We often assume that tapestries are a pictorial fabric we hang on the wall. We also assume that rugs are fabric we put on the floor. But a rug can be a tapestry you use on the floor. It is likely a rug will use thicker weft and a wider sett than a tapestry you’ll hang on the wall.*

Last year I created a class called Introduction to Rug Weaving where I use a rug-weight yarn to create textiles intended for the table. The weight of the finished pieces would make very nice smaller floor rugs or even a larger rug in an area that doesn’t get constant traffic.

There is a functional question here. I used to be an occupational therapist so I’m very sensitive to having things on the floor that are going to cause people to trip. A lightweight piece of fabric on the floor is just a tripping hazard and will at the very least need some sort of grippy mat to stay put. A thicker and therefore heavier textile is much more suited to being walked on.