Byrdcall Studio, LLC
Rya Rug Revival
and Creative Arts
by Melinda Byrd
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I hope you are having a great summer so far. Let this brighten your day with rya stories and photos. At the end of this newsletter you can enjoy a photo-stroll of the flowers blooming in my gardens. [What does that have to do with rya rug making? Well you might get inspired to stroll your garden for design ideas and colors as seen in my flowers.]
I also have GOOD NEWS for all of you waiting for 2' wide rya backing. Sweden has stepped up and woven beautiful backing we can enjoy immediately! I'm still crossing my fingers that our Rauma Norwegian backings will be back on the looms soon. I heard from them that it would be "after the summer holiday." OK. We will wait patiently.
Here is the NEW 24" wide (60 cm) backing from Sweden.
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- New Swedish Rya Backing to the Rescue!
- Supply Status Update at Byrdcall Studio
- So you want to make a BIG rya rug?
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A NEW Kit Mountain Spirit is ready to go!
- Open Studio and Work Days
- Fall Class Maybe? Respond to poll.
- Show & Tell
- Closing Comments
- . . . and a color stroll through the garden
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Melinda Byrd
Rya Rugs Revivalist
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Archives of Recent Newsletters |
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Note: Sometimes newsletters will "abbreviate" at the halfway point. A message will appear to "Click to see the remaining message." If you don't notice it, you might miss some pretty cool stuff, so be sure to read (or scroll) to the end for the garden stroll. ;-) |
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Update on Supplies
Focusing on the Good News!
Important Information
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As of July 20, 2022:
First, there is lots of GOOD NEWS!
1. I am well-stocked in all Rauma Ryegarn and Rauma Prydvevgarn!
2. I have plenty of the remaining 41 vintage Lundgren Rya colors. This was the rya yarn my grandparents commissioned Harrisville Designs to spin.
6. I just reactivated over a dozen listings for Rya kits on Etsy which use the 24" x 44" backings. The Swedish backing are made to the same specifications, so we'll use that until the Norwegian backings are available. Click here to see them.
8. I have many other backing sizes in varying quantities--especially the bigger ones. Read letter regarding BIG kits available below.
9. And the most exciting news of the past month is the fact that Sweden is once again weaving rya backings as they did in the mid century modern days. Jenny Berge, CEO of Svensk Hemslöjd in Stockholm posted this on their Facebook page:
"Hooray! now Ryabotten [rya backing] 60 cm is finally for sale again!
There has been great demand for the rya bot in recent years and unfortunately, our supplier in Norway has not woven it. So now we took the matter into our own hands and manufacture it ourselves at a Swedish weaving outside Borås. It gets a little more expensive but it is very nice and has nice woven city edge [selvedge] instead of overlocked.
Jenny contacted me and asked if I wanted some. "Yes, please!"
So now you have access to as much or as little as you want. I have 25 meters. It is truly splendid. Wool with cotton warp. Read all about it in my Etsy shop listing. Currently it is only in 60 cm or 24" width.
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Finnish Backings by
Taito Pirkanmaa Oy
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I have a great selection of excellent backings which I buy in bolts and can cut to the length you want. I have plenty in four widths. During the Rauma backing shortage, several people have tried this for the first time with rave reviews. Think about it.
I do not offer kits with these backings, but use them for your own designs They are heavy wool and linen and knots are made on the surface of the backing. In my book, read about them on pages 64-65. Taito Pirkanmaa was kind enough to give me permission to use their step-by-step instructional page (translated into English) for my book.
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No Shortage of Rya Books! |
This would be a perfect time to buy a book if you haven't bought one yet. It truly gives you the keys to understanding rya rugs in the off-loom technique.
Hardbacks are $49.
Softbacks are $39.
If you are just buying the book, media mail postage is still only $5. That is a good deal for a heavy book.
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Do You Want to Make a Large Rya Rug
with a Norwegian Kit?
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A long-time rya rug maker contacted me a few weeks ago asking what kits I had available now that are on the "large side." It was a challenging question because I had to go through all my design graphs from Rauma and all my bins of backings to be sure I have on hand the backing required to make each kit I was offering to him. It took most of the day to reply to him, but here I can share the same info with you in case you, too, are wanting to get set up for a big project soon.
"Hi, again, Friend,
I had success in matching 9 of my Rauma graphs with 9 backings that they fit. Here are the possibilities in the larger sizes available today.
Click on the links. [Look at the photos below.] Let me know if you are interested in any of these. I could get any of them ready to go for you within a few days. Some may require more yarn of specific colors than I have on hand, but I can send them within a few weeks if I don't have them.
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Bukett.
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Kilde in the 140 x 200 size or in grays or two other colors shown on that page.
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#784 (Yes, that is its name.) I have it in 140 x 200 cm for $1,142. Available in the natural white or the black. Feel free to ask for more photos.
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Sombreros 140 x 110 cm. $688
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Perlemorsky 120 x 120 cm $660
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Barskog. 140 x 120 cm $1,142
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Flukt. 140 x 200 $1,142. (I can't seem to locate a photo of this completed rug. I have two color combination choices.) Let me know if YOU have a photo.
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Fjell 170 x 130 $958. Picture second row on the right.
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Mardola. 170 x 130 cm $958
Let me know if you have a favorite or any questions.
I'd love to get you started on one while we are in the supply lull. I've got LOTS of yarn.
Melinda"
So I offer these to any of you. I know the prices are higher than most of us are used to, but these are serious heirloom quality rugs. If you are putting off a vacation this year, why not make up for it with a rya of impressive size. Contact me if you want more details or if you want to order any of these. Some come in smaller size kits, but sadly those backings are the ones on backorder. In some cases, I only have 1-2 of the large backings. First come; first served.
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Kilde in Orange
55" x 79" $1,142.00
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Kilde in Grays
55" x 79" $1,142.00
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Perlemorsky
47" x 47" $660
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#784 on Off-White
55" x 79" $1,142
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#784 on Black
55" x 79" $1,142
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Flukt
55" x 79" $1,142
Available in two color schemes
I have no photo of completed rya.
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New Design:
Mountain Spirit Now Available as a Kit:
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You may have seen this design in the last newsletter. I designed it as a wedding gift for my niece, Jenna, and her husband, Dave. I didn't tell them what the design was going to look like, but I asked them about the colors in the room where they wanted to hang it and I gave them size choices.
If you would like to also make this rya as a kit, you can be the first. Click on the photo below to see many photos of the kit components in my Etsy shop. I have one kit packed and ready to go with the Rauma backing.
Why not be the first? ;-) Or I guess I should say--second--to make it.
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Rya Sewing Circle and
Getting Started with your Rya Design or Kit
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For Rya Help and Socializing:
I get many requests for more time with me in the Studio. Here are your next opportunities.
Saturdays, July 30
or September 10
9:00 - Noon or 1- 4:00 PM
(July 30 has 1-2 seats available. Let me know if you'd like to sign up.)
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Designers: Come if you are designing a rya and need a little help in making choices and how to get started or have questions that keep you from moving forward. This is not a class, but a coaching session for those with ideas in mind. Bring supplies if you have them or buy them here. Having read through my book will help us speak "rya" better.
Rya Sewing Circle for a chance to knot and socialize with other knotters. Ask for opinions and feedback on your work if requested. Additional supplies available.
The sessions are available to designers and social knotters
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These sessions are free. There is no planned class, but I will help you with any questions you have. If I see similar challenges, I will give mini-presentations and demonstrations as needed. I ask that you email me at byrdcallstudio@gmail.com to register. Tell me your #1 time slot choice and any others you could attend in case I have to juggle class attendance.
Since COVID is still present in our lives, I ask all attendees to be fully vaccinated. Masks are not required (optional). I will accept 4-5 people so you will have a good size table space. If you don't have time to sit for a session, but you want to drop by to pick up supplies, email me and I'll schedule a block of time for you so we don't ever have too many people in the studio. And I would love to see you. Feel free to bring snacks and water bottle.
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Two-Day Classes
Several of you are patiently waiting for me to offer a 2-day Class.
I am looking for a classroom I can rent--not too far from decent-but-not-too-expensive hotels for out-of town students. The local libraries have meeting rooms that don't cost too much to rent.
Things I can help students with:
A list of hotels within 30 minutes of the classroom and studio. I can recommend nice restaurants in the area.
A full array of backing sizes from Norway, Sweden, and Finland. There will not be all sizes from all countries. Re-read the Update on Supplies at the top of this newsletter to learn more about the backing options.I have plenty of yarn, needles, graph paper, yarn snips to help you figure out your color combinations, and activities to keep you learning.
I will bring supplies to the classroom, but I want all students to have an opportunity to visit Byrdcall Studio and see a bit of casual rya history. Maybe after the second class, we can caravan to my Studio in Woodbine. Ideas are welcome!
We'll have to keep up-to-date on the fluctuating COVID situation. My hope is to have a big enough classroom space so we all have plenty of room to space out and breathe. I ask for attendees to be fully vaccinated and boosted.
In January, I may be teaching a basic rya workshop online sponsored by the American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia. Students can be from ANYWHERE without traveling, hotels, etc. It will be structured for simplicity online with supplies sent in advance. It was very well received last year. I'll announce that in my next newsletter.
I've never done a "poll" with the newsletter before, so let's try this. I don't think your name will be associated with the response. Keep me posted of your ideas by email so I can keep you in the loop.
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Would you be interested in a 2-consecutive day rya rug designing and knotting class this Fall??
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Yes, I'd prefer mid-week days.
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Yes, I'd prefer week-end days.
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Faith Mason in California completed Vilje this spring. The kit will be available again when the Norwegian supplies start rolling in again.
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A Customer of my Grandparents
Stops by the Studio for More Yarn to Complete her Rya
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Joy O'Toole lives down the road only 20 minutes from Byrdcall Studio. She's going for the record of taking the most years to complete her rya from the Bergå (Sweden) line of rya designs bought through my grandparents.
She came to the studio this week with a cardboard box with all her yarn. I recognized my grandfather's handwriting as he often used magic marker to address boxes.
I paused and just gazed at the writing on the box. ("Hi, Grampa!")
Such a nice visit with Joy.
Knot on!
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Sometimes ryas take longer than expected because "life happens" along the way. This design, "Attontrask" is designed from all natural (not dyed) wool. When access to Swedish rya yarn ended in the 70s, my grandparents' "Lundgren Yarn" was developed, but included only dyed yarn and natural white. Now that I am buying the Rauma ryegarn from Norway, she can complete her project with wool almost identical to the yarn she bought in the 70s made in Sweden. Joy has also made the choice to make her loops about twice as long as the kit suggested, and therefore will definitely need more yarn than the kit provided. I love it when people march to their own drummer. You can do the same whether you knot your rya in one year or 50 years! |
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Anni Dennis from Kansas Completed her Rauma Kit named Morgenstemning |
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This rya rug is 200 x 90 cm, but how big is that compared to a person? "Hey, Honey, would you mind laying down on the floor next to my rug for perspective? Don't block the design." Then the pup decides to photobomb. It is a great photo ... thanks to Anni's husband, Scotty Dennis for cooperating. And that is their 7 month old pup, Nami (which means yummy or candy in Finnish).
Many of us have been drooling over Anni's knotting progress photos in the Rya Rug Friends Facebook Group.
Now she is done; it is hanging on the wall; and she says, "I'm having withdrawal symptoms from rya knotting. This is a serious addiction!"
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Zeva from San Rafael, California
Shares her Story
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Janet Campbell Matthews Wove a Spectacular Rya |
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One advantage of being a member or our Rya Rugs friends Facebook Group is that we are constantly amazed by what people share there.
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This is the end of this mid-summer newsletter.
I always love it when you read all the way through. ;-)
Friends, I hope this finds you happy and well. Stay safe and look for joy wherever you can find it. Thanks for sharing your rya stories and photos with me and letting share them with all. I hope I didn't miss anyone--forgive me if I did. Knot on!
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Time for a walk in the garden.
~ Melinda
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Many thanks for your valuable time with me .
Knot on!
Melinda
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A Couple of Links You Might Enjoy
A couple of links here that I know are enjoyed by many of you. Special "Shout out" to the Rya Rugs Friends on Facebook. The Group always welcomes new members.
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Direct Link for Book Purchase |
Whether you have been waiting for this book for years or if you are just discovering at this moment that it exists, no reason to hold off on treating yourself! The reviews have been excellent. It is now available in either hardbound or soft bound cover. Click on the cover image to learn more.
Price: $ 49 Hardbound
Price: $ 39 Softbound
S & H: $ 5.00
6% MD State tax for instate purchases only
Do you know anyone who would enjoy this book? I would so appreciate your support of sharing my book with anyone who might enjoy it. If you know a shop that might like to carry a few books, I sell wholesale. If you know someone who is bored due to not going out during the pandemic, they could design their own rya or get a kit. Share with anyone who might appreciate the boost. Thank you.
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c/o Melinda Purcell Byrd, Owner
P.O. Box 162
Woodbine, MD 21797
410-615-2473
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