I have been backing all my rug work with felt and hot glue and am looking to step up to a higher quality rug. any videos out there on how to sew on backings or is this out of the realm for someone just starting out?
thanks in advance
greg
Return to Beginners Category Menu
you need an industial sewing machine and a tables just about all the way around you so you can keep the rug as flat as possible. I had a hard time keeping the rug flat. not worth the trouble, now I mount it and ship it to the pros.
You don't have to keep it flat if you have cut out the arm pit areas and sewn them together properly. It will lay out just fine once you do that. Lay your tanned skin out, hair down on a rugging table or piece of plywood. Use 3M spray glue and spray (from in close so it doesn't get on the hair) the whole hide. Let it tack and then lay your quilt fill over the hide. Now spray the polyfill with spray glue and lay your felt (many people use other more sturdy fabrics instead and only edge with felt) over it.
After thats done, with a very sharp pair of scissors, cut around your rug outline, but cut 1/2 inch inside the skin edge. Roll the edge of the skin over the poly and felt and begin sewing by hand if you don't have a machine. If you like a multicolored felt fringe, you can sew this on at the same time covering the skin edge.
Once your rug is "bound". then go to the inside of the rug and put a quilt tack (simply run a thread through your backing and through the skin, bring it back and tie a simple overhand knot) every 6 inches in squares. When the spray glue disbonds (it will last a whole lot longer than any stupid hot glue), the quilt tacks hold the rug together to keep it from delaminating.
I know about cutting armpits and some other areas but it's still a big pain sewing it up and getting it to lay as flat as the folks that do it all day every day. Aint worth the trouble
I'm with you on this one completely. Back when I was young and dumb, I did my share of them, but thankfully, them days are GONE. Sending it out sure beats hell out of any alternative.
Imply anything you want, I got a thicker skin than some folks on here. I wont cry. keep up the good work and thanks for all the help and amusement over the years.