Hand-Spun Cotton Warp and Weft
Over 50 miles of California-grown cotton have been spun by hand to produce the rug’s warp and weft. The cotton is Acala from the central valley. The strand for the warp is S-plied from a three-strand Z-spin, and Z-plied to a nine-strand 3-ply. Utilizing a depressed warp, the wefts are two-ply and nine-strand three ply. Seven hundred and thirty-four warp cords - each 22 feet in length - come from forty miles of cotton strand. The cotton is spun on an Ashford electric spinner. The cotton warp spinning took three years. The weft spinning is on-going.

Fleece and Other Fibers
Approximately 100lbs of California gown wool have been prepared for the hand-knotted pile. Fleece preparation is labor intensive. Romney, Lincoln, Leicester and Churro fleece - the pride of California - are processed with detail and care. Each fleece is skirted, separated, washed, arranged and carded before it is spun. The pile comes from this low twist Z-spun strand with three to ten strands per knot. Spinners from around the state have contributed handspun California grown fibers. On-going spinning of the pile is accomplished using a Princess/Castle treadle wheel.

Three Natural Dyes: A Primary Palette
Peter Romich, of San Francisco, Vicki’s friend and fellow rug-weaver, introduced her to Nest Rubio of Cambridge, England. A master rug-maker and dyer, Nest, rediscovered the 28-day cold mordant process from the ancient Middle East. This process, used before dyeing the wool with madder (red) and weld (yellow), assures light-fast colors Skeins of spun wool are non-mordanted for dyeing in the indigo (blue) vat. Vicki’s primary palette is madder (Rubia tinctorum), weld (Reseda luteola), and indigo (Indigofera tinctoria).

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