Ingrain carpeting

[Spinster]

I'm in the process of binding and assembling some sections of ingrain carpeting to go in my home.

After getting down on the floor in a local museum to check the panel join on a particularly fine example, I discovered two things

(1) Getting up from there was a lot harder than getting down there--and getting down there was bad enough. :D

(2) The carpeting in question was a recent reproduction, was not properly put together, and was thus useless for my purposes.

So, anyone with an original carpet in hand:

Type of stitching at the selvedge join?
Per inch?
Type of binding or finish at the raw end?
Per inch?
Linen thread?
Single or double?

[SouthernMag]

Re: Ingrain carpeting

Ms. Terre, I don't have any information regarding the carpet to help you with but, just wanted to express my empathy regarding getting out of the floor LOL. I got down in the floor last week to dust the bottom shelves of my computer hutch and rolled around a few minutes before I could get in a position to get up. In my case mostly due to being way too fat but, not a spring chicken either:D. I did notice the last time I reenacted that my cot is getting shorter and harder to get off (yes, sleeping on a cot at events now, the pallet on the ground thing is pretty much impossible at this point).

Maggie Reese

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Ingrain carpeting

Mrs. Lawson, how fast do you need the answers? I can get my paws on a couple in a day or two. Might even have enough light for a camera.

[Spinster]

Re: Ingrain carpeting

Not in a flying hurry at all Garrison--I've got the week at home, and am fulling blankets, linseeding a period folding bed, skeining the fall dye run, and cogitating on how I am going to 'undo' a modernization present on a fine sack bottom bed I recently brought home.

Miss Maggie--Mr. Morgan is working on a rope bed reproduction, based on a couple of originals we have. Better sleeping accomodations will be available shortly.

[Spinster]

Re: Ingrain carpeting

In an update, the main thing Garrison came up with was 'lots and lots of stitches'

Since I'm easily distracted, and other folks have mailed me stuff that needs sewing, I laid the project aside. It is now, about 8th in line, but the directions have risen to the top, courtesy of a book linkage on the CW Reenactors forum.

In making the carpet, the selvage edges must be held together
(the figure exactly matching) so as barely to meet, but not to lie over each other.

It should be sewed on the wrong side, with the'strong coloured
thread that is made for the purpose; taking up both edges at
the same time, but not so as to form a ridge. Each stitch must
be taken behind or at the back of the last; passing the needle
backwards and forwards, so as to point it alternately, first from
your chest, and then towards it; and taking care not to hold
one side of the selvage lower than the other, and not to draw
your thread too tightly. If properly done, the seams will tread
down perfectly flat. If you find, as you proceed, that you have
puckered any part of the seam, pick it out, and do it better; as
the slightest incorrectness in matching the pattern will disfigure
the whole carpet.
When the seams are completed, bind the edge all round with
regular carpet-binding.

MISS LESLIE'S
LADY'S HOUSE-BOOK;
A MANUAL OF
DOMESTIC ECONOMY, '
CONTAINING! APPROVED DIRECTIONS FOB
WASHING, TABLE-LINEN, PLATED-WARE,
DRESS-MAKING, WINDOW-WASHING, PORCELAIN,
MILLINERY, WOOD-FIRES, HOUSE-CLEANING,
DYEING, STRAW BONNETS, LAUNDRY-WORK,
CLEANING, SILK STOCKINGS, COAL-GRATE FIRES,
QUILTING, BAG CARPETS, EVENING PARTIES, 4c.
ELEVENTH EDITION, ENLARGED,
TVITH NUMEROUS ADDITIONAL RECEIPTS FOB
REMOVING STAINS FROM SILKS, WOOLLENS, COTTONS, ETC.
BEING A COMPANION TO "
MISS LESLIE'S LADY'S NEW RECEIPT-BOOK."
PHILADELPHIA:
A. HART, LATE CAREY & HART.
1850.
It'

[MissMaggie]

Re: Ingrain carpeting

I'm reading that so it comes out to making little cross stitches. Is that what you were getting too? I never could get the hang of period sewing instructions.....

[VMurphy]

Re: Ingrain carpeting

I don't know anything about laying carpet, but this sounds like it might be similar to the stitch used when we lace period side laced boots???

On a similar subject, where might I find some pieces of repro carpet for chairs. I have a set of 4 period folding chairs and would love to find some repro period carpet to put on them. They've been stored away in the back of a closet in the garage far too long.

Thanks
Vivian Murphy

[Spinster]

Re: Ingrain carpeting

Vivian, do pick up the phone and CALL Family Heirloom weavers after reviewing this page:

http://www.familyheirloomweavers.com/cat/Carpet.html

While the per yard prices on household carpeting may be more than you wish to put into chair seats, they may have some short pieces at a lesser price that would be sufficient for your project. I did my first chair in this manner about 4 years ago, supplementing a short remanent with some sturdy drill on the underside. This year's mill sale gleaned some additional short pieces, some of which will go to chairs, and some to the above mentioned rug project.

And yes, Miss Maggie, I'm reading a cross stitch, when my first inclination was to whip stitch in the same manner as one joins a coverlid.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Ingrain carpeting

...'lots and lots of stitches'...

Yet another electrifying quote.