Home | Weaving | Fleece Preparation and Rug Details | Some Rug Patterns

Reinhard Schoffthaler is an extraordinary rug weaver. In his modest shop in an old stone building in Paint Rock, TX he and his small staff process natural fiber, raw wool or llama fleeces "just off the animal," through blending, dyeing, carding, spinning, then design and weave beautiful rugs. The machinery is from Germany, North Carolina, and home made; all repairs are done in house. He graciously gave us a tour of his facilities and allowed me to take photos.

1. Fleeces are cleaned and loosened in the blender.

3. Rolls of jute feed into the end of the carder. Llama fiber is wrapped around the jute. Note yarn emerging in lower left. (below)

4. Reinhard holds the yarn. Above his left hand is the rod (from image 2) on which yarn is rolled into a coil. (right)

5. Coil of llama yarn.

6. Yarn is wound on a large bobbin. A homemade PVC shuttle with fiberglass tip is forced over the center-pull, wound yarn.

Home | Weaving | Fleece Preparation and Rug Details | Some Rug Patterns

Updated July 10, 2010
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