The Project: Balerion's Lair
RAG RUGS: A PERSONAL JOURNEY
I got my first loom when I was 21. A 60” Glimakra, passed on to me by a non-weaver. I was a brand new beginner at a time when resources and weaving yarn were hard to find. I did not have a lot of money to spend on expensive yarn that might or might not work, so not knowing what else to do, I bought some basic craft string at K-Mart, gathered up some old clothes, and began making rag rugs.
Rag rugs were an inexpensive way for me to learn about weaving. I found some books on weaving tapestries, adapted the techniques for weaving with rags, developed a few techniques of my own, and did a whole lot of playing and experimentation.
Woven Wall Hanging, 1992 (10 ft across)
I was not a part of a weaving community at that time, and there was no one telling me what I could and couldn’t do. I wove pieces that defied all of the rules that I had not yet learned, and in doing so, created a body of work that was original and innovative. It was a great way to learn about color, form, and design.