Making and Enjoying Wagon
Wheel Rugs (round loom rugs)
Christine E Jensen, MS, CFCS -- Emery County
and
Joanne 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
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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
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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 overunder 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/woven
worldhandout.pdf A Woven World
• http://4h.wsu.edu/clothing/resources/paperw
eavinghandout.pdf Paper Weaving
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For more information or help
contact:
Christine Jensen christine.jensen@usu.edu
435-381-2381
or
Joanne Roueche joanne.roueche@usu.edu
801-451-3404
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