End of Year Binding Progress Report

Don't think I'll stay up past midnight to finish binding the last two rugs of 2017.  Have been working on both simultaneously so neither is totally finished and probably won't be until sometime tomorrow.

Was asked how I bind my rugs ~ answer is many different ways depending on the look I want.  Here are a few ways I've bound rugs:

• wool yarn whipped over cording
• wool fabric over cording and continued on back as binding
• Wool strip bound edge
• cotton binding tape
• twill or cotton fabric binding
• Betsy Reed primitive binding

Here is a picture of the Birthday Lion being bound.  The linen has been serged at the edge to protect from ravel and was cut away at about 1" away from the last row of hooking as cotton binding tape is only 1 1/4" wide.  Then wool yarn is gently stitched from the outer edge to the edge of binding tape.

That process continues all around the rug while easing gently at the corners and doing a miter edge.

In the photo below you can see it is pinned as I go and the corners have been mitered.  There's still one side to attach with yarn at the edge before stitching down the inside.

Sometimes I don't want the added color or texture change beyond the last loop pulled.  So the Primitive Horse rug I didn't want wool whipped edge, crochet edge or braided edge either.  This is to be a primitive rug so used wool I'd dyed in a black walnut bath some months ago.  Wanted it to look like it had a faded and scuffed edge from wear ~ it's an antique replication.

While purging my cottons I found this perfect match so cut strips wide enough to double.  Sewed the raw edges together first then stitched close to the last row of hooking.  Sure would have been easier to do if I'd sewn it on before hooking.

In the photo below you can see how well the colors match the wool in the rug.  Since this is cotton fabric doubled believe it is at least as strong as the woven cotton binding used on the Birthday Lion.  Plus, this binding is a tad wider so protects more of the foundation's edge.

Hope everyone has heat as it is frigid.  I tried to go for a walk and don't think I walked 1/4 mile before turning around...my fingers and face frozen.  No way anyone could pay me to go for the Ball Drop in NYC tonight.  Not only the frigid temps would keep me away but also the dangerous times we are being exposed to.

Stay safe, don't drink and drive and be aware of your surroundings.

Saundra

Types of Rug Binding

Just another minor detour from my hooked items theme.  There have been two recent inquires from two different folks wanting more information about binding rugs.

Although I've posted binding information several times on the blog before, newly joined folks may not have seen them.  THERE IS a way to do a 'search' on my blog using key words to find what you want.  At the top left on my blog is a white block where I just typed in "binding a rug" and this is the information which popped up:
http://woodlandjunction.blogspot.com/search?q=binding+a+rug 

Yet, wanting to please my readership (lost one today...wonder why?) thought I'd show you different ways I've bound rugs.  In the beginning I used only the 1 1/4" binding tape.  I was taught to do a row of straight stitching 1/4" away from the last row of hooking and then 1" away from that do two rows of straight stitching 1/4" apart with a row of zig zag stitching connecting the two.  Then you could trim the foundation knowing it is protected from raveling.  When the binding tape is attached it protects the foundation from further harm.

At rug camps I learned other ways to bind using complimentary wool. The colors of this wool on the lion below goes well with the inside colors.  It was cut on the bias, covered a cord and sewn down the appropriate length to cover the edge of the rug.

This is what the back looks like.  I felt the edge of the bias wool needed protection so did a zig zag to prevent it from raveling.  

Also have done several rugs using a wool whipped edge.  Most recent was the Magdalena Goat.  The formula for 'how much yarn' is that it takes 12" of yarn to whip 1".  Bless Kris Miller of Spruce Ridge Studios  for reminding me when I had a brain fart once.  

Now another question rises to the top, right?  You're wondering if you need to use binding tape if you whip.  Some people do but it isn't necessary.  The object of binding tape is to protect the foundation and whipping the edge does that.  The Magdalena Goat it is crisp, clean and no loose edges of foundation to be seen so did not use binding tape.  

I have also used cotton fabric in wide widths such as this.  I felt that the stripe would lend itself to a complimentary look if an edge were to show.  The Cherries and Candy Stripe piece is for my harvest table and not the floor so wouldn't see traffic.

Another binding technique was used on the Chicken Challenge rug below.  It was taught by Betsy Reed in a class.  If you would like to see it demonstrated on a previous blog post you can see it HERE.

NOW speaking of the traffic ~ this is the rug which was at my front door for 14 years.  Below is the back side and was also a wool covered cord with the self-binding a the back.  The wool was the same Dorr #44 used for the background.  This wool was cut straight of grain rather than bias.  Note the more squared corners than in the bias border previously. 

Below you can see how the walking of 14 years at the front door wore down the wool. The foundation is still perfectly fine and glad I pulled it off the floor when I did.  Plans are now to repair the edge with wool whipping around the cord all the way around.  I won't put it back at the front door again but it is too special to me to let it fade away.  This was my precious first hooking project and want to preserve it for my family.

There are additional binding techniques which I have not tried ~ one is the crochet edge and the other is with a braided edge.

Several booklets are available to teach about binding and other basics but I can give you two sources.  One is called Finishing Hooked Rugs ~ a publication from Rug Hooking Magazine.

Another is by Kris Miller which also gives basics of rug hooking.

Have a great evening everyone; for those of you who 'may' be looking forward to more of my hooked rugs perhaps I'll begin again tomorrow.

Saundra

What Does It Take To Call It Fun?

This isn't the original title I'd given my post but while walking Ben thought about what my post was really about and changed the title.  For me here are the items which would determine if I was having fun hooking or not:

Style/Subject ~ Definitely Primitive hooking for me.  I most favor antique adaptations since that is what pulled me into the hooking bug.  But sometimes whimsy wins out.  One day I want to do a landscape and a memory rug but those will need to meet the following criteria with maybe the occasional exception.

Wool strip size ~ for me it would be nothing less than #8 and preferably #8.5 & #9.  Yes I've hooked ONE rug with #3 for my departed Rotties but no more narrow cuts unless it is the center of an eye or center of a flower.

Wool color ~ I prefer earthy and olde colors.  Not particularly fond of bright colors although I did hook Ali Katz in bright for a specific purpose and that was fun.  PLUS, it was hooked in wide cuts so that helped.  Not fond of flat colors anymore either, but use them on occasion as I've a fondness for textures as that lends itself to primitive old rugs.

New on the Frame ~  AH.... now that is the one that has me now.  Don't ask if I'm having fun yet....'cuz I'm not.  As much as I enjoy the subject matter and antique adaptation this isn't new on the frame.  It is the second time hooking this design, one right after the other.  Yes, it is for a friend so I'm a bad girl for saying I'm not having fun.  Since just finishing one am itching to start something new.  Here is what the second Black Kitten Mat looks like as of this moment.

This a shot of the one I just finished with Betsy Reed's primitive binding compared to the one  in progress which will have a traditional cotton rug binding.

Now back to that fun part ~  I'm itching to put something new on my frame to hook before going to Cape may.  A few months ago that something was to hook Lucille Festa's Hobo Joe, below.

But, as you know I've become enamored with Hester, a free design in Primitive Quilts and Projects, which is a design by Lori Brechlin of NotForgotten Farm. 

Not sure about you other rug hookers but my excitement level can bee fickle and flit from one design to another in a flash ~ just as with Hobo Joe and Hester.  But, who knows, since these are small maybe I'll be able to hook them both before I leave for Cape May in September.

In other news..... I just noticed this will me my 1002 posting.  Dang, for a long time I watched the numbers to make that 1000 announcement but I missed it.  Well, that's me... a day late and dollar (or two) short.

Have a great evening everyone.

Saundra

Another Cat Mat?

Actually, it's another kitten mat that I'm hooking for my guy friend who loved the other I was working on.  Problem is that I really had fallen in love with the mat when I started working on it and planned the journey for the mat. 

And, think he would prefer squared corners rather than the curved corners I planned and same with the primitive rag tag binding which I love.  Plus feel he would find it strange to have the separation down the middle of the kitten as the original antique had and I replicated.  This is the one finished for me and for patterns.

This is the one I've started for my friend.  Since there will NOT be any additional border needed decided to make life simple for me and sew on the cotton rug binding in advance.  I can hook up to the edge of the binding, steam and bind...easy peasy.

 And I'm so up-to-date on hooking and binding that this kitten and a couple more rug labels is all on my to-do list before the next bestest thing on my frame.  Which I just might draw out this weekend....AFTER cutting grass at a some point.

Hope you have a great weekend and play pretty with one another.

Saundra

Kitten Update and Thinking of the Binding

There's something about hooking the perimeter of a rug and filling in which makes the rug seem a little more complete if only on one corner.  That is what gets me excited and planning while pulling loops.  Below is a picture without a flash.

And then a photo with a flash.  I've a plan for my binding and that wool used for this one hooked row border line is #6913 Brown and Grey Texture from Dorr.  But that row won't be the real finished edge.  This is only a little play to blend in the Betsy binding technique with the rest of the mat. 

And as a reminder if you check out the next picture you will see how the original looks.  Already see I'm not happy with the too bland and too round circle at the bottom right corner.  Will need to work on that.  Matter of fact looks as if the wool I'm using for the exterior row might be a good alternative for part of it.

Moving along.... since the original has a dark border, albeit pulling away from the foundation, I want mine dark.  So what is better than doing the Betsy Reed primitive binding technique?  p.s.  If you ever have a chance to take a class with Betsy of Heavens to Betsy, please treat yourself.  Betsy also has great wool as is and over dyed.

To prepare for the final Betsy Binding went to my cotton fabrics and pulled out the black cotton and cut across the width in 2 1/2" strips.  Then put them in a pot with 14 tea bags and gave them a bath.  Sadly they still don't look aged to me but they are a little wrinkled and with raw edges.

Stay tuned as I plan to share my journey on this little kitten mat which is drawn to the dimensions of approx. 15 x 18.  The reason I say approximately is because part is hooked and some not and pulling loops does alter the dimensions of a design.

Okay kids, have a great evening.  Just remember that you are given 24 hours each day to live life. Enjoy those moments as there is no going back to recapture spent time.  If you are a caregiver, have a job, a family, still be sure to take time for yourself.......Oh, and please be kind to one another.

Saundra

Black Kitten Mat Show-n-Tell

Seems I'm always making excuses as to why more hasn't been hooked on my projects.  Heck, it isn't as tho I have a job so it's my time management which is the issue here. 

At least I can see well now as I picked up the new prescription glasses.  My eyes are examined every year but there was such minimal change the last 3 years that no new glasses were required.  But about 3 months ago I noticed the left lens just wasn't working for me and things were a little blurry.  Now my vision is perfect and love being able to see just right.  Everything seems more crisp and didn't even mind the reduction of money in my checking account.

This is what the Black Kitten Mat looks like now.

And already know exactly how this kitten is getting bound.... none other than the Betsy Reed primitive binding technique.  I've already done a tutorial on that style and won't do one again when binding the kitten.  So if you want to learn how to do it just look at the top left of my blog and you will see a red square with a B in it with an open area to the right.  That is my blog's search engine and you can type key words there and previous posts related to that topic will show up. 

Unless it rains tomorrow it's once again time for grass cutting #!*&%!.  Yes, this weather is better than snow and freezing rain but sure does take time away from things I'd rather do.  Yes, life is good and am happy for every day I draw a breath, pull loops and be grateful for what I have.

Can you believe it is July 1st?  Just think, in less than 6 months it will be Christmas again.

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian Friends!!!  Enjoy and celebrate your holiday....I'll tip a glass of wine to that!!

Have a great evening.

Saundra

Crow Pillow Other Side

The OTHER side would be this Magdalena style piece being hooked now; the first side was a design by Betsy Reed (scroll down my blog to see that unfold).  But the Magdalena Crow side isn't going fast enough for me.  The unwanted snow is slowing me down since Ben can't handle a snow shovel and there's no one else here to do it but me and him.  

Must admit  that before posting this side was tempted to just keep on hooking until there was more accomplished on this side but thought better of that idea.  And, was tempted to remove the penny circles then asked myself 'why'?

This it what it looked like last time I posted.  If you look closely there were some sections pulled out and rehooked.  Even now I'm not fond of the top left side.  But hey, this is a primitive pillow for me and not a competition.  Would Magdalena be so picky with her wool color choices or placement?  I don't think so....she used what she had and that was it.  For me, this was to be fun to use up nothing but woolie worms.

Hopefully after this side is hooked there will be a noticeable drop in the wool strip collection accumulated over the years.  As much as I hate binding rugs and tend to let them mount up, I'm looking forward to showing you the Betsy Reed primitive cotton edge binding for this pillow.   Actually there is a previous blog post about that so if you are in a hurry you can blog about the Betsy Reed Primitive binding technique and am sure it will take you to my blog or Betsy's. 

Hope you all have heat, electric and water during this nasty winter.  Although I hate the snow ~ having been without heat 6 days between the months of January and February figure that IF I have HEAT I can endure the damn snow.

A good way to keep warm, active and entertained is cover yourself with a hooking or quilting project.  Be safe and have fun everyone.  Oh..... and be kind to one another.

Saundra

Deja vu

Remember when I shared my experience without heat four days in January?  Which required a brand new furnace?  Remember that?  Well yesterday I had no heat...AGAIN.  The NEW furnace was making a different sound and the room next to the furnace room smelled funny.  So I called the service man who dropped by after his work day ,(yesterday).

He said the motor on the new furnace had overheated and could get one this morning and install it.  Yes, I'm under warranty but I wanted heat!  It got quite cold in the house and I slept under an electric blanket. 

This morning he arrived with a new motor for the 3 week old furnace.  When he turned on the unit, the furnace kicked in.  So he said he'd keep the new motor here just in case it did need replacement in the near future.  Service man left and in 15 minutes I called to tell him it was making that same unusual noise and he returned.  Yup, motor too hot to touch in just 15 minutes so it needed replace in the real close future.

The motor was installed and all looked good he said, the cover on the unit was replaced and he left.  He said he'd call in an hour to see how things were going.  I didn't wait the hour because there was nothing but cold air coming thru the heat registers.  At 4:30 he stopped by again to see what happened.  When he put the door back on the unit he accidently knocked a 'safety' wire off which prevents the flame to heat up.  Now FINALLY, all is working and the house temperature is going back up.  Let's hope it stays that way.

Okay, finally to hooking related....previously I told you that Betsy's Crow pattern was going to be made into a pillow.  Here's the wee bit of hooking managed during the cold two days, which isn't much.

But a few days ago I started the prep for the pillow edge ~ that primitive edge which was used on another pillow I made as well as my Chicken Challenge rug.  First thing I did was rip plain cotton fabric crosswise in 2 1/2" strips.

Next I sewed them together end to end.  Normally for clothing or wool binding I'd miter the ends and sew them that way, but this is going to be bunched up together on the edge and the more primitive and naïve the better.  Oh, that light but coffee dyed thread is embroidery thread which is part of the edging on the pillow.

Next it was a wash cycle to remove the sizing, then in the dryer where the got good and tangled.  Yup, a mess to separate with all the loose threads but makes it nice and wrinkled too.  Then rolled in a ball awaiting for it's task when the pillow is ready.

Hopefully it will be an uneventful evening and I'll still have heat in the morning.  Just checked the thermostat and it has risen from 54 degrees in the house to 59 degrees and furnace still working in stage 2 (propane).  The next few days will become even more cold so hope this new motor lasts.  I was extremely stressed out yesterday and last night, and frankly today also. 

Hope everyone has a great evening and will be warm.

Saundra

November First

Oh my, it is the first of November already, time to turn the clocks back so it gets darker earlier.  I already feel like there aren't enough hours in the day and now it will seem like there are even less.

As it will be darker earlier my driveway needs to have new solar lights so Ben and I can find our way down the curved driveway for our (his) walk after dark.  The present ones have long died.  Now if ONLY someone in town still hasn't boxed theirs up and stored them away until next spring garden time.

AND......in just 8 days I'll be leaving for rug camp with Betsy Reed and looking forward to it.  Had a class with her last November and want to show her my Chicken Challenge Rug I hooked using her primitive edge binding technique.  I think this just makes the look of the rug.

Speaking of Betsy.....did you know that she and her artist husband Eric have acquired the designs of George Kahle?  Yes, tis sad but true;  George was a very talented man and a great story teller.  Anyone who has been to a rug camp where Dick and George attended can vouch for that.  George will be sadly missed.

In these few short 8 days I've got lots of things going on, doctor appointments scheduled, fasting blood test (yuck to both of those), hair cut (yippee for that), and preparing the house to accept the friend who tends my boy Ben and does repairs when I'm gone ~ and thank goodness for that help as well. 

And of course I need to pack suitcases and wool.  Since I'm hooking Magdalena's Olde Ducks there will be both wool yardage in a few colors AND..... are you ready for this.... woolie worms.  Yup, how better to make a rug look old than using a little this and a little that?

As always happens I'll probably end up tossing in a little more uncut wool in the container before I leave.  However, I will have a wool goddess as my teacher so am sure she will be able to help if in need.

Have a good evening even if it is rainy and windy where you are too.  And, good luck getting used to the new time change over the next two weeks until we all adjust.

Saundra

A Pillow Finish With HEART!

Sondra, a blog follower of mine was kind enough to share her finish of a pillow she recently hooked.  It is a design by Maggie Bonanomi which she hooked in #9.5 wool strips.  I apologize to everyone for the photo being sideways.  This happens to me all the time when I turn my camera sideways.  Even if I use the Paint program to right it and save it, (which I also did to these photos) when I post it on my blog it is still sideways.  Oh well, you can still see a beautiful wide cut pillow.

Sondra saw my blog post of the primitive binding technique that I learned in a Betsy Reed rug class and you can read that same blog post HERE.  I first used it on a pillow and then later on a rug.  Here is the side view of that primitive binding technique Sondra used on her pillow.

And now the back of the pillow (love that mottled wool).

I fell in love with this primitive binding style when I saw Betsy's samples and told her I wanted to learn how to do that.  Well of course it is supposed to look like a primitive, almost to the point of an aged heirloom which has had repairs.  That is the look I loved since it made pieces look aged.  Naturally it is not a style which would be suitable for all hooked pieces but it sure does look perfect on Sondra's Heart Pillow.

 

Thank you Sondra for sharing.  And if anyone else has read something on my blog they tried, or purchased one of my patterns and wish to share their work I'd LOVE to receive a photo.

 

Have a great evening everyone.

 

Saundra