A FUN PERSONAL CHALLENGE (updated)

Want to play along with a couple of us and challenge yourself on hooking an antique looking mat?  This isn't a competition, it is intended to be a personal/individual challenge.  

I love antique rugs and love replicating them but would like to improve by doing what our foremothers did...use alternative textiles.  As mentioned in my previous blog post I tried that but didn't choose my fabrics wisely.  This time they will be more hand friendly.  I will share what I've learned on my own so far.  And hope even new hookers might feel comfortable to join in the fun and feel comfortable to ask plenty of questions.     

Okay, so in my previous blog post shared what I'll be working on (the Little Lamb) and here is the messy table with the drawn pattern and some of the textiles I'll be using.

I'm not using burlap and wanted to use a looser weave piece of Belgian linen I have left but it was way too small.  I drew my lamb at 16.5 x 16.5 and I'm using primitive linen.  Note that I utilize every piece of linen and for MY USE if the sides don't fit on the frame I sew fabric on the short sides so it works.  That large group of wool above the pattern will be used for some of the background and will be the perfect color.  Those were leftover worms which I overdyed and you can read about it HERE.  

Over to the right of that pile of wool is yarn, cotton knit, cheese cloth  and vintage seam binding.  Below the Little Lamb photo is a piece of green nylon stocking from who knows where.  But I plan to use it in this mat before it is lost.

I just started hooking that cheese cloth in my sweet li'l lamb and not sure if I've enough or will need to hook in a few loops of wool.  Have pulled my loops about every 3rd or 4th hole so far and may change that if it appears the loops are too close.  

While I'm attempting to hook this a little differently than normal, note that some antique rugs don't have those bits of foundation showing and appears to have bulky loops in their rugs.  So guess everyone had their own rhythm back then too so not necessary to pull low and far apart.  Here is an example of bulky  loops.  I see woven cotton, some knit and what could be wool yarn.           

The update:  Nancy asked me how wide I was cutting my cotton strips and I wasn't sure since I didn't measure, just started cutting.  But here they are lined up ~ first 3 from the left are cotton knit, then the cheese cloth and then a piece of cotton flannel.  Hope this helps.

In the previous post I provided some ideas for your project so I'll put new ones and the others here again.  You may choose one of these or another of your choice.  If you'd like to peruse my previous antique rug shows,  just type those words in the blank spot at the top left of the blog post, hit return and you will see many posts.

  

Again is Li'l Lamb.

Black Kitten.

Black Lamb.

Lone Flower.

 BUS the Dog.

Early Bird.

A pretty flower.

I think there is plenty to choose from and feels good for me to have something new on my frame...if I can sit down for a little while to pull more loops; happy hooking.  

Saundra

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