SMOOTH FINISHES ON RAG RUGS WITH COTTON STRIP
I'm often asked how I get the smooth surfaces on the rugs I make with cotton strip that give the rugs that 'professional' look. The answer is, of course, proper fabric strip preparation before the rug is begun. Pre-folding fabric strip does take time, but it makes all the difference in creating a rug that is really a piece of folk art. With any of the traditional rugs made with cotton strip, once the strip is folded the rug is half done.

Cotton fabric strip should always be double-folded before use to hide the raw edges. But how? In the old days, rug makers would iron the strip by hand, carefully folding each section before rolling it into balls. If you want to make a lot of rugs, and especially if you want to sell them, there is a quicker way to fold cotton strip. The trick is to use two bias tape makers in sequence. By pulling 1-1/2 to 2 inch wide strip through the folders, the double folding is quickly done. It should be rolled directly into tight balls to set the folds. 

SNOW CLEANING A RAG RUG

This old fashioned method of rug cleaning will work very well if you choose your snow storm carefully. A "cleaning snow" is a light, dry powdery snow that falls when the air temperature is cold (below 25 degrees farenheit). Wet, heavy snow will not work.

Shake the rug before snow cleaning, and vacuum it lightly with the suction attachment. Set the rug outside (not in the snow) to let it cool for an hour or so before the snow cleaning. (This keeps the warm rug from melting the snow and getting wet.) 

Lay the rug on a clean area of fresh snow. Stamp on the rug with your feet, to work it down into the snow and repeat the process on the other side. Repeat until the snow under the rug stays white. 

Shake off any snow that sticks to the rug and bring the clean rug back inside. Since the snow is very cold, the rug will not get wet in the process of cleaning (this is actually a primitive method of "dry" cleaning). For some reason, a snow cleaning really revives the colors -- especially in wool rugs.

SWEATERS FOR YOUR HANDS
Many years ago, I began having trouble with my hands while I was making rugs. Oddly, it seemed that the pain only hit during the fall and winter. A neighbor, who had been a wood carver for 40 years knew what the problem was: "Never work when your hands are cold!", he said. He was sure right, but my hands were often cold and I couldn't stop working. So, I found an old solution that didn't cost much. Take a pair of knit cotton glove liners (at the hardware store), clip off the ends of the fingers and thumb. Roll down the ends of each finger to make little 'turtle necks'. Presto, sweaters to wear on your hands to keep them warm! These gloves also work great to protect your hands from abrasion if you're using rough fabrics.