Yak Rug Documentation

Yak and Karakul Rug Support Documentation

I sketched the rug I wanted to knot with great detail in order to easily follow the thread's weaving path.

R1

Medallion knot
Handspun alpaca and Handspun Lurex
Formulating base for Yak Rug
2 strands of yarn
Too soft--needs contrast
Very, very abrasive.

To test the posibilities of a hairy yarn on a very complicated knot, this sample was made with alpaca and lurex. The knot is very similar to the final knot used in the yak and karakul rug. This sample allowed me to see how a fuzzy yarn would hold up to knotting. I was surprised that the alpaca endured the abrasion, held together and still left some definition of the knot. The lurex helped to define the knot--contrast would be needed on the final project. If alpaca could withstand the knotting then heavy rug yarn would certainly hold up to knotting. Even as importantly, it should hold up to wear.

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	R2, grey yak
	R2, black yak (This picture does not do the yak justice. In reality it is a very shiny coal black.)
	R3, Singles R3, 2 ply
	R4, washed Karakul fleece

Different weight yarns, different plying combinations and different shade combinations were experimented with. It was also necessary that the finished yarns packed together well and looked homogenous the gray yak wanted to spin too fine. The gray color did not contrast with the black and white fibers enough and gave a very bland influence.

	Sample R5
4 ply black yak (cable)
Yak & Karakul Karakul 4 ply
4 ply yak, not enough contract in color