A Rya Challenge for the New Year
Happy New Year! I think we stay young when we do things we have never done before on a regular basis. If nothing else, it definitely keeps life more interesting. So that will be one of my driving forces during 2017.
I have been designing and making rya rugs since I was in 6th grade, so my new thing to start the new year is to make a “kit” rya rug from Norway–and an easy one at that. So, for me, my challenge is to not ad-lib or substitute colors. Why am I holding back on my creativity? 
The reason is I have been selling the Rauma Rye (Norwegian for rya; pronounced the same) kits for over a year now and I have never made one. Most design-kits have been available for decades, if there ever were any “bugs” surely they would have been worked out by now. I ask my customers after they tell me they have completed a rye kit if they had enough of every color. Usually the answer is yes, and I have to wonder when they don’t if it is because they made the pile a little too long. 
So now I am putting myself to the test. I am also putting Rauma to the test. It is coming through with flying colors. Many of my questions are now answered.
The neat thing is: I am totally LOVING making the kit called “ILD” which means “Fire” in Norwegian. I have seen a photo of a completed Ild in gradations from black-purples-reds-orange-yellows. But Ild is also offered as a kit in these cool blues-greens, but I didn’t know what they would look like together.
Two evenings ago I started knotting Ild while watch a Netflix movie (Sully, starring Tom Hanks). So sitting on the couch with my rya in my lap, I knotted the bottom 6″ within two hours while watching a riveting movie. Now, two days later I am almost half way done and I can’t stop! The color combinations are amazing. This is a great “starter kit.” It is small 16″ wide by 32″ tall. It is totally symmetrical. Reasonably priced at $206 for all supplies. And now it is the only kit of all my Norwegian offerings that is personally “test-driven” by me. (aside from my own designs!)
Now I have a fun offer for you. I would like to offer a small rya sewing circle of 3-4 people who want to come to my studio here in Woodbine, Maryland to start on their own Ild kit or any other rya project you would like to make. I’d be happy to set you up with these colors, or the red one, or we could do any color transition you want to do such as browns-rusts-yellows or purples through pinks. I can personally teach you in a small group setting. If you can’t come to my studio, You can still buy a kit and I will mail it to you. Click here to see the blue-green option or Click here to see the red-yellow option I’ll start the first few knots for you. And for January and February, we can do an email progress-sharing report for all Ild makers, and in spring I will post a picture of everyone with their completed rya in what ever colors you chose to make them. Contact me if you would be interested in starting with this kit this winter. Let me know your general time availability. Weekdays, or weekend, mornings or afternoons. Note: I have just set aside Wed., Feb. 8 from 2-4:00 as a rya sewing circle day. The first 4 people to contact me will be included in this sharing afternoon together. Email me at byrdcallstudio@gmail.com.
All that to say, I AM LOVING THIS RYA EXPERIENCE! And want to experience it with YOU! Throughout 2017 I plan to shine a spot light on various designs or ways of designing. Keep me posted if you don’t want to miss a Rya Sewing Circle aimed at giving you confidence and a good healthy start on your project.
If you live anywhere near Connecticut, don’t forget to check out the STITCHES UNITED Conference in Hartford the last week-end in April. I’ll be teaching there, and there is still time to register for my class. ILD and about 4-5 or my own designs will be on display in the Hartford Convention Center.
Feel free to comment below about other class types you would be interested to have me schedule in 2017. Completing the book is my #1 priority, but a little class fun really makes my day!