Li'l Lamb Update

As I didn't have enough tea dyed cheese cloth for the lamb some fuzzy wool was also used.  At  least now the lamb is hooked and can continue working on the background.  So far the background consists of yarn, cotton knit and a little wool from the worm bag.

The  brown/black yarn below was spun by departed friend Leslie Coveney.  She put a tag on it labeled "Gabe Blend llama wool".  I've had it for years and finally using it.  This close up is true to color but you'd never know it was the same which is hooked close to the lamb's body and between the hind leg down the tail up to the black cotton  knit. It is a beautiful color but think it is too soft to be used to bind a rug.

She generously also gave me other yarn some of which I've used to bind a rug.  Here is a design by Tonya Robey called A Day in the Country and Leslie's yarn was used to bind this rug.

Leslie also spun my dogs' hair onto a thin strand of wool which I used to hook in my Rottweiler Memorial which you can read about HERE. 
Hope everyone is having fun with the project they chose and looking forward for you to share a photo with me.  

It's drizzling here today so will stay inside and pull some loops.  Weatherman says it will be below normal temps next week so guess my heat will soon be turned on despite the low 70 temps of today.

Saundra

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Labeling Rugs

My labels don't get printed out until I have a full page to print. One of the rugs was finished in 2015 but didn't want to waste a sheet of printable fabric with just one label.  Having printed the labels out figured it was time to start stitching them on my rugs.  

First one stitched was the Spring Challenge designed by sweet Kelley Belfast and hosted by the Out of Hand Rug Hookers group.  Since the deadline for this challenge is May 1st wanted to be certain all was accomplished.  The finished size of the rug measures 19" x 24".

For those wondering..... Most of the rug was hooked with #8.5 strips. But some narrow worms were used and for the proddy daffodils the size varied from #8 to #9.5.  Below is the label which shows the original design by sweet Kelley Belfast.  Thought the line drawing would be a nice documentation to have on the label attached.

Next to have a label was A Day in the Country, a design by Tonya Robey of Mad Hen.  It was a kit purchased a few years ago and finally hooked in November/December 2015.

The label attached has a copy of the sample rug Tonya hooked. Since I took liberties with a couple flowers thought it best to show the original hooked piece by Tonya on the back.

Next in line for a label was Flag Day Sheep.  Again I took liberties and changed it to look a little more like a design which Woolley Fox carries called Woolley Sheep.

It was only fitting that the label to the back be how the original Flag Day Sheep design looked like on the web site.

Another rug recently hooked and needing a label is Rainbow Cabin, a design by Carol Endress and offered by Woolley Fox.

This one still needs to be stitched but is just pinned in place.  The label shows a photo of the design hooked by Barb Carroll.  I've seen her hooked version in person and the photo retrieved from the web site is showing up far brighter than it really is.  

Although I've posted how to do these labels on my blog before, if you're new or wish to revisit the how to... click HERE.

For those working folk... TGIF... oh but I remember that well.  It is still rainy, dreary and after all this rain the grass will be be in dire need of cutting.  But meanwhile I'll keep on going on.

Saundra

Time to Whip It

Today I decided to tip my toes in and test whipping with the red wool. I've whipped the edges of other rugs but always with the knowledge there was plenty of that color wool available.  Since the red wool was a special gift from a friend who has passed and this was the only hank, wanted to be sure there was enough.

Kris Miller and several people assured me there was enough and some left over.  Kris said it takes 12" of yarn to whip a 1" area.

So this morning I measured out a piece of the yarn and marked it with a black Sharpie at a 12" point and decided to try.  After all I didn't want to run out of yarn if my 'roll' was too thick or my whipping was closer than normal thus used up more yarn.

Woohoo, 1" so looks like I'm good.  But then how much would be used up with the 'tacking' or back stitch to secure the end of the yarn??  So now I'll be careful not to be wasteful.

Am taking the bull by the horns and going for it.  In the past I've sometimes used a cord and sometimes not.  Decided to go for the cord this time.  Hopefully, as this wool yarn is special (spun AND dyed by my departed friend Lesley Coveney) I'll have enough to finish then always have a memory of her labor and friendship.  Look how perfect her wool and the scallop border are together.

On Facebook I saw some clips that Nancy Parcels was using and they would be perfect for this project.  Wish they were here for me to use now.  Those red clips are made from Clover and Nancy said she got them at AC Moore.  There may just be a trip to AC Moore for me tomorrow.

This is what I accomplished this afternoon and will continue with this in the morning.  

Meanwhile, tonight...... I'm going to plop an already hooked project on my sit-upon since it is a smaller frame.  Recently went into the 'show' containers and found a cute mat which was hooked a few years ago and didn't sell at a show.  I'd even forgotten it was there.  So now I'm going to give it new life and perhaps even list it on etsy when changed.

Stay tuned to see what this is as the change will be done tonight and you'll see what it is in tomorrow's post.

Be kind to one another folks, we need more positive in the world and hopefully that would be contagious....more kindness and less anger.

Saundra

Sheep Update

At least the major motif and background is all hooked and now working on the border.  For anyone just reading my blog, this was originally a pattern named Flag Day Sheep which I took creative license to make more like Woolley Sheep.  Both of those designs are a Woolley Fox design.

So far all of the wool used for the blocks in the border are from my worm stash.  A lot of the sky and ground color also came from my worms with a few cut strips for a little consistency.  Am hoping to use nothing but left over worms for the remaining border but it takes time to search thru the baggies of colors for just the right value of just the right color. Yet I am enjoying this rug very much and can't wait to put it on the floor.  Could be this one will be bound before the rug just hooked, which was a design by Tonya Robey.  

Slow as she goes...... That is how the binding process is going with A Day in the Country, by Tonya.  I did do the preliminary machine stitching 1/4" away from the last hooked row, then two rows of straight stitching and one row of zig zag 1" away from the last row of hooking, then trimmed the excess away. Now it is resting until I get in the mood to start whipping.  Hey, don't want to rush into anything, lol.

Hope you have a great evening, already 6 days into the 2016.  Sheesh, where does the time go?

Saundra

What Next??

Dang if I know!  But I'd better make up my mind soon before the sheep is finished.  Just hate not having something ready immediately to put on my frame.  Soon will begin the binding process on A Day in the Country and will do that in stages since it isn't my favorite part of hooking.

Although I have 28..YES....28 patterns drawn on linen in my stash there's surely something there to interest me.  Yet, I'm still thinking about this antique small since there is a spot on the wall just for a small size.

Tis true I have the small primitive cat mat I recently hooked which would fit perfectly in that spot.  But for some reason a horse is calling me.  I'd even thought about this antique horse below.  But like the idea of a dark animal motif and the shape of the one above is more to my liking.

I also have Woolley Fox's Olde Hearts pattern and with Valentines Day coming in February thought it might be fun to hook hearts.  Plus, I've the master patterns for the hearts designs Polly Minick did in her last book so could hook those.

However, yesterday I went to my 'show container' where I store the rugs and mats which didn't sell when doing shows.  A couple were listed on etsy and found one which needs a little tweaking before I list it.  It is a small mat so won't take much work... that may be my next immediate project.  You'll have to wait until later to see the before and after.

Meanwhile, this is my sheep and I'm in love with it.  Of course it is always the one I'm working on that is my favorite.  Okay, okay, thats a lie, lol.  There have been hooking projects which were shear torture for me to work on.  But most are heavenly.

Have a great evening everyone.  Please be kind to one another.

Saundra

Hooking Completed

Yippee, I accomplished one of my two goals before the end of 2015. One was to finish hooking A Day in the Country, a design by Tonya Robey of Mad Hen Prims.   The binding won't be done until after I've accomplished goal two, which is to finish hooking the sheep rug. Hopefully I'll manage to complete that one in 2015 too.

Now I've a question for all you mathematical minded hookers or the ones who know the answer.  How much yarn does it take to whip a rug? Below is a picture of the only skein that color which was dyed by my dear departed friend Lesley.

The round skein of yarn measures 26" in length and there are 35 strands.  So doubled would be 52" x 35 = 1,820" (approx.).  Am I on the right track here?  The rug measures 25 1/2" x 33".  How much would I need to whip the edge with that yarn?

And if there isn't enough to whip the edge with the yarn would use what I have and attach the binding tape to the outer edge of the rug. The pretty yarn would be hidden on the bottom but would cover the foundation at the outer edge.

Now to put the hook in my hand and work on the sheep.

Hope you are enjoying the calm day after the busy Christmas day. Thanks for dropping by.

Saundra

A Day in the Country Update and Cutting it Close

This is what has been accomplished on the rug so far.  Not nearly as much as I'd like but then the nice weather has allowed me to do some necessary yard work in comfort.

A couple things to point out in the photo above.... was wondering what colors to hook those other little flowers at the bottom (now covered by the brown wool) so placed yellow and mottled orange to see.  But think what is needed first is to finish the upper right part of the rug, the tree and perhaps the bottom will make the decision easier.

EEK, will I have enough brown ground wool to cover the area at the bottom?  With the remaining brown left in the kit I folded and placed in areas, plus the wool strips to the right of the picture just MIGHT be enough to finish.  The standard primitive wide cut used to be #8 but now the 'go to' primitive strip is #8.5 or sometimes even a #9.  So when I use those cuts it is only natural to pull loops up higher which uses more wool than the #8. In the event I do run short of a smidge of wool will just pull out loops in random areas and rehook with a similar color from my stash.  I've done that with other rugs before so shouldn't be a problem.

Here's a photo to show the wool sent for the fence and what I chose to use instead.  The wool on the left is an overdyed dirty white sent with the kit but thought it might be too white. I'll save that for a snowman for next winter's hooking project. Instead used another wool, that to the right. If you would like this pattern or kit please contact Tonya (MadHenPrims) from whom this kit was purchased.  I am lucky to own several Tonya hooked pieces, have hooked numerous patterns of hers, still have some in my stash and love her designs.  

That wool to the right is also the same wool used for the house on the far left in Nantucket Broom Ride, a pattern offered by Spruce Ridge Studio based on the artwork of Lori Brechlin.

This mild temperature is going to change soon so hope everyone has had a chance to finish up yard work.  And, can you believe it is just 10 days away from Christmas day?  Nope, me either.

Have a wonderful evening.

Saundra

A Day in the Country

For sure I know what a day in the country is like because that is where I live and it is peaceful.  But this is about a rug by that name which is still being worked on my frame and thought it was time for an update. This is a rug design by Mad Hen Prims.

Plus wanted to see how that tree on the right side looks with the color changes added in the trunk.  Seemed it needed a little variance so pulled some dyed wool from my stash to add to that provided in the kit. But wasn't sure how the color along the sides would look with the ground brown color against the tree.  Think it will be okay as I chose the darker side of the brown ground color to hook against the tree.  Say that fast three times.

Okay kiddies.... am sure there is an Acadian rug frame in my very near future.  Cindy, or rather Cindy's husband has communicated with me, answered some questions and am very pleased with his answers. There IS height adjustment.  So now need to find out the cost of shipping to me and will keep you all informed.  

Have a great evening.

Saundra

Now and Then

Thought I'd show you what the camp rug A Day in the Country looks like now.  Remember that I broke away from this to finish the Out of Hand Challenge rug first since there was a deadline for that.  Albeit the date isn't until January 1st and there was well over a month but I hate to be late for anything.

And in case you want to see what my rug looked like for the 'throw down' at camp, here it is.  You will notice that two flower changes were made at camp in the drawing below, but hooked in the picture above.

By the way, the rug is a design of Tonya Robey of MadHenPrims.  It is   not on time for Ben's dinner but have some chopping to do as I'm getting ready to make some turkey rice soup.  Sure am getting a lot of mileage out of the leftovers my son sent home with me ~  turkey yesterday, turkey salad today and turkey soup tonight.

Have a great weekend.

Saundra