Byrdcall

I was born into a rya rug family. My grandparents, Angie and Bill Lundgren were the sole representatives for the Bergå yarn and rya rug company in Sweden for nearly two decades. I worked as designer and “helper extraordinaire” for Lundgren Rya in the late 1970’s – early 80’s. The rya business was sold out of the family in the mid-80’s, yet I continued to make ryas and teach with my small inventory of yarn and backings after moving to Maryland.

In the winter/spring of 2011, I designed and knotted what I thought would be my last rya rug while the local paper, the Carroll County Times documented in photographs and video the entire process for posterity. It is posted on youtube.com and I invite you all to see it. Here is the link: http://youtu.be/trl3V5Q2kG4. Feel free to share this with anybody you think would enjoy it. The video has been seen by over a quarter million people (Jan. 2016).

I have received so many requests for materials and instructions, I have:
>> Started to write a book on Designing and Making Your Off-Loom Rya. It will be released as a book, then as a pdf file as soon as it is completed. (Spring 2016)
>>Found a Norwegian rya supply producer, two Finnish companies, and a Swedish company which supply rya woven backings and yarn. I now am purchasing supplies from them and making them available to you.
>>I “bought back” my grandparents former business, Lundgren Rya, including a huge amount of yarn, backings, 100s of designs, needles, graph paper, etc. This acquisition took place on October 26, 2013!

I have a unique knowledge and skill in designing and calculating needed materials for making rya rugs. I offer my services to help you find materials and develop your technique. I can help you learn to make your own rya rug, or I can match you with a talented knotter who can make it for you.