overshot rug in stock

Overshot is a weave structure traditionally used for patterning coverlets. It is wonderful for table runners and placemats and other applications where a decorative fabric can be used. Pillows and throws can be woven using overshot and with the proper yarns and careful planning overshot works well as a tough little scatter rug. If you have never woven overshot before this is a great first time introduction to this weave structure. Students will weave rugs on pre-warped looms. Each student will be able to weave two small rugs. The looms will be threaded to two different overshot patterns. One group will be threaded to Star of Bethlehem and the others to a single Snowballs pattern. You can choose to weave on one loom for both rugs, or trade with another students to weave a rug in a different pattern. Either way you will love your rugs. All materials included with tuition.

For ideas, I pulled up my Handwoven Magazine indexes and looked up “thrums”. (Yes, I do keep my back issues—they inspire and entertain, even if they are 20 or 25 years old!) In the September/October, 1991 issue, Margaret Gaynes presented an overshot potholder design. She used her thrums as the pattern weft and bordered the potholder with bias tape to cover the cut ends on each side. There was the beginning for my project.

Instead of potholder, I chose to make mug rugs– those fabric coasters for your coffee mugs and water bottles. I like the idea of using an overshot design and chose a pattern with one large motif for each piece. Mug rugs are often fringed on the cut ends, but I needed to do something with the sides where my short thrums will hang off. The answer here is to apply a side fringe as well. This is accomplished by threading a dummy warp for the width of that side fringe. Then when the project is off the loom and machine-stitched around each mug rug, that warp is removed and the fringe remains.  Of course, I’m back to wasting yarn.

I’m still sampling to get the perfect size. The first mug rug had fringes that were too short (top). The second one, on the left, seemed too big to me (6-1/2” square with fringe). The third one, on the right, is sett closer, so it is 6-1/2” x 7” with fringe; still too big. Next I will use a finer ground weft to see if I can get down to a 5-1/2” square mug rug. I’m getting there.

Ask most people what “overshot,” and most weavers think of American colonial weavers and their coverlets. While coverlets are represented here, this collection also includes projects that dazzle with color, drape with luscious softness, and take overshot in new directions. Scarves and shawls, runners (for table and floor), tablecloths and clothing—all appear in this comprehensive collection. Overshot, even in its colonial interpretation, was a miracle weave, allowing unbelievable patterning on only four shafts. Add to pattern the use of color and fine and luxurious yarns, and you’ll start your own love affair with overshot. This is the second eBook on overshot (see also A Baker"s Dozen: Top Projects in Overshot eBook)

Now available in print exclusively from Halcyon Yarn. Thirteen Projects in Overshot. From tiny pincushions to a full-sized coverlet, you"ll find fabulous overshot fabrics - all of them on only four shafts!

Weavers, in general, are resourceful. If we see a project we love but can’t use, we figure out a way to make it into something we can. Drafts for dish towels are turned into baby blankets, and scarf patterns are modified into runners. For her Diamonds and Bars Twill Rug in the March/April 2019 issue of _Handwoven, Patricia Crane took a saddle blanket designed and woven by Clotilde Barrett and turned it into a rug that can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone—no horse required. Here’s what Patricia had to say about her design:_

Recently, a friend gifted me her multicolored stash of rug wool. After weaving three striped rugs in plain weave, I decided it was time to branch out. Looking for inspiration, I came across an article for a saddle blanket by Clotilde Barrett in the July 1976 issue of The Weaver’s Journal.

If you are like us, your dining room table doesn"t get a lot of use for dining. That doesn"t mean it shouldn"t look great when it"s not being used! This elegant overshot runner can show off your table but also do equally fine duty as a dresser scarf or accent anywhere you need a little color and pattern. The 8/2 Cottolin is sett at 20 epi in the warp and is also the tabby weft. The 100% wool Highland is the pattern weft. For the majority of the weaving, you will alternate picks of these two yarns, which creates a firm background fabric of cottolin with a three-dimensional pattern of Highland that decorates the surface. We made a point of picking two colors that were similar to each other to emphasize the difference in texture. The kit makes one table runner with finished dimensions of 19" x 44" plus fringe. It can be hand washed and air dried, with a brief tumble in the dryer to fluff the fabric.

Kathy recently returned from a trip to the UK, including across the rugged and beautiful highlands of Scotland.  She was lucky enough to go to Lochcarron Weavers where most of the Tartans are woven from lovely merino wool in three different weights.  The far left picture is of the various Ross tartans and the one on the right is called All Ireland tartan.

I’m a weaver from Austria and I got my brand new Louet Spring Loom a few days ago. Now it’s fully assembled but I’m wondering if the Spring Loom is sturdy enough (especially the beater) for rug weaving too?

You will be fine weaving a rug on the Spring.  The floating breast beam takes all the stress off of the frame of the loom and the large shed allows the weft to snug right into the fell. Change your shed while the beater is against the fell of the cloth and SQUISH with the beater.  All will be good. One more thing, if anyone else is wondering about rugs on a Spring Loom.  If I were picking a loom just to weave rugs I probably wouldn’t choose a Spring but if you want an awesome all-purpose loom that can weave gossamer fabrics and the occasional rug the Spring is perfect.  I do not consider myself a rug weaver but I have woven several rugs on my Spring and they turned out extremely well and the loom didn’t suffer one bit.

I’m looking at investing in a Spring 110, so was interested in your answer to the above question about rag rugs.  I would like to make a few throws/blankets, double-weave to the full width of the Spring 110, but wanted an all-purpose loom that would fit in my home with a low profile.  My current loom, an 8 shaft LeClerc colonial, is too big for me and my new home.  I was told that the Spring was too lightweight for blankets, not much heavier than the David which I have woven on.  In your opinion would it be suitable for the occasional blanket?