Weaving or knotting rya

A rya can be made either by using a loom and weaving a fabric with a long knotted pile on one side, or it can be knotted on a ready-made fabric that creates the base for the rya. With the latter technique, the thread composing the pile is sewn onto the fabric using a coarse needle, which is commonly known as “knotting”. The knots used to make the rya pile are mostly the Ghiordes knot and the Senneh knot. The last step is trimming the pile to the desired length. Ryas are often made with wool thread, but other materials can be used.

The word rya is derived from “ry” or “ru”, meaning coarse or rough. In Denmark, ryas dating back to the 11th century have been found, and ryas have likely been used in all of the Nordic countries historically. Rya rugs were originally used with the pile side down as a blanket or duvet to keep warm in bed. They could also be used as wall hangings. The contemporary use of ryas as rugs was only introduced in the mid-19th century. During the mid-20th century, ryas came into fashion in interior design, and many well-known designers, such as Märta Måås-Fjätterström and Josef Frank, created rya patterns.

There are still many practitioners who knot or weave ryas today. Courses are regularly arranged by crafts associations, weaving associations, and study associations. Rya “kits” containing instructions, templates, and materials to knot ryas are also available for sale. Exhibitions showcasing older and modern rya pieces have been arranged during the latest years, and contemporary artists have started to explore the technique in their practices.