Misadventures of a Rug Hooker

Could also have titled the post 'multitasking' because I was drawing more patterns and dying wool.  Ah, THAT's where the misadventure part comes in.

When first starting my grandson's rug knew it was a close call as to whether or not there would be enough blue background.  Blue is my grandson's favorite color so went thru my stash and pulled everything close that could be blended in.  Sure hope it is enough (I thought at the time).  And then the hooking began.

Yesterday I started getting scared there really wouldn't be enough wool. Sometime during mid sleep remember the tag I'd pinned to the wool was still on the cutting table and was titled "Sky".   Hmm, I wonder if I have any of the solution left on the shelf in the garage.

So this morning went to check and yup, there was a jar with a label with the info.  Problem was it had crystalized ~ dried up ~ over the last two seasons of heat and cold in the garage.

That's okay, I thought, will just resurrect it by adding water.

Okay, "warm sky" in the Beautiful Wool  dye book by Laurice Heath.  I'd put a sample of the wool in the book and it indicated I'd used 1 1/2 tablespoons of that solution to 1/2 yard of wool.  Okey dokey then.

So I got a piece of natural wool 1/2 yard and began to soak it.

I went into this knowing there were variables which may not render good results:.  

#1  The dye solution had been altered/damaged with drying/freezing.

#2  Didn't know how much water was in the jar when fresh so didn't know how strong or weak 1 1/2 tablespoons would be using now with half yard of wool.

#3  The wool used today was not of the same dye lot as what was used before.

But with all that in mind decided to try anyway.  When dyeing I usually do a couple different pots with different wool and different amounts of dye just to get some variance.  Today was no different.  First pot (pictures above) I put in 2 tablespoons of solution.  When wool is wet it does look darker but thought pot one was okay so glugged the white vinegar.

Then pot two used 1 1/2 tablespoons figuring it would be a tad lighter. Then decided to do a third pot to use up the rest of the solution rather than putting on the shelf.  Silly me didn't soak that wool long enough and it is lighter and you can see white core so that will definitely go back in a pot at some point.  OH!!!!!  So you say you want to see what happened??  Okay.

The five top pieces are what happened today.  Those small pieces of wool at the bottom was what I was hoping to replicate.  Didn't happen as you can from my dye misadventures.

Below is what I'm dealing with.  That piece of wool to the far left under my initials was originally not included in the mix but it will be welcomed with open arms now.   

So all that is left to hook the background are the precut strips at the bottom of the design, the 4x folded pieces of wool on blank parts of the design and that previously rejected piece of wool which is folded 4x.

All of that blue wool has been cut, tossed and put in a basket from which I'll pull strips. Will continue to work on this rug tonight but think tomorrow a little fun time with my Ned rug is required to keep me sane. 

Have a great evening everyone.  

Saundra