Sunday, July 10, 2022

Be Prepared

The Boy Scout motto is "Be Prepared".  The next time I host or do a textile challenge my motto is "be more prepared".  In 2021, during the pandemic, I hosted a textile challenge on my blog and you can read a little about it HERE.  The objective was using more of an alternate textile than wool in a rug to get back to our roots, so to speak.  

Not such a wise decision was that I chose to use woven cotton and homespun as my alternate textile.  Not next time baby, it is a bear to pull through the linen.  Finished works by the participants of the challenge were featured in the August/September 2021 issue of ATHA magazine.  Thanks to all the rug hookers who joined in, it was fun.
So in order for  me to be more prepared for the next challenge I've started looking for and collecting silks, cotton knits and nylons.  If you peruse the rug hooking sale sites on FB you've seen Sari silk offered I'm sure.  What makes Sari silk (a silk garment worn in India) any more special than a silk item worn in America?  Go to your local thrift shop and look for silk items.  Yeah, you'll have to dismantle and rip it yourself but much more thrifty and you can use the savings toward gas.
Yesterday I did rip a couple items which you see bundled to the left of the photo below.  I'll bet that colorful blouse will be beautiful and will eventually work on that.  The white nylons will be thrown in a dye pot once I know what the project will be.  You can also see a green and yellow piece of nylon stocking.
And here is my collection of cotton knit, and more yellow and green nylon stockings.  These will have to be cut vs. ripped, but at least I've got my bounty ready.
For those who have followed me regularly, you know my passion for hooking antique adaptations.  Here is a photo of antique star and diamond rug which measures 33 x 70.  Love those blotchy off color patches on antique rugs.  Shows me they used what they had.
Now look at the close up detail of the textiles used AND notice the spacing between the loops.
And yet another closeup of another section of the rug with burlap showing thru.  That may also indicate weakening of the foundation.  Point is, that's not wool.
Here is the back of another antique rug and look at the spacing between loops.
On another rug, the photo below shows this person even used a sweater.
And probably my all time favorite antique rug designer/hooker is Magdalena Briner Eby.  Here are two closeup photos of the front and what is now known as Great Granddaughter's Rug.
Notice that even tho these rugs were well used, walked on (pressed), during Magdalena's time you can still see foundation showing.  And of course they got dirty which adds beauty to the antique and tones down the bright white.  Sometimes I have used walnut juice from walnuts collected in the fall or I've a favorite dye recipe called Olde Patina which I use.  So if you want to make a rug look old, follow in the footsteps of our foremothers, just say'n.
Here's Magdalena's fine rug held by relatives.  That is the great granddaughter in the middle.
In 2019 I hooked that design and tried to follow the color scheme Magdalena used but hooked in my normal rhythm and using what I had on hand.
Guess I've rambled long enough on this post and need to save up something for future posts.  Happy Hooking.

Saundra





7 comments:

  1. Sounds like you have a Challenge project !!!! So are these old rugs also called Fragmented ????

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  2. Fragmented definition is: "existing in separate parts, pieces or factions ; divided". Fragments is a term/name a rug hooking teacher gave to a hooking style which is basically how antique rugs were hooked, with pieces of this and that.

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  3. Hmmm....you need to come "shop" my closet LOL. Sounds to me like you are scheming another challenge. I love the "popcorn-y" shape of the "loops" in those old rugs. I could never achieve that look no matter what textile I am using...I pack my loops way too tightly. ~Robin~ (TheCrankyCrow)

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  4. There may come a day when I'll need to hook fragmented rugs but at the moment, I'll keep plugging at my slow pace hooking with wool. I couldn't even think of hooking fragmented rugs on monks cloth.
    I thought that I would pull some loops today but got very lazy and did very little except for cooking new potatoes and peas from my garden and baking a Rhubarb Crisp. I slept in a bit this morning which was much needed, went out to breakfast and to church in the next town.
    A beautiful day to just relax.

    My grandmother had a fragmented rug with a black background and flowers. Only, I didn't know it was called a fragmented rug. I think it was given to her because I never saw her hook rugs. The memory of that old rug got me interested in taking a class in basic rug hooking.
    Hugs,
    Julia

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  5. Good for you to gather,,!!!
    I love hooking with Sweaters,,,Have saved all that I like ,,,and love the feel ,,,,interesting pics,,,,,Thanks,,,,♡♡

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  6. So if the spacing is farther apart, wouldn't that make the rug wear more easily?

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Thanks for taking the time to visit and I always welcome comments.