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Making and Enjoying Wagon

Wheel Rugs (round loom rugs)Christine E Jensen, MS, CFCS -- Emery County

andJoanne Roueche, MS, CFCS – Davis County

Utah State University Extension

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Ships of the Prairie

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• Covered wagons for crossing plains were smaller, lighter version of the Conestoga freight wagons of the East (carrying up to 5000 lbs.)

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Prairie Schooner

• The view of a wagon train with its billowing tops resembled a fleet of ships sailing over the plains, thus called the Prairie Schooner

• Prairie Schooner carried 1300 lbs, empty • Wagon box was 10 X 3.5 foot • could take a load of a ton and a half, but most

advised to keep the weight below this limit

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• A frame of hickory bows held the wagon top. The top was rolled back for ventilation.

• Waterproofed with paint or linseed oil, the top was of heavy duty canvas, often made from hemp.

• Cloth top protected possessions and people from extreme weather conditions

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• Light wagons were less likely to bog down in muddy stream banks or prairie sloughs--or tire the animals teams pulling it.

• Massive axles supported the weight of the wagon body and load. A broken axle was a disaster--and prudent wagoner's usually took along a spare.

• Big wheels helped the wagon roll easily over bumps and dips in the trail

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• Wide rims helped keep the wagon from sinking into soft ground

• The box sat upon two sets of wheels of different sizes: the rear wheels were typically about 50" in diameter, while the front wheels were about 44" in diameter.

• Front wheels had to be smaller to permit sharp turns--a big wheel would jam against the wagon body.

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Steel “tires”

• Weighed approximately 100 lbs or more for a 48” rim

• Width was from 1 ¾ to 2+” • Approximately 1 in every 6 wagons carried an

extra “tire”• Blacksmiths were indispensible wagon train

members

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Getting Started

• First -- select round loom• Bicycle rims (steel or aluminum, no spokes)• Old round card table frame• Recycled frame from mini-trampoline• Welder• Hula Hoops, PVC does not work well as it will bend• Circular firewood rack

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Step Two – Select fabrics

• Use 100% cotton or cotton poly fabrics• Old bullet-proof polyester• Recycle sheets or old clothing• DON’T use drapery, flannels or other fabrics

that are lightweight, flimsy or stretch excessively

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Preparation

• Cut fabrics into 2” strips (smaller strips for smaller looms)

• Cut initial strips (warp) 8-10 inches longer than frame for first 7 strips

• Use a variety of colors• Spokes should stand out from weft fabrics

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• If desired, pre-fold all strips• Fold both cut edges to center, then fold in half• Raw edges are not exposed

• The weaving pattern is called “tabby”, an over-under pattern.

• Depending on size of rug, you will need to add new spokes each round

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Warp – Forming the Hub• Always start with an odd number of warp

strips • Place 4 strips across loom and tie in

single knot on each end. Keep taut.• Turn loom a quarter turn. • Tie, one at a time, 3 more warp strips,

weaving center strips in an over/under pattern. Tie at each end.

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Beginning to Weave

• Take one strip and tie beside the three warp strips

• This becomes the first weaving strip

• Mark this strip with pin

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• Begin weaving, by bringing the new strip to center and

• begin weaving over/under pattern around center “hub”

• May pull slightly, giving a diagonal look to this strip. Keep as straight as possible. Weave in.

• When you have gone around one time, pull fabric tight around center, using fingers

• Continuing weaving over/under pattern

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Adding Spokes

• Spokes are added around the entire wheel each time a new spoke is added

• Added in an inverted “V” pattern• To add, tie one end of the warp to frame, loop

center of warp over the previous round, take warp back down to frame and tie

• Be careful to not pull weft strips too tight, may cause a buckling in center

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Adding fabric to weft strips

• Add fabric by sewing or using the slash knot method

• Sewing strips on angle to allow even wear along seam

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Finishing Rug• Take off only one or two fringe at a time from frame.

DO NOT take all the fringe off at once!

• Other methods for finishing rugs:• Tie two fringe together• Take two fringe, cut each in half, tie half of one and half

of another together• Weave ends into rug, sew by hand or machine, around

rug• Sew entire rug edge, trim fringe off entirely• Trim off fringe and add bias tape• Trim fringe evenly – whatever method

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Other Weaving Activities

• By Joanne Roueche• http://4h.wsu.edu/clothing/resources/

wovenworldhandout.pdf A Woven World• http://4h.wsu.edu/clothing/resources/

paperweavinghandout.pdf Paper Weaving

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For more information or helpcontact:

Christine Jensen christine.jensen@usu.edu435-381-2381

orJoanne Roueche joanne.roueche@usu.edu

801-451-3404