rya rug kit – Paivatar Yarns and Design

Finnish Folk Rya Kits

This new series of Rya Rug kits that I am designing are based on the traditional folk Rya of Finland. ‘Suomen Kansanomaiset Ryijyt’.
Some of the earliest Rya in Finland date back to the 1700’s – 1800’s. Many of the rya of that period were geometric in shape, containing repetative squares, diamonds, diagonals and fish net patterns.
The Rya yarns were dyed using mainly local dyeplants of the region, such as Anthemis tinctorial – Marsh Labrador tea, Myrica gale, Bog myrtle, Birch leaves and bark, Alder buckthorn, Alder leaves and catkin, Willow bark, Spruce and pine cones, Parmelia lichen, Lichen saxatilis, Northern bedstraw. Red’s were obtained from Cochineal and Blues from Indigo, both of which were imported. Colours were darkened or blackened with the addition of iron to the dyebath.

Pori 1836
149 cm x 206 cm
Warp: Hemp
# Threads between rows: 8
Length of Pile: 1 cm
Owner: Yrjö Uotila

Hämeenlinna 1711
152 cm x 188 cm
# Threads between rows: 12
Rya Pile Length: 1.5 cm
# Threads per Knot: 6
Owner Galerie Horhammer, Helsinki
Deposited in Finnish National Museum

Ryijy - Hammenlinna 1711 — Ryijy – Hammenlinna 1711

Pirkkala 1792
158 cm x 190 cm
Warp: fine linen thread
# Rows between rows of pile: 6 – 8
Length of Rya Pile: 1.1 cm
# Threads per rya knot: 3-4
Owner: Trade Councillor N. Tirkkonen

Ryijy Rya Rug - Pirkkala 1792 — Ryijy Rya Rug – Pirkkala 1792

Jämsä
145 cm x 171 cm
Warp: Thick Hemp thread
# Threads between rows: 24
Length of Rya Pile: 3 cm
# Threads per Rya knot: 3

Ryijy Rya Rug - Jämsä — Ryijy Rya Rug – Jämsä

I will be adapting some of the Finnish rya rugs into smaller versions.
Rya Kits, Prices and details to come shortly.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
I am updating this website on a regular basis with new hand dyed yarns, handwoven items and other products. If you would like to keep informed of the latest developments, please Subscribe to my new Newsletter.
Päivi

Ikkuna Rya Rug Kits

I first designed these ‘Ikkuna’ Window Panes Rya kits about 20 years ago. I wove the first sample rya on my Glimakra tapestry loom. Each window pane gives a view of a different hand dyed colour, framed in black. The popular kits have gone through many variations over the years.

Ikkuna Rya Kit 2020

The new 2020 version of this rya kit will be dyed using the colours of nature. The dark window panes are of natural brown wool.
The coloured windows will each be dyed using natural plant dyes.
When working with natural dyes, the colours are seasonal. Not all dyeplants are availabe throughout the year. The type of soil that the plant grew in, the growing season, the quantity of dyestuff in the natural plant, the acidity or pH of the water, the temperature and length of time in the dyebath are all factors that affect the final colour that emerges. There are no repeats when working with nature’s colours. Each kit is unique.

Ikkuna 2020 Rya Rug Kit
48 Squares of Natural Plant Dyed Colours
Surrounded by Natural Brown Wool
Backing Length: 45 cm x 50 cm
Finished Size: 40 cm x 40 cm

The Rya kit includes:
Rya backing canvas
1.5 cm Rya Ruler
Plant Dyed Rya wool yarn
Pattern

If you have any questions, or would like to order a larger size in this design, please contact me.
Päivi

Hand dyed and hand spun yarns are now sold through my Etsy and EBay shops.

Paivatar Yarn on Etsy
Paivatar Yarn on EBay

Plant Dyed Rya Rug Yarns

Please Note:
I am not accepting custom orders for Rya Rugs at this time.
Here are a few other sources for ordering Rya rug kits and supplies.

Iltamaa
Jenni Vanhanen in Finland offers wonderful Finnish style rya rug backings and yarns.

Byrdcall Studio
Melinda Byrd sells Norwegian style rya rug kits and supplies.

For those who would like to make their own traditional style rya (ryijy) rug, I hand dyeing rya yarns using natural plant dyes. The world of plant dyes offers much variety and gentle colour to yarns. Each batch is uniquely dyed as the colour and shading varies depending on the soil and growing conditions of the plants, the acidity of the dye water and the length of time in the dyepot. This variety of colour gives a plant dyed rya rug a rich depth of shading.

These Rya Yarns have been designed to work best with the Finnish style of backing that I sell.
Traditionally, the rya pile on a Finnish rug is quite short in length.
The pile is packed quite firmly (4 threads per knot). This allows the pile to stand up quite straight, creating small points of colour in the finished piece, allowing for greater detail in the patterning.

Plant Dyed Rya Rug Yarn
The rya yarns that I currently sell are all hand dyed with natural plant dyes. I dye the yarns in small skeins of 20 grams per skein. Each skein is approx. 80 meters in length.

Below are tables that gives an estimate of how much yarn you will need depending on the size of rya rug and length of the rya pile.

Short Rya Pile – 1.5 cm
Using a 1.5 cm Rya ruler, a 1 meter length of yarn will tie approx. 12 – 15 knots.
Use 4 yarn threads per knot.

Rya Rug Size	Knots / Row	# Rows	Knots / Meter	Yarn / per Knot	Total Meters	Total Skeins
35x100cm	52	100	12	4	1733	22
45x100cm	68	100	12	4	2267	28
54x100cm	80	100	12	4	2667	33
80x100cm	120	100	12	4	4000	50
100x100cm	150	100	12	4	5000	63
120x100cm	180	100	12	4	6000	75
130x100cm	195	100	12	4	6500	82

Long Rya Pile – 2.5 cm
When designing a longer length of rya pile, the rya looks best when the pile lies more flatly, overlapping the previous row of knots.
For this type of rya rug, I recommen using 3 threads per knot.
Using a 2.5 cm Rya Ruler, a 1 meter length of yarn will tie approx. 10-12 knots.

Rya Rug Size	Knots / Row	# Rows	Knots / Meter	Yarn / Knot	Total Meters	Total Skeins
35x100cm	52	100	10	3	1560	20
45x100cm	68	100	10	3	2040	26
54x100cm	80	100	10	3	2400	30
80x100cm	120	100	10	3	3600	45
100x100cm	150	100	10	3	4500	57
120x10cm	180	100	10	3	5400	68
130x100cm	195	100	10	3	5850	74

Plant Dyed Organic Wool Yarns

I use high quality organic worsted spun wool for my hand dyed rya rug yarns. The yarns are quite soft to the touch. Rya rugs are not designed to be used as a floor rug but are meant to be hung on a wall as a tapestry and family heirloom. Please treat your hand made ryijy with care, so that you can pass it on to future generations. Plant dyes are more sensitive to gentle fading. Please hang your rya rug in a place that is not in direct sunlight, to help preserve the brightness of the colours.

All of my hand dyed yarns are now sold through my Etsy and EBay shops.

Paivatar Yarn on Etsy
Paivatar Yarn on EBay

Small Size Rya Rug Kits

Please note: I am currently working on a new series of Rya Rug Kits. These will be based on the traditional Finnish style of ryijy matto.
You may also purchase rya backing and Plant Dyed Rya Rug Yarns so that you can design your own handmade rya rug.

The pure wool yarns are a finer weight than those of my previous rya rug kits and are designed with a shorter pile length and are not designed to be a ‘shaggy’ style of rya.

Ikkuna 2015 Rya Rug	Ikkuna 2015 Rya Rug Kit Approx. size: 50 cm x 50 cm
Vortex in Blue Rya Rug	Vortex in Blue Rya Rug Kit Approx size: 50 cm x 50 cm
Prime 17 Rya Rug	Prime 17 Rya Rug Kit Approx. size: 40 cm x 70 cm
Diamonds and Tears Rya Rug	Diamonds and Tears Rya Rug Kit Approx. size: 50 cm x 50 cm
Solar Sky Rya Rug	Solar Sky Rya Rug Kit Approx. size: 40 cm x 70 cm
Licorice Allsorts	Licorice Allsorts Rya Rug Kit Approx. size: 40 cm x 70 cm

Rya Instructions

Stitching a Rya Rug
A rya rug can be either woven and knotted on a floor loom or the backing can be woven first and then the knotted pile design can be hand stitched onto woven backing.
I have provided written instructions on these rya making methods on my All Fiber Arts website.
The Finnish Rya is made of knotted wool(with about a 1 – 1.5 inch pile), tied to a handwoven fabric backing. The special rya backing is woven using linen warp and wool weft. The backing is woven with spacing to allow the rya knots to be tied or sewn in.

How to Stitch a Rya Rug – All Fiber Arts

How to Weave Rya Rug Backing Canvas – All Fiber Arts

How to Stitch a Rya Rug

I am updating this website on a regular basis with new hand dyed yarns, handwoven items and other products. If you would like to keep informed of the latest developments, please Subscribe to my new Newsletter.

PLEASE NOTE:
These “Rya Rugs” are designed to be hung on a wall as a piece of art. Using a Rya as floor or area rug is not recommended.

Sadly, over the years I have received many emails from rya rug owners, asking how to repair the hole in their rug that was created by a table or chair leg. A repair is possible sometimes, but this should not have happened. Ryas are traditionally used as a bed covering or a wall hanging. A Rya should be treated as a treasured piece of art, hung on the wall, not on the floor and can last for a lifetime when cared for properly.

Rya Rug Weaving Workshops
I will be offering rya rug weaving workshops where you will learn how to weave a rya rug using a table loom or a floor loom. In this method of rya making, the rya knots are made at the same time as the background cloth is woven.
For more information please visit
Scandinavian Weaves Workshop.
I will also add updates about current workshops offered via Twitter.

More About Rya Rugs
History of the Rya Rug
Bespoke Rya Rugs
Rya Rug Backing Fabric
How to Weave Rya Rug Backing Canvas

Rothko Rya Rugs

Rothko has been the inspiration for this series of Rya Rug Kits. In his art, Rothko used a unique blend of many layers and shades of colour to produce his artwork. Each rya knot consists of an original multi-colour blend of different shades, types and thicknesses of wool yarn giving the finished rya rug a depth of colour and texture.

The yarns for each Rothko Rya kit is individually hand dyed at the time of your order. The colours will vary slightly due to the nature of hand dyeing, so may not look exactly as in the pictures shown.

Each rya rug kit comes with hand woven rya backing, rya needles, a ruler, a pattern chart, hand-dyed pure wool yarns, and a suggested blend of colours, but you are free to create your own individual blend within each rya knot. The completed piece will be an original, designed by you.

Please Note:
Rothko Rya Kits are not available at this time.

A comment from a happy customer:

“It is the beautiful colours of your wools that make this Rya such a delight to work on, ( have already done 6 inches). And I love the complicated bits and then the solid colours. (Heaven knows how you managed to dye them all)”
JB

Rothko Rya Kit	Rothko: Red Violet Orange Yellow Approx Size: 70 cm x 120 cm	Rothko Rya Rug
Rothko Rya Kit Earth and Green	Rothko: Earth and Green Approx Size: 70 cm x 120 cm
Rothko Rya Kit: Magenta Black Green on Orange	Rothko: Magenta Black Green on Orange Approx Size: 70 cm x 120 cm
Rothko Rya Kit: Yellow Red Blue 1953	Rothko: Yellow Red Blue 1953 Approx Size: 70 cm x 120 cm
Rothko Multi 1948	Rothko: Multi 1948 Approx Size: 70 cm x 120 cm	Variation on Multi-1948

Each Rya Kit is hand dyed at the time of the order. As this will be a custom order
50% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of the order.
This is to cover material costs if you should change your mind.
Payment is by Paypal.

It takes approx 3 to 12 weeks for completion of your order depending on current production schedules.

PLEASE NOTE:
These “Rya Rugs” are designed to be hung on a wall as a piece of art. Using a Rya as floor or area rug is not recommended.

Sadly, over the years I have received many emails from rya rug owners, asking how to repair the hole in their rug that was created by a table or chair leg. A repair is possible sometimes, but this should not have happened. Ryas are traditionally used as a bed covering or a wall hanging. These should be treated as a treasured piece of art, hung on the wall, not on the floor and can last for a lifetime when cared for properly.

More about Rya Rugs:

Rya Rug Backing

History of the Rya Rug
How to Stitch a Rya Rug
How to Weave Rya Rug Backing

Rya Rug Yarn Calculations