabric strip worked in sequence over the pegs. Spool knitting is a difference of rake knitting. These rugs are made using a hollow, wooden spool, with 4 pegs on top. Then the tubes of knitting are coiled, then laced together like braided rugs. Get hold of steam cleaners.