I saw my friend Denise yesterday — she is fairy godmother of my Astro — and she had some goodies for me that she had picked up at tag sales and her local thrift shop. My favorite, for sure: A booklet containing 15 designs for rya rugs, dated December 1964, from the A.s. Sellgren @ Co. of Trondheim, Norway. Thank you, Denise! When I arrived back home, I jumped online to see what I could find out about rya rugs — since there is always a history to fascinate.
What I find most interesting about rya rugs — or at least, Wikipedia says so — is that they originally were designed as clothing, as a substitute for animal skins. Animal skins got stiff, the ryas did not. Ryas certainly look cozy. I also love Melinda’s instructions on how to clean a natural wool rya: by stomping it in the snow!
I think it is a safe guess that rya rugs became popular as decorative items — and as carpets — in mid-20th century America in conjunction with rise of Danish Modern and in general, all things Scandinavian. Apparently, their hegemony was derailed when women began making latch hook rugs. (Honestly, I need to research the differences…)
Melinda still has yarns that were created for her grandparents’ company. She sells them at her etsy shop here.
Tips to using the slide show above: Click on the first thumbnail… it will enlarge… move forward or back using the arrows below the image… you can stop, or start, at any image.
Back to my collection…Each of the 15 designs was printed then mounted to a hefty green stock paper (as shown above) printed with the name of the design. Total size of each piece is 7″x10″ and they are so graphically appealing that I am going to look for 15 matching frames and display them all together in a grid. For those of you looking for cheap, cheerful and unique artwork, this is always a fun idea to try. That is: Look for prints from a book or a display catalog like mine and group and frame them. There is something very pleasing about the repetition of prints illustrating one subject area, all in the same size, all in the same frame. Of course, “cheap” is only possible if you can find the frames in the quantity you require. Pier One might be one of the first-places I’d look first for, gasp, 15 frames! Michael’s, Wal-Mart, Target, and Dick Blick’s are other places I would look.
I loved Rya rugs in the 70s, and had a beautiful abstract orange, black and cream one. The strands are at least twice as long as the ones in most latch hook kits. They were also longer ones and shorter ones in the design for a loosely sculpted look. I wish I still had it. The backing deteriorated and the rug eventually fell apart. I also made latchhook rugs including my own designs. It is a wonderfully accessible art form. Bring it back!
PS, I did clean my rug by stomping it in the snow.
Wow! I never know what I’m going to learn on this site
I have a real affinity for textile arts and loved to latch-hook as a kid. As an adult, I’ve wished I could find something I wanted to latch hook, but I’ve never seen a design that’s even close! These rugs are gorgeous and I could totally see making one! Thank you so much for researching this and introducing it to those of us who never heard of rya rugs.
I knew you’d find interest in these! I love the designs and was going to mimic them in quilts but felt the need to pass along these cards to a particular someone I know that would appreciate them. I’m very glad that you will frame them, they will look awesome.
Thanks for the research and information on them, makes me kinda glad I’m a (somewhat) hoarder that feels the need to clean out once in awhile.
Well, it was quite a nice surprise to discover your blog page today, Pam! You are helping to teach people about the dying art of rya rug making by gathering good info to share. That’s me in the video you posted! I have four remaining wool/linen backings. At the end of this month, I’ll be teaching my “last rya rug class” to four good friends who can’t wait to get started. The class will be videoed and photographed, so keep your eye out in the future for a follow up class via video. Thanks for spreading the word and for telling people that I still have yarn for sale–while it lasts. Cheers, melinda
Hi Melinda, it’s so nice to “meet” you. I’ve been waiting all winter here in the Berkshires to use your in-the-snow rug cleaning method — but no snow!!! Please stay in touch!
I’m in Maryland now. I grew up in Massachusetts. We just got a 1/2″ of snow today. Not enough to take the rugs out for a stomping. Wishing you good snow soon. By the way, I’ve been enjoying your postings very much this evening. Nice to “know” you. Let’s keep in touch for sure.
We have some fun here. I try to keep it a mix of useful + wacky
watched your video and it was great- can you use reg. 4ply yarn for a rug?
Hi, Lillie,
Glad you liked the video! You could actually use just about any kind of yarn if you were knotting a rya for a wall hanging. The special thing about real rya yarn is the resilient (almost springy) nature of the fleece and the long staple length. My rya yarn is 2-ply. But it it doesn’t have to weather trodding feet, you could use what ever you like and be creative. I have slipped some silk yarn and some 1-ply “cowhair” yarn into some of my wall hangings. I do still have some rya yarn if you want to go that route. check out byrdcall.etsy.com if you want to read more and see the colors available. Thanks, Melinda
Love the NR 237 Smilende portal design.. Not crafty though… Anybody know where I can buy a rug with that design???
I made an enormous circular rya rug in the early 70s . It was blues and greens, filled the centre of my living room and took almost a year to do. It also kept me warm through the chilly “winter of discontent ” in my attic ..unheated..flat while I was making it. My recipe for cleaning it was to turn it upside down -hoover- then move it up and hoover up the debris that falls out.