Braided
rugs have long been incorporated into our homes as a
practical floor covering treatment but did you know that
they used to be handmade? In fact back in early colonial times
nothing ever went to waste and this included clothing that had
either worn out to the point of being unable to be worn or further
mended and reused. So what they did was create a floor cover using
scrapes of materials.
In modern times
these beautiful rugs are made using huge machines but in early
colonial times it was all done by hand making each rug completely
original artwork. There were several different techniques used to
create braided rugs by hand. They include cloth braiding, yarn
braiding and flat braided. These were not haphazardly combined,
they were well thought out often laying out intricate patterns and
designs.
The cloth style of
braiding was done by creating strips of clothing and then doing a
traditional braid. A yarn style was done more with a twisting style
like a true roll of yarn looks like; it is layered and then twisted
into place. A flat braid is exactly as it sounds, you do a braid
but you leave it flat, it does not have a round look and it was a
great way to very easily integrate patterns and color
schemes.
With our modern
equipment most manufacturers use a flat braid or they incorporate
the tubular style of braiding. They are also well thought out
patterns and color schemes all leading to a perfect floor covering
that not only adds depth and color to a room but also provides
additional warmth. This is one of the main reasons that these
braided rugs became so popular with early settlers.
Most homes in the
early days had no insulation at all so imagine how cold a wooden
floor would be in the dead of winter. The braided rugs were used to
help keep feet a little warmer which in those days also helped to
combat illness by adding additional warmth to the home. Many
homeowners today also use these beautiful rugs to add a layer of
warmth to their flooring. Even with insulation many types of
flooring like wood, linoleum, or tile are still very cool on winter
days.
Manufacturers now,
just like the early creators of braided rugs, first do a long braid
of material. This piece is usually several feet in length and
incorporates the chosen color scheme and design. To finish off the
rug they are then made into a shape. With modern equipment
manufacturers can now make a variety of shapes for you to choose
from which include round, oval and even square. Most of the early
rugs were made in one design, an oval shape just because it was a
much easier shape to create especially if it were made by
oneself.
As the shape is begun to be created
the lines are made are then sewn together to make it one collective
piece. Braided rugs were once made just as an absolute necessity.
Now we use them as a twofold solution for our home. We use them to
create a decorative atmosphere, combining color and pattern to
enhance our home's décor and we use them to help eliminate the
chill often created by bare flooring.
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