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Byrdcall Studio, LLC

Rya Rug Revival

and Creative Arts

by Melinda Byrd

Visit Our Website Shop

Greetings from Byrdcall Studio

Cheers, Good Friends!

I know many of us are worried about tough times ahead these days, but stay strong and positive if you are able. Friends and family can really help.

It's been busy in the studio. We had a fun Rya Sewing Circle day a couple of weeks ago and there have been many yarn orders from people who have reconnected with their rya projects to get away from the evening news before bedtime. There will be one more Sewing Circle before a summer break--read below.

The discounted Rauma yarn received from Corky, the weaver, has been moving well. (See below for the two easy ways to order from his stash.)

Fill your mug, sit down, and enjoy. There is something for everyone here.

Relax and come along for the ride.

~ Melinda

In this Issue:

Rya Supplies and Vacation Time!
Creative ways to save money
The bug in your ear--Changes to Come!
Rya Kits ready to go
Open Studio: Sat, April 19. 10 AM-3 PM
Show and Tell Time: Great Sharings!
New Painting "To Life!" will soon be available on greeting cards.
Sign up for my last Rya class at Common Ground on the Hill 2025
Frederick Art Teachers Share Ryas
Buy a Book?
Closing Words and a stroll through the gardens

Note: Be aware that your email may only open the first 1/3 of this newsletter. It might say "click if you want to see the whole newsletter." Click, so you don't miss anything.

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Melinda Byrd

Owner

Save the Date!

Open Studio and Rya Sewing Circle

Woodbine, MD

April 19th 10 - 3:00

Ask me questions

Work on your rya projects

Gather Discounted Yarn, Cards, books, Framed art

Newsletter

Supply Update & Time Off

Before the tariffs of unknown amounts take place, I will be placing big orders to keep my supplies plentiful.

Lately I have been able to fill all the orders I've received which is a GOOD THING. I'm about to place more orders for Finnish backings and Rauma yarns and backings.

I will be taking time off the first half of May, so if you want anything: yarn, kits, a book... let me know soon and I'll do my best to get your orders out. From April 27 - May 19 Byrdcall Studio will be closed for business.

The next newsletter will be early June.

If it is listed in my Etsy shop, I have it on hand. The Etsy shop will be closed 4/27 - 5/19.

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.

One Way to Buy Your Yarn

for Excellent Savings

One active rya rug maker contacted me a few weeks ago. She had previously purchased a Taito Pirkanmaa backing from Finland about 4' wide and 4' long. (That's pretty big.) Using the math on p. 177 in my book, we determined for a 1.5" pile she would need about 19 skeins of ryegarn and 11 skeins of prydvevgarn.

She also shared with me that she didn't really want to "go into bankruptcy" on this good size project. Friends, believe me when I say, that is a very helpful thing for someone to tell me. I have lots of GREAT rya yarn in odd amounts, or balls, or of unknown brand, but all super nice. Luckily we have a good amount of Corky's stash still available, so I offered to make substitutions from the discount bins if at all possible. She said she trusted me to help her with her order, substituting discounted yarn where possible.

She told me in words what her color scheme was and she was going to basically go freeform. I gathered a pile of discounted yarns in about the right quantity--ALL FROM THE DISCOUNT BINS! I sent her a photo and she tweaked it tell me to remove certain colors and add more "reds and yellows." Very soon we had the colors she wanted. She said, "Send it." The bill came to just over half of the regular price. I knew by weight that we had about 19 skeins of ryegarn and 11 skeins of Prydvevgarn and far more color choices for her than if we just used full skeins.

Another way to place an order if you are designing a rya is to come up with a list of all the Rauma or Lundgren colors you want. Tell me to substitute from the discount bin where possible and bill accordingly. The balls of yarn are perfect, but you don't know exactly how many "strands per skein" there are as you would with a new-cut skein. So bear in mind that you might have to ad lib a little. I'll send you a photo.

All that to say . . . so much is going up in prices in our lives, and I can't promise it won't happen with your rya supplies in the future, but there are ways around inflation. We have not raised our prices since we've been selling the Rauma yarns since February 2014!

I have updated the list of Corky's yarns from last month's newsletter. We still have plenty--mostly in balls. The yarn below is what you can request at $10/100g. (a skein)

Discounted Yarn Mostly from Corky's Stash

(See archive for March 2025 story.)

Discount Ryegarn Available Today

501 4+

503 3

504 <

505 <

536 <

575 <

574 <

573 <

596 1+

514 1

511 <

571 1+

509 <

581 +

533 +

560 1

561 +

562 1

529 1

557 <

522 3+

12/64 3+

13/64 <

545 <

526 <

527 <

580 <

515 <

531 <

546 <

550 <

592 <

556 <

588 <

587 4+

558 <

593 3+

Note: < means less than 1

565 <

589 1+

10/64 1

532 <

579 <

521 <

586 <

33/65 <

568 <

548 1

547 <

585 <

553 <

583 <

24/61 <

567 <

11/64 <

542 4

Discount Prydvevgarn Available Today

692 2

617 <

601 2+

603 3+

604 2+

605 <

616 2

636 <

633 3+

609 <

646 1

650 1

608 1

689 <

690 <

691 <

678 <

679 4+

665 1

632 <

663 <

654 <

655 1+

652 <

638 <

647 1+

667 <

Updated 4/9/25

659 <

660 3+

641 <

675 <

635 <

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 change daily, so just use this as a reference.

The Bug in Your Ear

For the past 8 months or so, I know many of you have noticed my "Bug in your Ear" reference to my need to find someone to take the rya torch and carry it forth into the coming decades. Since the last newsletter, wonderful possibilities have emerged to that end.

I've been talking with interested and very qualified people who seriously want to keep rya rug making alive AND bring new dimensions to the art form.

So I don't jinx things, I'm not going to say more on the subject at this time except STAY TUNED. Nothing is immediately in the works, but in the coming months, well, we will see. It is comforting to know highly qualified people are considering stepping up to the challenge. YOUR needs are my highest priority.

Presenting "Estuary"

Estuary (Choice of two sizes and two color schemes)

When I was just out of college in the 1970s, I worked with my grandparents in their rya rug business. During that time they met Winnie Fitch Houston who was a rya rug designer. Winnie designed ESTUARY in earth tone browns.

My grandparents bought the design from Winnie and sold it as a kit 34” x 60”. The USA-made backing it was designed for has been gone for decades. In 2024 I re-designed it to fit the currently available backings from Rauma. I also added a new color scheme (Bluegreens) as a choice for you. You can make ESTUARY in brown or in blue-greens.

Click these links to see more.

Size can be 16” x 30 for $310

or 31.5” x 47” for $550

I use the Norwegian Rauma Rya yarn--Ryegarn and Prydvevgarn. I have included enough yarn so when done, you can whipstitch the borders of the rug if you want to.

The colors in this kit are calm and soothing! The design is graphed and easy to follow.

This kit has everything you need. I make it easy for you by actually starting the first row for you and adding detailed instructions.

This kit uses two strands of the heavier rya yarn and an additional thinner strand of prydvevgarn (yarn made from the same heritage sheep) but thinner for variety in texture.le copy here.

Embla ($394)

80 x 80cm or 31.5" x 31.5"

T. Kosonen-Buvik

This complete rya rug kit titled "Embla" was designed by Tuulikki Kosonen.

You have the choice of two color schemes. You make the knots with a needle threaded with two strands of ryegarn and one strand of the thinner prydvevgarn.

I make it easy for you by starting the first row for you and adding detailed instructions which I translated from Norwegian to English. I also am available to give advice through the process if you need it.

YOU can make these beautiful ryas! The shading is exciting, and rich. No loom is necessary. This kit has everything you need to make it.

Click on image to learn more.

Gullregn ($350.)

If you are a member of the Rya rug Friends Group on facebook, you may have seen my posting about this kit. A woman ordered a larger one and I absent-mindedly prepared the kit in this size. Of course I realized my mistake and made another kit the same day for her, but here you go! Already in a box that just needs your mailing label on it.

The Kit includes everything you need:

Needles
Ruler for keeping loop length consistent
Hemmed wool and cotton woven backing from Norway -- 24" x 43" (60 x 110cm)
Yarn required plus a little extra for wiggle room
graph
color threading card prepared by me
Instructions translated from Norwegian by me

24" wide x 43" long

(60 x 110 cm)

Open Studio ~ Drop In Day~ Sewing Circle

This Sat., April. 19th from 10 am - 3:00 pm

Rya Sewing Circle

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.

info@byrdcallstudio.com

Studio is located in Woodbine, MD.

I invite all locals to drop in to gather yarn for future projects from my vintage stash bins. If you have ever been to a Rya Sewing Circle, (or not) consider this your personal invitation.

I'll be taking a couple off weeks in early May, so this would be a good day to get whatever you need so you don't have to wait for my availability in mid-May.

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.

Above: Jordan was sketching out her design with a pastel chalk and a flexible ruler. When she realized she wanted to change the design, all she had to do was use the little Dyson vacuum cleaner. It worked like a charm.

Show & Tell ~ Sharing with Others

Jeanne Jacobson

Kennett Square, PA

(AKA the Chicken Lady due to her unique chicken rya made last year.)

This spring Jeanne is off on a new adventure taking her rendition of a Delauney painting and recreating it as a hand-knotted rya rug.

Here you can see she has drawn it directly on a wool and linen Rauma backing (31.5" x 47")

Jeanne has made dozens of ryas and has quite a stash of yarn at her fingertips. It will be interesting to see how the various yarn in her collection finds its way into this Delauney.

Celebrating a Life Well Lived

You may have read in my last newsletter that my husband and I saw our sweet Gypsy cross over the rainbow in February. I allowed myself a little time last month to paint her sweet smiling face and raise a glass "To life!"

Keep an eye out for this image on greeting cards in the coming months. Guaranteed to bring a smile.

To see the original painting, go to The County Cork Wine Pub in Eldersburg, MD where it will hang for one year.

I'm Teaching at Common Ground on the Hill July 7 - 11, 2025

Last Chance to Register for my Rya Class at CGOTH!

As mentioned above, I am looking to pass the rya torch, so this will be my last year teaching Rya Rug Making at Common Ground. (I might teach something else.)

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!

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.

Feel free to ask me questions if you have any.

Check out their website for basic information.

These three art teachers for Frederick County, Maryland all took the rya class at Common Ground last summer. During the month of March this year, their rya rugs were displayed in the Delaplaine Arts Center in the heart of Frederick during the Frederick Student Art Show. Kids are so lucky today to have great teachers sharing the arts like these teachers do.

Allie McCarron from Fairfield, PA with her design inspired by a stained glass window from Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Waters. She used a Taito Pirkanmaa backing where the knots are made on the surface.

Jordan Forest with her original rya knotted with vintage Swedish rya yarn on a Norwegian (Rauma) woven backing.

Zoe Willard from Sabillasville, MD with her self-designed abstract landscape knotted on a Wetterhoff Finnish backing.

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 .

And a Few Closing Words

Bye bye for now. Nice to spend some time with you. If you need anything soon, contact me SOON. Otherwise I'll be back in the Studio in mid May. Stay strong.

Sending love to you all across the country, Canada, and Europe, as well as the rest of the world.

Get out in the garden or woods or wetlands to refresh yourselves. We are all in this together. Join me for a stroll around my gardens.