Finally Finished

Thank goodness the rugs are finally bound and can continue hooking my current project without telling myself I should be binding.  The Primitive Horse rug below is a Lib Callaway design which is offered by Jeannie Benjamin and understand Jan Cole sells the pattern as well.

The finished size of Primitive Horse is 251/2 x 391/2.  It was hooked using hand torn, scissor and machine cut.  Also pulled wool from my worm bags.  Size strips ranged from #8 to #10 and larger.  The photo below shows this rug was bound using doubled cotton of the same colors.

Birthday Lion is a Bill Laraway design, was hooked using #8.5 and #9 strips.  The finished size measures 201/2 x 25.

This one also got its label attached since I'd already printed it up.  However the Primitive Horse rug still needs its label.  But the most dreaded work has been done....the binding.

Blizzard still going strong here but weatherman says snow will let up today around 5 p.m.  This area is receiving more snow than predicted but what is worse is the sub freezing temperatures with wind.  

That is compounded by the fact my stage 2 emergency heat is fueled with propane and am almost out.  The company does not deliver this area until next Tuesday so I'm sure the tank will be totally empty before that.  So if my heat pump kicks in it will work its self to death trying to keep the house warm.

But at least I'm thankful for what heat and electricity there is here now.  Hope all of you in this weather are able to stay warm.  Snuggle up under a rug and hook, hook, hook.

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

The Background Wool

Julia, my northern neighbor in Canada, asked me how I did the background on the Birthday Lion.  Actually, Julia, I didn't do anything special; it was mostly the different wool chosen that did the work.  I prefer to use more than one color wool in my backgrounds and borders.

As you can see there is a difference in color between the border and the inside around the lion.  I wanted a difference and have a big bag of primitive black wool for backgrounds which has a mixture of all dark wool.  So those strips from any dark textured wool adds to my primitive black background source.

The inside background is a combination of the three wool pieces you see above the rug.  From the left is Gemstone, then Whales Tail, and on the right a wool I've forgotten the name of but all three come from Heavens to Betsy.

The only other thing I did was hook areas in puzzle pieces where I could.  on the far right and between the lion's legs there wasn't much room to hook in blocks.  

So now the binding begins tonight and have resigned myself to the fact it needs to be done before starting anything else.  I've 3 days to completely finish the last two rugs within the confines of 2017.

Hope everyone is warm.

Saundra

Another Finish

This afternoon the last loops were pulled on a pattern named Birthday Lion, a design by Bill Laraway.  Bill designed the whimsical lion as part of a larger rug for his wife Jayne Hester called "Jayne's Birthday Rug". 

This finished piece measures 20 x 25.  So now there are two rugs/mats here which need binding.  Tho I've a pattern ready to go on my frame it won't be hooked until after some binding of the rugs has begun.  Besides, I still need to pull wool for my next project so it isn't really ready yet.

It is very frigid here in Delaware but at least luckily (so far) not having to deal with snow some states are seeing.  Safe travels for those of you still commuting to and fro for the holidays.  There is still the new year celebration so please stay safe, be aware of your surroundings and keep you eyes on what is around you INSTEAD of your cell phone!!!!!!

Hugs.
Saundra

Birthday Lion

This is a pattern designed by Bill Laraway named Birthday Lion.  And probably all that will be accomplished before leaving for rug camp on Sunday.  Thought I'd show you my accomplishments so far.

Per usual I'm making changes, have pulled out wool around the perimeter and redrawing wavy lines between the border and background.  At least the campy, folky carousel style lion is hooked.  That makes what wool I take to work on at camp before Betsy gets to me makes it easier.

Happy Friday.

Saundra

Birthday Lion Update

Actually not much of an update if you compare it to the previous picture a few posts back.  But in my defense I've been doing end-of-season yard work and after last night's storm there is even more to do.  Plus desperately trying to clean up my wool room before the next camp in 10 days.  OY!  What a task.

As mentioned before, Birthday Lion is a design by Bill Laraway.  Isn't it the cutest, least fierce lion you've ever seen?  He almost looks like he's smiling and reminds me of a carousel ride from my youth.  You could probably get any size you want but this one is 20 x 23.5.  I'm sure Bill would accommodate your requests for smaller or larger.  

My boy Ben will visit his recently found friends at the same kennel and am so happy they welcomed him back.  I knew he was a good boy but many people are timid around Rottweilers and Pits.  But Kathleen Marie and I know they are not all bad dogs.  We happen to have lap dogs who like head and body massages.  

BTW, Ben was adopted when he was 3 years 7 months and I feel lucky to have my boy.  Please adopt a dog rather than from a breeder farm.  There are so many homeless and owner released dog which need homes.  Sometimes people don't realize it IS an emotional and financial commitment to care for a dog like it was your family member.  And that is what Ben is to me...he is my child.

Saundra

Birthday Lion

This pattern (designed by Bill Laraway) was started just before leaving for Cape May rug camp last month.  I purchased two patterns and gifted one to Evelyn since she loved it so.

Evelyn finished hers and it appeared in the rug show at Cape May ~ I'm still not done.  Uh, and neither of the other two rugs are completely bound yet either.  Oh MY!

Am now wondering if Birthday Lion will even be done by the time next camp rolls around the beginning of November.  For sure the binding will be done as that is my first priority.  But at least if it isn't finished there will be something for me to work on until Betsy gets to me.

Happy Thursday.

Saundra

Short and Sweet

It took me a while to find my focus on Birthday Lion and you can scroll down to see my journey.  But now happy to find my direction (uh, I think).  But so far so good.

Birthday Lion is a design by Bill Laraway.  Can't wait to see how Evelyn hooked hers next week.  

Sure hope Hurricane Jose doesn't make too much of a mess along the eastern shore line and tear up our beaches.  Check in with you later.

Saundra

The Rug on My Frame

Oh I had this one all figured out in my mind and it was going to be a piece of cake to hook.  The lion's face would be a tad lighter than the body, the mane would be a hit and miss much like that done on the border of Olde Hearts and it would have a dark background.  Easy peasy ~ in my head.

The face hooking happened as planned.  But the mane idea didn't work out; it looked like a hot mess so pulled that out and chose a black and gold texture.  Then started hooking the body of the lion.  In the photo it appears the top wool is too close in value to the mane.  The third wool down seems way too light so think I'll go for the wool texture second down from top.  I hooked a smidgen of each wool close to the mane for you to see if you want to tap on the photo to enlarge.  

Okay then so what about background and border Saundra?  Original plans were to have a black wavy border with dark blocks of hooking in the background.  That might work if I do a wavy beauty line ..will try that.

Or, what about red?  I'm determined one day to do a red background.

Or maybe a red border?  Don't think so, if anything I'd want the rug to have a black border with red background but don't think it will happen on this rug tho.  

For now I'll work on just the lion using mostly the middle gold wool and perhaps another wild idea for border and background will strike my fancy.

Happy Friday everyone.  Sure hope Jose changes direction and doesn't hit the east coast.

Saundra

The New One......On my Frame

There's still a bit of binding to do on the previous two hooked rugs but cannot stand to not hook something.  Okay, there is a story behind this piece.  

My dear friend Evelyn Lawrence was perusing Barb Carroll's contact page and saw a photo of a lion she admired.  

Evelyn asked if I knew anything about a particular lion piece.  Went to Barb's site and looked for what Evelyn tried to describe.  After several emails it was determined which lion she was speaking of.  

Figuring it was a design in the Woolley Fox pattern book started thumbing thru to find the pattern.  AH HA!  While no pattern of that piece Evelyn spoke about, did find a pattern named "Jayne's Birthday Rug".  That had a drawing of the very same lion design in it.  

Next job was for me to email Bill Laraway who designed the rug for his lovely woman.... (seems I'm a detective of sorts don't you think?). It appears the single lion may have been a gift to Barb hooked by her friend Jayne.

I emailed Bill and asked if that pattern was for sale and if so, could he please draw two patterns of the lion.  One for me and was planning to surprise Evelyn with a pattern as well.  As of this posting Evelyn has already hooked and bound hers.  Can't wait to see it.

Saundra