This is the very first project I did on my Circa 1900 four harness counter-balance floor loom. I threaded heddles in a straight draw 1, 2, 3, 4, from left to right from the front. I used my 15 dent reed threading every other dent. I used a 100% mercerized cotton 3 ply crochet thread for the warp, and I purchased one yard each of 100% cotton yardage in gold and one in purple. This is theme for LSU football team. I grew up in Baton Rouge, LA; when I bought the material I had intended to make a a gift from it for someone who is an LSU fan, but I decided to use it for this project instead.

I learned much from this project. The 1/2″ strips of cotton material that I tore from one yard of each color made a nice rag yarn but it makes a very lightweight thin rag rug. It would be more suited for a table runner or placemat. Next time I think I will tear strips about 1-1/2” wide and double my epi to see how much better I like it.

When I finally got my warp on the loom and started to weave I realized the bottom warp threads when shed was open didn’t lay against the raceway. Thanks to the suggestion of my new friend, Susan Lolli, I came up with idea to make a raised raceway. You can probably see it in one of the pictures where I had woven a good bit on the rug. I cut a piece of wood that I had purchased to make a raddle, I used instead to make the raised raceway, I can wedge it in on top of existing raceway and problem solved! It was an easy fix and didn’t jeopardize the integrity of the heritage loom.