Rug Update and Hand Drawn Patterns

First here's a glimpse of the newest rug on my frame.  In a previous post I showed what I was using for the outline and the cat.  The star is hooked with red wool from my worm basket as is the light area surrounding the star, I should have filled in those extra spots around the star before taking a picture since it looks like little holes.

The darker background around the cat was among the wool I dyed in anticipation of hooking this rug.  It is the second from the left in this photo and it works well I think.

Just recently someone wrote me about a pattern situation and thought it was a topic worth discussing (NO, not with my pattern but one from someone else).  Here is what you, as the buyer, should expect when purchasing a pattern from someone.  I'm referring to those people in the business of drawing and selling patterns, me included, not someone downsizing their collection of unhooked purchased patterns.

You should expect the pattern:

• ~ drawn on straight of grain
• ~ no less than 3" margin beyond design
• ~ foundation edges secure to prevent raveling (I prefer serged    edges)

Never buy a 'stamped' pattern as you can be sure it is not on the straight of grain; you want to buy a 'hand drawn' pattern.  Although I draw a lot of my own patterns I also buy from other people and always take a pencil and run the pencil down the ditch at the edge to be sure it is drawn on the straight of grain before starting to hook.  I know it is easy for the pen to cross lines.  Of course the motifs inside may be curved, whimsical crooked houses, etc., but the outside edge should always be drawn on the straight of grain. 

Must admit that accidents do happen.  A bolt of linen is folded and when on a bolt there are also wrinkles.  So when drawing a line down the ditch across that section is very easy to slip into the next ditch.  Since I try to draw slowly, I correct myself and get back into the right ditch.  

What should you do if you buy a pattern from someone and it is off one strand or two along the perimeter?  If it were me and the design wasn't a game board style so the inside wasn't affected, I'd just draw the line straight and keep it.  Actually, that did happen to me and I do respect that person still to this day and will buy more patterns.  As I said, it is easy to be just one thread (ditch) over.  But, if it was way off kilter, I'd contact the designer/drawer and request a replacement or my money back.

 

Anyone who has purchased a pattern from me knows that I contact them, ask if they received the pattern and if are they are pleased.  And should someone buy one from me and they had an issue I would gladly give them a refund or replacement, but I'd want that pattern back they first bought.  I want to keep my customers happy and would like my name thought of kindly so will try to do my best.

I'd planned to discuss hooking circles and humps they can make but think this post is long enough so will hold that for another time.  It's going be chilly again tonight folks so bundle up.  Was shocking to wake up to white frosty crystals of snow on my yard this morning after all the warm weather earlier in the week.

Have a great evening.

Saundra