MERRY CHRISTMAS

A few Christmas rugs by me and others to entertain you.  Here

s my version of an antique Santa.

Barbara Merry hooked the Santa below.

After having this pattern for years I finally hooked it.  But chose to remove the sack and had Santa hold the lamb instead of it popping out of the sack.

This is how Karen Kahle designed and hooked the Wooly Santa pattern. I do like the blue better than my colors.

Polly Minick designed and hooked these Santa's below.  I drew many of these patterns for her in the past but haven't hooked one myself....yet .  

A smaller size Polly had made into a pillow.    

One she was hooking with a flag  but am certain she hooked many versions with different color schemes.  And, sold them all.

The above Santa design is a free to hook pattern in her book "The American Collection".

Stocking designed and hooked by Polly.

She also hooked it in blue.

A holiday ornaments mat I designed and hooked.

Guess I'd better get back to pulling a few more loops on my 'wayward sheep'.   

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

CAPE MAY 2023

It felt good to see Cape May and hooking pals again.  I didn't go last year since there were no primitive teachers.  This year was a BLAST!  Was finally in Caroline Twigg's class (Eagles Nest Woolens) and will have her again November at Ocean City, MD.  The class of eight (three had to drop out due to health or family emergency) made for a more intimate gathering.

Our class was in the 'dungeon' a name given by hookers since the room  is dark and requires a lamp.  But had we been in the dining hall with good lighting and other groups we probably wouldn't have felt free enough to laugh as we did.  I took many photos so will have to show them in a few posts.  Also have 'throw down' photos of rugs we started in class.

First rug from the show is a design by Theresa Kogut named Moon Dance and hooked by our classmate Leslie.  

Another Halloween rug but cannot see who designed or hooked it.  Since Halloween is just a few weeks away this will give you time to order a pattern and get in the Halloween spirit.

Below is a Karen Kahle design (Primitive Spirit) hooked by Shari.

I believe the chicken rug below was designed and hooked by Lucille (American Country Rugs).  Some several of the labels were written with pencil which is hard to read and doesn't photograph well so I'm guessing.  

Beach Bums, below, is a design by Deanne Fitzpatrick and hooked by Kim McWilliams.

There were a few other Deanne's beach themed rugs in the show; these next three were hooked by Roberta Olah.  They are a hoot and can't pick a favorite.

Roberta also designed and hooked this blue ribbon winner of Elise.

If memory serves me correctly, again can't read the card, the rug below was named Crop Circles and hooked by Deb Lesher.

Shari hooked this Hutchinson style mermaid rug.

A geometric and cat by Shari also.

A pastel floral hooked by Vicki Bartkowski.

The rug below is named Horse Feathers by Vermont Folk Art and hooked by Deb Lesher. 

I've many more photos to share so there will be more blog posts coming another day.  Besides I want to sit and hook in a few minutes as ....

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjuctionprimitives.weebly.com

DAY 4 CHRISTMAS THEMED RUGS I'VE HOOKED

This is a Karen Kahle design by Kindred Spirits named Woolly Santa which was hooked during 2020.  I decided to veer away from the normal design and eliminate the bag in which Santa was carrying the lamb.  I wanted the whole red suit for Santa.

Others chose to hook it the intended way; here are a couple examples.

Right or wrong, good or bad I'm not reverse hooking it now, lol.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

So Far a Group of SIX

With me included we are a group of SIX .....Here's the team list so far but maybe we'll have more join after reading this post.  

Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) enlarged her choice of a Granny Donaldson project and think she has it on linen already.

Elaine, my Canadian pal, chose a design and is hand drawing her own adaptation, am excited to see what she comes up with.

When Sheila saw my initial post about Granny's Cow Blankets it renewed that spark for rug hooking again and am very happy she is joining us.

Kim (My Field of Dreams) chose Karen Kahle's version of a Granny Donaldson rug titled "Simple Gifts".  

Denise is also joining in ~ her pattern was shipped yesterday and the receipt said it should arrive on the 15th.  Sure hope the post office doesn't disappoint.

So there you have the line up of participants....so far.  I've done a little research to find hooked versions of a Granny design and found a few.  Maybe these will help in color planning your rug.  This one below looks as tho the background was still in progress.

I found this photo of a hooked Granny rug on Pinterest.

And here it is again below and was hooked by Sheila sometime ago, wonder which design she chose to hook this time.

Below is a dark background and close to the design above.  Nice to see how rugs look with different background color choices.  Hmm, but I do see what looks like a pitchfork on the right?

Here is a photo I took at Barb Carroll's rug camp and the huge rug was still in progress.  Wish I had a photo of the finished rug.

Even found a needle punched version of a Granny Donaldson with soft colors.

And lastly is the Simple Gifts pattern I hooked a few years ago which I believe was Karen's adaptation of a Granny style but with a border and corners like Magdalena was known for.

If you would like to revisit my earlier blog post where I featured all of Granny's Cow Blankets you can find it HERE.  Would be fun to have more folks join in.  Since we will begin this Saturday the 15th I'll email all participants on Monday the 17th and ask for a picture so I can show them all on my blog.  Not to worry gals, if you want to post yours on your blog or post them on Facebook that's cool, but I'd love to have all of them to showcase here too.

Have fun color planning and this should be an easy project  I already know what color my background will be.  Happy Hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Winter Hooking Ideas

Most Christmas themed rugs have probably already been started but if not or for next year I'll show you some I've hooked.  Below is the first Christmas rug I hooked and is an antique adaptation of Santa and Deer hooked 2014.

Last year just before Christmas I  hooked the Woolley Santa, a Karen Kahle Design.  I decided to eliminate the sack Santa was holding and show him in his coat.  If you'd like to purchase Karen's pdf pattern click on the previous hyperlink.

If you are looking for something quick for yourself or to give as a gift to someone you could hook this mitten.  This is one I have hanging on my front door and still want to put pine tree greens in it.

You can find that pattern in the following Kindred Spirits booklet.

This time last year during the pandemic shut down I was looking forward to the new year.  This was my celebration rug which was so much fun.  Named New Year's Eve you can find it HERE.  You may need to ask for the pdf pattern if there aren't any available.

I've snowmen patterns I'll show when we have our first snowflakes dancing in the sky.  Some was predicted a few days ago but nothing happened, not even rain.  So sad for the lives lost and damage caused by the horrific tornados.  The turbulent weather in the mid-west is sending the 70 degree temps for today but hope tornado activity does not occur as tomorrow the cold weather will be back.  

Sorry for showing the same ol same ol rugs I've hooked.  But in my defense I figured everyone is busy baking cookies and putting up Christmas decorations so wouldn't be reading blogs anyway.  But just in case someone was looking, at least I'd have something to read albeit old news, lol.  Then that gives me more time to accomplish more on my rug.

Back to working on Bird Dog and later this afternoon will make chicken turkey rice soup using the meat left over from my son's Thanksgiving dinner.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Do you Need a Break...

...from my Halloween photos and see what I'm working on now??  I thought you might enjoy a brief pause.

I've had this paper pattern "Wooly Santa" by Primitive Spirit  soon after it was released but didn't hook it until now.  Each November/December when seeing others' post their progress or completed piece it made me want to hook mine.  Finally this year I couldn't put it off  any longer and drew it.

As usual I am taking a little creative license to do it my way.  One thing I changed and you can see it in the standing sheep, is the shape of the face.  I hooked it as drawn but it looked too fat and a sheep has a more elongated face so pulled out loops and redrew.  At least I'm happier with my version so far.

That winter festive time is coming up quickly and want to be sure to have this happy fella finished to show.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

 

Repeating an Old Tutorial

Recently on FB rug group someone mentioned hating to bind round rugs.  To be honest I don't like binding PERIOD.  But I find binding a round or oval rug easier than manipulating the mitered corner of a square or rectangular rug.

Were you aware there is a 'gathering thread' on every cotton binding tape?  Yup, there is.  One edge is a little more rigid than the other and that is the side which has the gathering thread.  Sometimes the thread shows itself quickly sometimes it requires gentleness and patience.  If you look below you can see how it is gathering.

First I hand sewed the straight (un-gathered) edge of the binding tape close to the last row of hooking then gently pulled on the thread so it would gather.  Carefully the gathering was worked around toward the other end.

This is what the previously bound round chair pad looked like after it had been hand sewn around the perimeter of the edge but still needed to be tacked down inside and steamed.  Remember this photo is from a previous blog post.

There might be gentle puckering even after steaming but will be a better look than huge lumps as I've seen done by those who don't know about the gathering thread.  Of course the edge could always be whipped with yarn if you so choose with no binding tape to worry about.

Another hit and miss round mat I hooked was this spiral one inspired by Karen Kahle.

Here they are together.

Will soon be done with Cat's Paw and anxious to start my new project.

Happy hooking.

Saundra
www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

No Dye Supplies? No Problem ~ Marbleize your Wool

Years ago when starting to hook not only did I not dye wool but didn't  have a wool stash.  During the fall and winter went to the thrift store to purchase good wool clothing, dismantle, then wash and dry them to start my stash.  

At the time I had no clue about using textures as I hadn't yet had a class with the Queen of primitive hooking.... Barb Carroll.  So started collecting flat wool of every crayola color I could get my hands on.  Since Barb's classes I've given  away a lot of flat wool to beginners but still have some for 'just in case' and for marbleizing.

Recently follower Donna contacted me as she found a 2015 BLOG POST  about marbleizing but no results.  For some unknown reason I couldn't find the 'after' photos in my archives either and surely don't have old photos of them.  So promised I'd do the process again just for her.  Here ya go......

To marbleize wool you need 3 colors with the lightest wool sandwiched in the middle.  I decided to do 3 pots.

The first three colors are navy blue which looks black in the photo, bright yellow/gold and brown.

A bright blue, tan and olive,

 And plum ugly pink/red and bright red.

Karen Kahle published one of her small booklets several years ago which provides all the info on Marbleizing wool, which is in the photo.  Gather your twine and roll your sandwiched wool.  In order to take a photo and not have the wool unroll I put pins in it to keep the roll in place.  

 After you achieve the roll you secure one end, twist the roll until it coils up on itself. Then tie it all together.  It helps if you have a partner to help because you need at least three hands  to keep it secure and I only have two.

Then in the pots they go with water and a little detergent (without bleach).  I don't bring my water to a boil because I don't want felted wool but the water does get very hot.  The red pot had great bleeders but not the other two pots.

 

Not quite sure exactly  how long the pots were on the stove as I was doing laundry and other chores.  I'd stop at the pots and push the wool coils down or flip them over to release some dye.  Am thinking the pots were steaming on the burners for about an hour.  

Then I poured white vinegar in the pots as the mordant ~ Didn't measure but it was probably 1/3 or 1/2 cup in each pot.  Turned off the burners and let the wool steep in the water until it cooled.  Took the pots to the laundry sink, rinsed the wool a couple times, put the wool in my washer to spin the water out.

Tomorrow I'll show you the results.

Saundra
www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com