..your rug hooking journey began? I sure do and knew it would be a love everlasting. I soaked up Rug Hooking magazine, loved the photos and particularly paid attention to the 'beginner' rug hooking articles. But one can only read so much before it comes time to purchase supplies and put the little knowledge to practice. When it came down to buying a booklet with whimsical primitive patterns it was one offered by Ali Strebel and the first finished project was a hooked mitten.
The photo below was my first year at Cape May 2003 with teacher Patsy Becker after a couple years practicing on my own. My hair looks like it needs shearing, lol.
The
very first frame was an embroidery hoop and that was just too awkward to hold and pull loops so purchased a used Puritan and stand. Here is a Puritan with original stand but not the one I purchased.
 |
| (A random Puritan frame photo) |
Well, it was better than the hoop but sold it to purchase something more substantial that would rotate and tilt, Puritan wasn't a winner in my book. So now I have a sit-upon which travels with me to camps so I can hook in the sleeping room at night. And use it at home for hooking small stuff. My favorite frame is the Snapdragon but have an Acadian Frame for larger patterns. So one of those travels to camps to be my classroom frame. Most times I take the Snapdragon since it is an easy off when its my turn with the teacher.
I also own an original Townsend 16" Orbiter seen in this old photo with my departed big boy Ben. I think Ben was sizing up the small empty space on the sofa wondering if he would fit in. Anyway, as I have no plans to hook huge rugs in the future I'm planning on taking the frame to Cape May in case anyone is interested in purchasing it. Closer to September I'll pull the frame out of the closet and photograph it without a rug.
The first cutting tool was
a rotary cutter which I no longer have since I loaned it and was never returned. However knew
I was in this game for the long haul so had purchased a more substantial and more expensive
cutter. As with most things for this rug hooking venture I've upgraded and have a back-up for all my toys tools.
I have a Bliss (with suction cups), a Fraser 500 with #3 - #8 cuts and my beloved Townsend Cutter with #6 - #10 cartridges. At this time I don't plan to sell any of those because I use the smaller cuts on the Bliss and Fraser so as to not have to purchase cartridges of those sizes for the Townsend.
Sorry to bore you with this time travel back decades but it came about since someone asked me if I'd teach them to hook. When I did shows I'd hook something in the booth between customers. So many times people would ask if I'd teach them to hook. I'm not a teacher and don't want to be a teacher as I feel I'd lose the love of hooking as I did when making dolls.
Eventually making dolls became work and right now my time hooking is my time for pleasure. I don't wish to make that feel like work. Frankly all the teachers I've had deserve LOTS of credit for what they put up with and only hope that when I was in their class I was a good student.
Whew! Sorry this was such a long post, have a lovely evening, enjoy hooking and I'd better get back to pulling loops on my 1911 Horse as well.
Saundra
I remember my first lesson I was a stay at home mom and a friend and I headed 40 minutes away to a teacher who charged 5.00 a lesson. (25 years ago) off we went well we bought a frame a pattern a hook and wool we both wrote checkes for over100.00 which was huge for 2 stay at moms but I will never be sorry I did it!
ReplyDeleteCathy
What a cutie you always are, but that hair reminds me of the Flying Nun...lol ;-)
ReplyDeleteMy first frame which I used for years was a used Puritan. I also bought a used Rigby cutter which I also used for years. I remember saving for the Townsend and it just about killing me to spend that much $$$, but I have never regretted it. Same for when I finally broke down and bought my Snapdragon. Good tools make such a difference!
Yep, definitely reminds me of the flying nun. A gorgeous nun at that, if I may say so. A hooking flying nun. hehe.
DeleteI too remember my first lesson. It was a small simple little house. I was so eager to design my own rug that I never whip the edges of my first rug.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy you showing up your tools of the trade. Your post was not long at all. You have a lot more (toys) tools than me. I have a rotary / tilt frame with stand and I take it with me where ever I hook. I have a Bliss cutter and #3, 4, 5, 6 cutting blades, three Moshimer hooks size fine, Medium and large and a short shaft primitive hook that Lauren gave me in a hooking kit. Oh, I forgot, I have a sharp snipper scissor and and a lockstitch sewing machine to hem the rug backing.
Happy Hooking.
Hugs,
Julia
Duh...not a Townsend. Meant to say Snapdragon!!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting story,,,, my friend was more interested than me,,, but didnt want to be left out,,,, got hooked right away,,, back in 1995,,,! Wow,,, what fun times we have had,,,, lots of good memories,, too,,,Thanks for sharing, ,,, yourstory, ,,,
ReplyDeleteElaine😊
It seems most everyone remembers when they first picked up a hook for the first time - I do, but find it odd, thinking about it now, that I don't remember my first stitching or punching project. I hooked on hoop for quite a while and then finally got a Puritan (which I still use on the rare occasions when I travel) and I also have a Puritan at the lake. Years ago, my neighbor's husband made a stand for the Puritan that rotates and tilts (a little) but it is big, heavy and cumbersome - doesn't travel well. I have a Townsend cutter...which I love...as well as a Bliss (or a Fraser? Can't remember which - tells you how much I use it) that I bought at an auction for a backup, but don't care for how it cuts. My hook is a simple thing fashioned on an old chisel (?) handle. Anyways, you win in the tools and toys department, hands down LOL. And, yup, a real cutie...but Lauren't comment about the Flying Nun cracked me completely up. ~Robin~
ReplyDeleteI found this post interesting too ....I started with a kit I bought at Dorr Woolens , a Cow chair pad ! It even came with wool cut in a 3 width (YUCK) and a hook . I inherited my Grandmother's Bliss cutter , it has to be 50 or 60 years old ! I bought a # 8 cutter for it and just recently bought the Sizzix system with the #9 cutter and just Love it ! I use a puritan frame that I bought at Dorr Woolens years ago too ....I bought a Hartman hook a few years ago without trying it & don't like it , but recently bought a new one that I Love that fits in my hand better, think it's a # 8 too, the #9 was too big for me . So far I am happy with my equipment , but friends have the Snapdragon Frames and fancy cutters ....I have my wool stored in old Picinic baskets & my Mother's old laundry basket ....I need More Baskets !!! LOL
ReplyDeleteHow interesting reading how you started and the cost of items. My first lesson was from a customer of ours. She wanted to see our house and I wanted to learn how to hook, so it was a win win for both of us. That is a mighty big rug for your first hook in. Kudos to you! Janice
ReplyDelete