Sample in progress on a frame loom - experimenting with different weave structures.
A sample of a knotting technique that I discovered while researching basket designs. I wanted to accentuate the sheen of the material by interrupting the knots but it warped the fabric.
The Knot Rug initially started as a tangent from a previous project - the Shelter Chair. I had a lot of leftover rubber strips that I made by shredding punctured bicycle inner tubes with an industrial paper shredder. I made several simple frame looms in different sizes and and experimented with weave structures.
Another sample off the loom - herringbone weave with a messy edge that I didn't like.
A sample of the same knotting technique but with the reverse showing in one section which also gave the fabric more dimension.
Once I developed a weave structure that I liked. I decided on the format of a rug in order to show the texture and dimensionality of the weave.
Frame loom prepped with cotton cord.
After weaving the reverse sections, the ends all have to be tucked in.
Detail showing the knots over the woven cotton cord. The left over sections will be knotted on the reverse side.
This knotting technique works like pixels and therefore any shape can be accomplished. I chose an orthogonal design to help make the tedious weaving process more efficient.
Overall I spent a total of ~90 hours to complete this piece. Here is a short clip of the process: