TWO ROOSTERS and NEWBIE RUG HOOKER TIDBITS

Every once in a while it is fun to look back through pictures of rugs I've hooked, particularly those that I've sold and can't see here daily.  This is one I sold at a show the day after my husband moved out of the house.  Figured I'd better take the opportunity to make money at the show by selling anything someone wanted to buy.  You can see the initials 'SS' on the rug and after the divorce took back my last name from my deceased husband and father of my son.  Therefore you will see the initials of SP on my rugs after 2007.  This is shared in the event you're confused by the different initials on rugs I show. 

Anyway.....this is one rug that I'd really like to hook over again.  The roosters I'd try and replicate but would do something less in your face with the background next time.  I think there is just too drastic a change in color of the background so would do that a little differently.  Must say tho, I did really like that rug at the time.

Newbie Hooker Tidbits

Now it is time to talk about backings (foundation cloth).  As probably all newbies know, our foremothers used mostly burlap to hook on as it was most readily available from sacks of grain, chicken feed, etc.  They would open up the seam allowance, spread the burlap sack open and if there happened to be a colorful chicken or rooster depicted on it they might even hook that into the design.  Or they would take charcoal or other writing implement and draw a naive design on the inside part of the burlap.

Today burlap is not a good choice to hook a rug for the floor as it becomes too brittle and unstable.  There are numerous options for hookers now:

Natural linen
Bleached linen
Hairless linen
Belgian Linen (a lighter and more open weave of linen)
Monks cloth
Rug Warp
Verel
Thinly woven wool not good for hooking as cut strips
Burlap

My choice is Dorr Natural Linen but have also had the experience of hooking on all the options above with the exception of verel.  I want to add also, that the monks cloth you purchase at JoAnn is NOT the same type for hooking.  JoAnn sells the stuff most dedicated to another type of handiwork but NOT hooking as the weave is too large.

Now I must admit that when I first started out I hooked on burlap for small pieces which would NOT go on the floor.  Since foundation cloth is relatively expensive there is absolutely nothing wrong with picking up a yard of burlap at JoAnns or Hancock Fabrics to start on.  You could practice on making a small mat, hot plate, chair pad, etc. on the burlap and it would be just fine if not on the floor.

Once you determine the size of your project, be sure to allow at least 3" all around to give yourself room for the margin to tuck into your hoop or around your frame.  Pull a thread to ensure you are cutting on the straight of grain. 

To prevent the edges from raveling and don't have a sewing machine or serger you can use Duck Tape and fold over the four sides to keep it from raveling. 

Let your inner child come out and draw something small and easy since you probably have limited colors of wool.  Make a mug mat, hot plate or chair pad ~ something small and quick for your first project.  It could be a star; draw out a snowman, or soon Valentines day will be here so draw a heart.  Oh, BTW, you can also hook with yarn, cotton or flannel fabric, tee shirts, anything.  That is what our foremothers did anyway..... they made do.

Tomorrow I'll try and cover:

~ How many holes from the last loop do I pull another?
~ What prevents the loops from coming out?
~ Should I coat the back of the rug with the rubber stuff to keep from slipping?  NO!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'll answer that one right now and cover it again tomorrow.

Enjoy your Sunday evening and hope you are warm.  It is frigid here in Delaware where the wind chill factor is in the teens.  But thankfully we aren't having snow and feel for you guys who are being hit with that early storm.

Saundra