Materials And Supplies

2 pounds jersey loops

Tools

pair of scissors

The instructions are for making a rug using jersey loops and the fingers for weaving. These loops can be bought in local ten cent stores, hobby shops, and department stores. They cost about five cents an ounce when purchased in five and ten ounce packages and are cheaper when bought by the pound. The first photograph shows this rug after eight rows were completed. The second photograph is of a full sized bathroom rug measuring twenty-four by thirty-six inches. The center chain consists of seventeen loops twelve inches in length.

Figure 44. Small Oval Jersey Loop Rug.

Figure 45. Large Oval Jersey Loop Rug.

Procedure

1. ;Take one loop and twist it around and form two smaller circles as shown in the second illustration in the first picture on the following page. Fold it again as shown in the third illustration in the same photograph, thus making a circle four strands thick. Fold the second loop once forming two smaller circles and pull it through the first loop as shown in the fourth illustration of the first picture. Continue adding loops in this manner until there are seven loops in the chain as shown in the fifth illustration. For the sake of photographic clarity, the last loop used is of a different color. This chain of seven loops constitutes the first row of the rug.

2. ;Draw three loops through the last stitch. These are not folded first. See the first illustration of the second photograph. One of the three loops is white and two are dark. Working from right to left, draw the second loop through the third loop (the white one through the dark one which is pointing down); draw the first loop through the second (the dark one which is pointing up through the white one). Your result should look like the second chain in the second photograph. Complete the next five stitches of row one in this manner using one loop for each stitch. Draw three loops through the last stitch of row one and weave them in order. Follow around the other side of the original chain and make stitch for stitch for the next five loops. See the third illustration of the same picture.

3. ;Commencing the third row, make an increase (two loops through each stitch) in each of the next three stitches. For the following five stitches there will be one loop for each stitch. At the opposite end, increase in each of the next three stitches, five more single stitches, and row three is complete.

4. ;Follow around the rug until the desired size is attained. Increase as needed only on the short ends of the rug to make it lie flat. This will mean from four to six double stitches. Do not increase directly over an increase of the row below because the rug will then have points there. Never increase along the long sides of the rug. Change colors as desired at the end of a complete round only.

5. ;When the rug is the size you wish it to be, cut one loop of the same color as the last round, go through the last stitch made, and with the two ends, weave in and out a few stitches. Tie securely with three tight knots, trim off the ends, and conceal the knot in the weaving.

Figure 46. Working Detail of Oval Jersey Loop Rug.

Figure 47. Round Jersey Loop Rug.