Märtha Carlsson's Profile

I live in Sweden, I am a weaver and I have collected beautiful vintage hand woven rugs for many years.

Traditional Swedish rag rugs are hand woven on floor looms using strips of (recycled) cloth. For more than 150 years handwoven rag rugs have decorated the wooden floors of homes in Sweden. Generations of women have woven rag rugs in rich traditional Swedish patterns and colors, that reflect the period in time in which they were woven and even the farm they were woven at. Patterns with names like "Rosengång, kypert, gåsöga, munkabälte". Similar patterns and colors can be seen in hand woven rugs from Finland (and Norway), where there is also a strong and living tradition. Rag rugs were (and are) woven from the material that was worn out, and weaving skills were passed down from mother to daughter. Some of the wonderful, but rare vintage rugs that can still be acquired are between 70 and 100 years old - and still fantastic. This says something about the quality of these rugs and the skills of th weavers.

Swedish rag rugs are unique handicrafts, and fine, vintage rugs are increasingly difficult to get hold of. The amazing thing about Swedish rag rugs, besides being of such high quality and craftsmanship; beautiful, sturdy, lovely to look at and walk on - is that they fit so well with both modern design, young retro environments and more traditional country housing.

A genuine, hand woven Swedish rag rug becomes stronger, more firm and durable in structure, the softer and more worn the cloths strips used for weaving are, and the harder the weaver is able to beat together the rug in the process of weaving. Genuine Swedish rag rugs may not be compared with the cheap rag rugs you buy by the dozens in some shops and warehouses. We also have these cheap rugs in Sweden, for example in supermarkets, where you can find piles of rag rugs all alike, woven in a quality that has nothing whatsoever to do with the quality of genuine, handwoven Swedish rag rugs. A genuine rag rug is a unique product - no two hand woven Swedish rag rugs are alike!

Greek rugs are also charming, but they are very different from the traditional, handwoven Swedish rag rugs, often woven in wool and with completely different patterns and colors. Other countries also have great weaving traditions, but we must acknowledge each country's tradition, special crafts and history.

My personal favorites are among the original darker rugs from the first half of the 1900's.