There are only five rows of rya knots in the rya so this is a fast project. Use yarns of different weight in the pile. Go through your yarnstock and choose the most beautiful yarns for the fringe layers of the rya. The pattern is easy to modify with colours. Weave one or more ryas, use lots of colours or choose only neutral colours.
The strong linen warp gives solid support for the weft which makes it easier to weave straight and neat ryas. The light and beautiful background is woven of plied linen yarn tex 103×2 (16/2) which is used doubled. The background weft can be also for example linen or towlinen 6/1 or 8/1 doubled.
Layers of piles are cut in a curved forms either during weaving or afterwards when finishing. If you prefer a straight and even look, cut the layers evenly.
| The warp | Linen 8/2 (= 8/2 Linvarp) unbleached, tex 210×2, 1 kg = n. 2400 m, Garnhuset i Kinna |
| Warp | width 41 cm density 4 threads/cm number of yarn ends 164 + 2 threads |
| Length | 4,8 m |
| Reed | 40/1 |
| Weave | Weft-faced rep, knotted pile |
| Amount of yarn needed for the warp | 310 g |
| The draft |  |
Weaving instructions
Use unbleached linen 16/2, tex 103×2 for the background.
The density of the background weave is 12 doubled yarn/cm.
Leave around 6 cm for the fringes on the both ends. Start and finish by weaving a few shots of extra weft. Weave 9 cm for the borders by alternating with the unableached and coloured linen 16/2. The colour is same as in the pile.
After the border weave 10 cm with unbleached linen 16/2 and then make the first row of knots.
The warp divides into groups of two yarns. The tuft is knot around two groups of two yarns. Leave two outermost pair of warp ends unknotted and make knots around the next two pairs.
Weave 5 cm of ground and make the second row of knots. Leave also 5 cm between the rest of the rows of knots.
Make the next rows in the same way.
Cut the curved edge to the yarn layers now while weaving or later when finishing.
After the last row of rya knots, weave 1 cm and then 9 cm for the border alternating the unbleached and coloured threads as in the beginning.
At the end, finish with a few shots of scrap weft.
Leave around 8 cm of the warp between ryas for the fringe. Weave the space with warp rods for a firm support. Cover the woven fabric with a cloth to prevent any damage while weaving. Place corrugated cardboard between the layers of fabric when it reaches the cloth beam.
Amount of the weft yarn needed
Background weft: Line Linen 16/2, tex 103×2, 1 kg = approx. 4900 m. Unbleached 90 g + coloured yarn for the border 25 g.
The pile: Approx. 5 g Linen yarns and 15 g wool yarns for one rya rag.
Finishing
Tie 2 + 2 warp threads with tight weaver´s knots. Cut the warp ends shorter if necessary. Sew the borders with a strong linen thread. Leave only the knots and some fabric as the inside allowance for the border.
Yarns for the rya pile
1 TUFT = 3 – 5 wool threads + 2 linen threads.
The lowest row of knots is greyish black in every rya, the second is made of dark colours, the third is of light colours, the fourth is greyish white and the uppermost is white.
There is a little colour in the greyish white pile.
MAKE A RYA KONOT around two pairs of the warp ends. Fill the empty spot at both edges with the background weft.
How to make rya knots
PRE-CUT THE YARNS
Cut yarns to the length of 25 cm or to the length you need for the rya knots. Wind the yarn around a piece of cardboard and cut from the edge.
THE KNOT
Gather a bundle of threads from the cut yarn strands for one knot. Make the knot around the two pairs of warp ends.
Place the bundle of threads across two pairs of warp ends, take them to the back and bring them to the front between the two pairs of ends underneath the float.
THE EDGES
Leave the 2 outermost warp ends unknotted and 2 following ends (1 extra edge thread). Make a row of rya knots from edge to edge.
At the other edge leave the 2 outermost warp ends unknotted (+ 1 extra edge thread) and also the 2 following warp ends.
FILLING
Fill the empty spot at the edge by winding the background weft around the two pairs of warp ends.
– Pass the shuttle under two outmost pair of warp ends and go around the second pair of warp ends. Repeat.
– Open the shed with treadle and shoot the weft to the other end. Fill the empty spot on the edge in the same way as on the first edge.
Cutting the rya pile
The rya pile can be cut either while weaving or after the cloth has been taken off the loom. The idea is to cut a continuous curved line into the two adjacent rya rugs. There is one same curved line in one rya.
Cut two pieces of cardboard in same width and length as one row of knotted yarns. Draw a curved line on the lower part in both and cut along the line.
Place a larger cardboard under the row knotted yarns for covering the ground weave. Place one curved cardboard under the row or yarns and the other on the yarns. Straighten the yarns carefully with fingers or with a coarse comb.
Cut the yarn ends along the curved edge. You can press the cardboards against the base or squeeze the yarns between them. Remove the cardboards, straighten the rya pile and tidy up with scissors if necessary.
Turn the cutted row of yarns up and cut the second row in the the same way. Cut with sharp scissors.
Note! Before cutting check that the length of the pile is long enough to cover the knots of the lower row pile. The length of the pile is 6 – 9 cm in these rya rugs.
Choose the yarns for the pile
These rya rugs has five rows of knots. In every rya the lowest dark row and the two upmost light rows are knot with the same colours. The coloured rows get lighter upwards. There are 3 – 5 wool yarn and 2 linen yarn in one knot.
Layers ryas are woven with leftover linen and wool yarns found from the stock. The style of the Leayers rya can be changed easily by using different kind of yarns, colours and cutting styles.
There are 3 – 5 wool yarn and 2 linen yarn in one knot.
The lowest dark row, the uppermost light and the next grey row (with some colour) are knotted from the same yarns.
Off the loom and getting the first look. The green and the yellow rya rags pile is cutted while weaving and the red rya rag is waiting for the cutting. Wind the warp, gather the yarns and enjoy the colours and forms!