Love Hooking ~ Hate Binding

It has been a couple weeks since the last loop was pulled on Star Geometric.  It has been steamed, foundation secured, trimmed and ready for the final stage.

Binding a rug isn't hard to do but it takes time away from hooking another rug.  

I've done several types of binding and have posted several ways on my blog previously.  Sometimes (most times) I don't want a whipped edge as the additional row of color isn't always what is wanted.  Plus, I've whipped the edges with wool before and it doesn't take long for the wool yarn to separate and show the foundation.

Gritting my teeth I've started to bind the rug.  UH, taking away from my hooking time !#*?!  

This is how I'm binding Star rug.  Am using wool yarn but won't be whipped where that edge provides a part of the border and shows at the top.  But rather whipping which will be at the bottom to provide strength and support at the edge.

Notice I've placed the rug binding about 1/4" inside from the edge and did a running stitch to secure the binding tape to the rug's foundation.    With wool yarn I whip by placing the needle under the row of hooking and upward into the cotton binding.  

Was using single wool strands but now see I should have used double strands.  So that will change when getting back to this undesirable task, 😀

This is what it looks like from the top view.  No extra border and no wool yarn showing at the top.

On another thought and wool in my stash....that ugly pinkish/red wool is still driving me crazy and need to do an over dye.  But that will be in my future as I've an appointment tomorrow and need to get back to the Magdalena rug.   OH, will be making a pot of vegetable soup tomorrow also ~ so guess my tomorrow is full.

Weather is going to get crazy here soon, coming from you mid-west folks have it rough right now.  

Happy Monday.

Saundra

KA-CHING KA-CHING

Are you interested in making some money by binding a rug for Polly Minick?  

Only experienced rug hookers and those who like to bind need apply.  Please contact her HERE and she will give you all the details.  

She is great to work with and for but since I don't even like binding my own rugs I'll pass on this work.  

Good Luck.

Saundra

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

Binding Jack and a Label

With Westmoreland Ponies hooked and bound and Jack all hooked, it was time to bind him as well.  It feels so good to have no rugs waiting for the final finish.  I used the same yarn to whip at the edge of cotton binding as I did with Westmoreland Ponies, so you can check back on that blog post to check out the whipping and colors.

Here is Jack.  As previously mentioned, this is a pattern designed by Barb Carroll and was free pattern insert in the Sept/Oct 1997 issue of Rug Hooking Magazine.  I think Jack is quite handsome and torn between keeping him myself or sharing with someone by putting him on e-bay to provide revenue to help keep me in my hooking habit.  This picture without a flash is more what he looks like in person.

This is with a flash which makes the colors appear more bright than they really are but you can see the colors in the textures.

Someone asked to see the label for the Westmoreland Ponies so here it is.  It is smaller than I'd like as it would be nice to have fabric to turn under when stitching, that is why I used my pinking shears in order to retard raveling.  So until a larger label is designed this will do and I'll just cover this one over one day with a larger and better label.

Since there is no pattern ready for my Snapdragon as of yet I've resigned myself to sewing on a few more labels to the rugs.  Seems to me there were 8 labels on the 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of fabric that I printed out.  Should have had only maybe 4 labels per sheet but now I know better.  Next up for labeling will be Oh Deer and Mother Hen.

Still don't know what I want to hook next so that is why this is a no muss no fuss, easy peasy task.  Oh, no matter how many pins I put on a label it still  moves and is never on straight.  BUT, it is labeled with all the information.

Have a great evening and catch'ya on the flip flop.

Saundra

A Little This, Little That 'n That

In other words some on the binding of a rug, some on the hooking of a Jack and going forward on the Jack. 

As you can see in this picture the very same wonderful variegated yarn which was used to whip the edges of the Oh Deer (a previous blog post) is the same yarn being used to bind Westmoreland Ponies.  Look how great the colors blend with the last row hooked.  You can see the skein of yarn above my hand.

And here is what has been hooked on the Jack design so far.  This was the free pattern insert in an older issue of Rug Hooking magazine written about in a previous post and was a design by Barb Carroll.

In FULL DISCLOSURE..... the lines are drawn on the straight of grain. The design looks a little funky in the picture at the bottom right side but believe me it is straight.

Naturally since I'm a color plan by the seat of my pants sorta girl decided to pull out some wool to see what I want to go where.  Hey, I figure  it is fall/Halloween so there has to be some green in there somewhere.  Since there is a bright to the top right corner figure there needs to be some balance to the bottom left so pulled out some wool to take a picture and evaluate my options.  

There are three stars in the design, not that I need all three or that I can't add more but am working within the confines of the design.  Well, except for the nose shape which I changed to the more traditional. 

Now I'll sleep on it, look at the pictures again and meanwhile will use this time to continue whipping the edge of the cotton binding to my rug.

Today's lower temps and lower humidity in Delaware was a blessed relief.  I managed to get the grass cut in Ben's playground done today with the push mower (riding mower can't go thru the gate).

Enjoy the evening for you working folks (I used to be one), just remember that TGTIF (thank GOD tomorrow is Friday).

Thanks for dropping by.

Saundra