|
|
Byrdcall Studio, LLC
Rya Rug Revival
and Creative Arts
by Melinda Byrd
| |
Greetings from Byrdcall Studio | |
Supply Update
~ Mostly Good News ~
| |
In January, I was feeling all "Woe is me." The yarn supply from Rauma was behind in production and it seemed like it would be just a matter of time before I would be running out of many colors.
Then yesterday, The Yarn Guys contacted me saying they just received a shipment from Norway with backings and lots of yarn to fill my backorders. I'll be receiving it very shortly. Back in business. If you've been patiently waiting for anything, your wait may be over. Contact me and see.
| |
If you want or need anything,
check with me--I probably have it.
| |
If it is listed in my Etsy shop, I have it on hand.
I still have 32 of the Lundgren Rya yarn colors in stock many at reduced prices in the Etsy shop. I recently selected 6 colors of the Lundgren yarn which I have oodles of skeins of and marked them down to $7/skein. Click here to learn about those colors.
If you just want one type of yarn samples card, you can order them individually at this Etsy Link.
| |
| | |
Update on the Rauma Ryegarn and Prydvevgarn
Sample cards
Now that we know Rauma is bringing their newly spun and dyed yarn to us, SOON we can expect they will be making the yarn sample cards again--much to my relief.
Here is a photo of the sample cards I've been putting together for close to a year now. The feedback on the handmade cards has been very favorable, but I'm ready for Rauma to assume this role again. Thanks for your patience.
Check out the Etsy listing
| | | | |
|
|
Just when I think I have caught up on all the chores of my day, I have a work day like this.
It is actually a fun challenge to meet the needs of the day and still have time for an enjoyable evening. Wishing you many enjoyable days and evenings.
| | |
A Weaver Shares his Yarn Stash with us | |
Corwyn (Corky) Knutson
Roseville, Minnesota
Why does that name sound familiar? If you have been reading my newsletters for years, you surely have seen his work among many of the past issues.
He and I started occasional email dialogs back in about 2020. He had quite a significant stash of Rauma yarns, but every now and then he needed to buy certain colors he didn't have for a project.
He made my world warmer in the winter by telling me it was -28 degrees where he lived. Brrr.
Corky did not buy rya kits--he wove these ryas on his floor loom using the Rauma designs as his guide.
| |
|
In Summer 2023, Corky completed the design "Vinter" shown here and entered it in the Minnesota State Fair. It won the Doris Tufte Award~very prestigious!
This was Corky's last woven rya.
| |
|
They packed two very large boxes with the most beautiful (mostly vintage) yarn and shipped it the following day.
Two days later, the boxes were on my front door step. And then it took about two days for me to inventory it all and put it away.
| |
The best way to buy skeins or balls of this yarn is to contact me by email with a list of yarn you want for your project. Refer to the inventory list below.
Tell me that you would like to substitute Corky's yarn wherever possible for cost savings. If I have it in the colors you want, I will substitute and bill the lesser price.
I will not be listing it on my website nor on Etsy right now since it would be confusing next to the regularly priced yarn. Corky's yarn is in excellent condition, though the tag make look aged and the dye lot will be quite a bit older than current yarn dyed. I only noticed one color that was visibly different from the current color.
| |
|
Recently, Corky has been experiencing health issues which have inhibited his ability to weave. I can only imagine how difficult that would be for an artist.
He and his spouse, Bill, contacted me a couple of weeks ago to see if I would be interested in purchasing any or all of his yarn stash so that it might end up in the hands of weavers and rya rug knotters. Of course I decided to buy it all after seeing a few photos showing how beautifully cared for it had been. There is ryegarn, prydvevgarn, ullspissgarn, and åklegarn. The latter two I don't know well, but a weaver surely will.
The ullspissgarn and åklegarn are already listed on Etsy.
| |
Corky's collection is every bit as good as the new Rauma yarns I routinely sell @ $16, but it will be from a different dye lot for sure. In rya, we seldom care for perfect dyelot match, so if that isn't an issue for you, request substitutions where possible from Corky's stash for a $6/skein savings. All my vintage Scandinavian yarn is $10/skein or $10/100g.
As shown below, much of the yarn is balled and not a full 100g. It will be sold by weight prorated. In other words a 50 g ball of ryegarn will cost $5.
Discounted prices apply towards both the Ryegarn and the Prydvevgarn, so the Pryd is about 1/2 price while it lasts.
The price of kits won't change since they are very labor intensive to begin with.
| | |
|
Discount Ryegarn Available Today
501 4
503 3
504 <
505 <
536 5+
575 <
574 <
573 <
596 1+
514 1
511 <
571 1+
509 2+
534 5
581 +
533 +
560 1+
561 +
562 1
577 1
| |
|
529 1
557 <
525 1
522 4
524 3+
544 <
528 1+
12/64 3+
13/64 1+
545 <
526 1+
527 1+
580 <
515 <
531 <
546 <
592 2
556 1
588 1+
587 4+
593 3+
| |
|
565 4+
589 1+
10/64 1
595 4
532 <
579 4+
578 4+
521 1+
586 2+
33/65 <
568 1+
548 1
547 <
585 <
551 1
553 5
583 5+
24/61 <
567 4+
11/64 3+
542 4
| |
|
Discount Prydvevgarn Available Today
692 2
617 <
601 2+
603 3+
604 2+
605 <
616 3
636 <
633 3+
609 <
646 1
662 <
650 1
608 1
| |
|
689 <
690 <
691 <
678 <
679 4+
665 1
632 1+
663 <
654 <
655 3+
652 <
638 <
647 1+
667 <
| |
|
659 <
660 5+
641 <
675 1+
656 4
644 3+
635 <
624 2
676 <
669 <
625 1+
681 <
623 <
626 <
640 1+
| |
|
Here's the code for reading those numbers. The color number is on the left. (mostly 500s or 600s). If you see a numeral, that is how many WHOLE skeins there are. If the numeral is followed by a + symbol, that means there are additional balls of yarn which may be less than a whole skein. If there is a "less than symbol <" that means there are no whole skeins, but there is at least one balled portion of a skein. The whole skeins cost $10. The balls will be put on a scale and billed according to the weight @ $10/100g. To see the sample card if you don't have one, Click here to see Ryegarn color chart on Etsy or Click here to see Prydvevgarn color chart on Etsy.
Quantitiies will change often, so just use this as a reference.
| |
And a little more about Corky's weaving path
"While working for a property management company, I purchased my first loom and with the help of my neighbor, a master weaver, learned the basics of weaving."
. . .and later . . .
"During a trip to Norway, I discovered my love for Norwegian textiles and Rauma wool.
Rauma is still my choice for rya."
| |
|
|
"I was introduced to Syvilla Tweed Bolson, artist and weaver from Decorah, Iowa. Syvilla, a renowned weaver, graciously guided me in the Norwegian textile art. Syvilla taught me the basics of rya weaving and inspired me to be creative in design and motivated me to produce many beautiful pieces."
And finally, Corky exhibited his work at the Minnesota State Fair, where he twice received the Doris Tufte award for excellence in creative loom weaving in Scandinavian Tradition.
Corwyn Knutson is a force among weavers. We value his contributions. His yarn will be appreciated by all for a long time.
| |
Nucleus was designed and made by my grandfather, William E. Lundgren. I don't remember exactly when he made it, I was probably in grade school. He and my grandmother, Angelina Lundgren, ran their cottage business Lundgren Rya in Northboro, MA much as I run my Byrdcall Studio today. He was very proud of his design and showed its inspiration to everyone who came in the door. | | |
|
Grandpa's inspiration
He left schooling after 6th grade to work, but his mind and creativity were way beyond his years. He worked as an inventor and as the story goes, had more than 125 patents attributed to him.
When he cut this 2" piece of wood that had saw-prints and rings, he saw an amazing rya design which he sketched and graphed. With my grandmother's help they made it into a rya rug.
| | |
|
He made this rough sketch as well as a large pastel chalk painting of the design. I'm afraid the pastel painting which I wanted to show you is no longer in existence due to time and oxidation.
He made a graph for the Swedish backing made by Bergå. Approx. 58" wide x 69" long.
From 1955 to about 1975. my grandparents were the sole distributors in the USA for rya and weaving supplies for the Bergå company. Nucleus was made with all Bergå yarn.
| |
| |
From 1975 to 1977
Bergå suddenly stopped selling to my grandparents. They went into crisis mode. They mortgaged their house, hired Harrisville Designs in New Hampshire to spin new rya yarn for them, and commissioned a North Carolina mill to weave backings.
Fresh out of college I offered to work with them to get back on track. Redrawing the NUCLEUS graph was one of my duties. It had to be made with two backings now--one a 34" wide backing and a 27" wide backing. Here are the graphs I drew and the number counts for this design.
| |
|
And we had to redesign the threading card to match the newly available yarns
Bergå had more colors than the new Harrisville yarn had, so we had to get creative in making a new threading card. You can see how challenging the rug would be as a kit.
Most of these Lundgren colors are now sold out, so if anyone wanted to make a Nucleus today, we would have to make a new threading card using the Rauma yarns. Who is up for the challenge?
| |
Coincidently, last month a member of our Byrdcall Studio Rya Rug Friends Group on Facebook, Lisa Anderson Post was sharing photos of a Finnish ryijy she was knotting which caught the eye of my cousin, Jan Firszt, who thought it was Nucleus. As children visiting our grandparents, we grew up seeing Nucleus on the basement wall at the base of the stairs. | |  |
|
Lisa provided more information about her ryijy which is facinating. And I promised to Jan that I would share the rest of the Nucleus story with everyone in the upcoming newsletter. And here it is.
Maybe more info than anyone wanted, but it has quite a history.
| | |
Here are a few Kits Ready-to-Mail or to be Picked up:
Here are a few possibilities for you to look at and consider.
I always add the Byrdcall special touch of translation and starting the kits for you to get you going on the right foot. ... so if you want one, now is a good time to order one.
| | |
|
|
Leikarring ($540)
This is such a happy and colorful rya kit. I have all the yarn and backings needed to put this together for you as a kit.
It is 31" x 47"
Feel the love as you knot this energetic design. It will not be boring because the definite shapes will give you something to strive for with every row you complete.
Read more here.
| | |
The Fireflower Kits 16" x 16"
The Fireflower kits come in several color choices. On hand at the moment I have blue-greens, Rusts, and reds-purples.
You have the choice of two different backings with the Fireflower kit: Norwegian or Finnish. The end result will be the same size. Both a very high quality woven wool and linen backings. Read the Etsy write-up for details.
| |
| |
|
|
Anemone ($386) 24" x 43"
designed by T. Kosonen-Buvik
This photo of Anemone was submitted by Chelsea L. from British Columbia, CA. She made it a year ago. Nice work, Chelsea, and a great photo.
Like all the kits I sell, the Kit includes everything you need:
- Needles
- Ruler (kavel) for keep loop length consistent
- Hemmed woven backing of wool and linen
- Yarn required plus a little extra for wiggle room
- graph
- color threading card prepared by me
- Instructions translated from Norwegian
| | |
|
|
Barnål ($488.)
This photo was just submitted by Patricia Cook from Maine. She recently completed it. Barnål means "pine needle." It is a very beautiful kit and I have everything you need to make it.
You can email me and tell me you want to buy this kit. Or you can by it off of my Etsy listing (but be aware Etsy adds sales tax to all orders where sales tax is charged.
Click to see the listing on Etsy.
31" wide x 47" long
or 80 x 120cm
| | | |
|
Open Studio ~ Drop In Day~ Sewing Circle
Sat., March. 29th from 10 am - 3:00 pm
| |
|
Stop by the Studio for lots of reasons!
This is an invitation for anyone who is in the area and wants connection with rya folks, supplies, guidance, or to do some shopping. RSVP if you plan to work on a rya project so I can save you a seat.
Studio is located in Woodbine, MD.
If it is a freezing, windy day, the Studio stove's pilot light can go out repeatedly making it a very COLD studio. Call, text, or email if in doubt. (No Carbon Monoxide risk.)
| |
- See the work space where it all happens.
- Pick up a T-shirt
- Bring a rya in progress and knot a few rows with buddies
- Select a backing and some yarn for your next rya
- Pick up a ready-made kit (Let me know in advance so I have time to get it ready for you.)
- See the little-known artsy items I have all over the studio that no one ever sees but I would love to watch you discover!
- Pick up a rya backing strip, some yarn, a needle, and make a decorative rya dog collar. $25 and I'll personally help you get started.
- Or come to let me put you to work helping on jobs that need doing
- No fee, but do register.
| | |
Show & Tell ~ Sharing with Others | |
|
Cheryn Grant
from Portland Oregon
This beautiful original design rya really caught my eye. I asked Cheryn if it was her design and she said, "It is my own design following, roughly, the pattern of the European Waltz ice dance. This is one of the compulsory dances which has a specific pattern of steps and where they go on the ice."
Not being a skater, I still didn't understand where the design came from. So I googled "European Waltz Dance" and found out exactly what she meant. I recommend you do the same.
When I wrote back to say I now understood, she replied,
"I am a very old ice skater. One foot must stay on the ice at all times, which is why I ice dance. There are dances that you learn and progress thru, as you improve. I have been stuck on this dance for years, partially due to covid and partially due to my coach moving. Each dance has specific music and patterns that have to be skated. I just tried to copy this pattern from the US Figure Skating ice dance pattern.
The colors are just the yarn I have left over from all the rugs I have made in the past. I love bright colors.
Glad you like it.
CHERYN"
This. is. creativity. at. its. best!
| |
|
|
Hats Off to Faith Mason
from Eureka, CA
for designing and knotting this amazing rya
| | | | |
|
"I first began to think of a rug like this when I saw a photo of this one, I don’t remember where now, but I think it is antique, in a museum in Sweden. Melinda, I think I sent you a black and white photo of this rug and you helped me find a color picture. I don’t know what the letters are or even which way is up." | | |
|
"I liked the border, envisioned it in tones that looked like they might have come off the sheep, browns and grays and creams. I am pleased with how this border came out. The backing Rauma wool and linen. All the colors are from Melinda’s sample cards, except some of the browns which are from some of her Lundgren yarns.
"There are a few metallic strands in the flowers. I couldn’t see how to adapt the center of the rug. I liked the hieroglyphic like “letters” and realized that the year I was then working on it, 2022, would make a compelling Roman numeral: MMXXII.
| |
| | |
|
"I thought of making the center like a Norwegian Rosemal design, but I had never seen that in a rug, just painted. | | |
|
"I was stumped on the center for a long time, and stopped working on it for a couple of years. Finally I realized: it is my rug, I can make it any way I want, and I decided on stylized flower stems. I also considered a background of a dusty rose or peach, but I am a blue person. I drew a version of the center on one of Melinda’s special grids. I debated for a long time how many flowers, what color, whether to make them all the same.
Working on rya rugs, I prefer to work by section rather than row, but many times I miscounted, had flowers in the wrong places, and several times had to take out large sections and wasted a lot of yarn.
The blue background is a large area, and many days I just plugged away at it, 10 stitches at a time. Overall I am pleased with how it came out. Thank you, Melinda, for your ongoing support!"
| |
|
Note from Melinda:
One of the most important parts of Faith's experience is her realization that,
"It is my rug, I can make it any way I want."
Thank you, Faith!
| | |
I'm Teaching at Common Ground on the Hill July 7 - 11, 2025 | |
|
It's almost time to sign up. Some catalogs have been mailed out this week.
As time passes, I am teaching less and less, so don't put off signing up if you are thinking you want to take this class "some day." There is no better way to immerse yourself in a weeklong program. Plus there are hundreds (?) of other classes you can sign up for.
| |
|
Hot off the Press!
You can mark your calendars if you are so inclined. Every year, this is a highlight for me and my students. Morning classes from Monday - Friday learning everything you can learn in a week about knotting a rya rug. I tell ALL.
Check out their website for basic information.
| | | |
|
Have You Heard about the Book? Of course you have.
I still have lots of books to send out. I self-published so no one else is pushing them for me. Unless you do. And I thank you.
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. Share with anyone who might appreciate the book. Thank you. Click here.
| | |
|
I had a list of things I was going to share with you in this newsletter. It was a good list, but then I went off on tangents a bit. I will find my list and get back on track next time. If I told you I'd be putting a story about you in this newsletter, and it's not here--my bad, and I apologize. Let me know so it goes back on top of the list.
Sending love to you all across the country, Canada, and Europe, as well as the rest of the world. We are all in this together.
| |
|
|
~ In Memory of Our Sweet Gypsy ~
Anyone who has visited the studio in the past 13 years probably was greeted by this sweet, quiet, gentle, beautiful girl.
On Saturday, Feb. 8th, 2025, we knew that she was ready to go, so she had a peaceful escort "over the rainbow" with the assistance of our wonderful vet.
15 years ago, she began as a stray in southern North Carolina, was rescued by For the Love of Labs and brought to Maryland where a friend told us she was up for adoption. We brought her home on Mother's Day 2012. She has been an integral part of our family since then. So sad to see her leave us.
| | | |
|
Thanks for reading all the way to the end
Stay connected.
Let me know if I can help you with anything rya.
Sincerely,
Melinda
| | |
|
|
PO Box 162
Woodbine, MD 21797
410-615-2473
info@byrdcallstudio.com
| | | | |
