THAT PUZZLE PIECE BACKGROUND

Lauren asked that I demonstrate what I referred to as puzzle piece hooked background.  I first learned about it from Lisanne Miller and guess it could be a relative of higgly-piggly except I changed colors with each puzzle piece.  You could use the same wool for each puzzle piece if you wanted, which would essentially be higgly-piggly.  But I find a background hooked in all the same off the bolt wool boring.

FYI this isn't my next project, this is a pattern I started for someone and didn't go as expected so have had the linen tucked aside for a future geometric to use up some of selvage edges.  

Anyway, inside that circle are small puzzle pieces I drew, you could draw larger puzzle pieces if you wish.  I grabbed a handful of #8.5 cut strips and think there is at least one #8 in there.  Colors are brown plaid, various values of dark, a black and white texture and at the last minute grabbed a short blue texture to fill in a little gap to the left.

Below is what I hooked using most of the colors in the strips.  You can see that black and white texture looks fine in the mix and adds interest so don't hesitate to use those odd pieces.   

You don't need to draw the blocks, you can visualize your own area for a puzzle without the added chore of drawing.  The puzzle piece background was attempted with 1776 Eagle design but my lack of desire to draw lines ended up with larger blocks of color.

I designed a rug for my son's game room but there wasn't enough of blue and had no interest in dyeing any.  So pulled several pieces of different wool and just made do.  I did the S and C on that background and it might not be the prettiest background hooked but am sure all he sees are the pool balls and beer mugs 🍺.

Now back to my fox rug, it's getting close to the end.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

TIPS TEACHERS TAUGHT US

The other day I emailed follower/reader Denise and asked if there was something she'd like me to blog about.  As any of you who have a blog know, sometimes we (or at least I) struggle to come up with a topic which might interest readers.  Her question was "wondering what was the best tip learned from a class or teacher".  

A comment from Julia made a perfect and classic example of 'must do' ~  Use a good linen foundation and not cheap brittle burlap for your rug hooking.  Must admit that when I was teaching myself and practicing that is what I used because it was affordable and could be a 'throw away'.  But when I got seriously hooking that was the lesson taught me also and is what I use.

Continuing with Denise's email, she said she was struggling with a random background.  When hooking a large background we all get bored!  I'm speaking for myself here but know someone (UH, that would be my friend Lauren) who finds it a soothing task.

When I first started hooking think I just followed the outline of the main motif's (the ripple effect) until the lines eventually connected and then filled in.  But attending an early rug camp my teacher Bev Conway suggested drawing, then hooking, S's in the background, hooking the S, hooking around the S, moving onto the next and as each S is hooked around they eventually meet up.  

This Rottweiler Memorial wasn't hooked in her class but I used her technique.  You can see the S or C movement throughout the background and I used two values of the same color wool.

Another teacher Lisanne Miller suggests the puzzle piece style.  I tried it on my eagle rug but didn't do her technique justice as I didn't draw the small areas on the background, I just hooked random spots using dark and different wools.  It is a primitive after all. 

Reader Nancy commented on my last blog post that her teacher suggested adding small bits of color or different value here and there for interest.  

Robin mentioned using 'ugly wool because ya just never know when that ugly will look wonderful in a rug'.

Barb Carroll made a similar comment in class.  Barb's was more of a color contrast which she called 'poison' as a random out-of-place hooked piece of wool.  After all, they used what they had back in the day.  An example of Barb's teaching is in this Westmoreland Ponies pattern designed by her and I hooked it in a class with Barb 2012.  Click on the photo below and look closely.  You can see the odd yellow green strips, random plaids and even a lighter color in the background.  All of which provides interest and makes the eye move around the rug.  AND, makes it more fun for the hooker.

Westmoreland Ponies is a free pattern in a previous issue of RHM but can't recall which year but maybe around 2011 or 2012.

Please don't hesitate to email me a question or an idea you'd like to see on my blog.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitive.weebly.com

MAIL, as in USPS

July 26, 1775 Benjamin Franklin became the first Post Master General even tho there wasn't much mail being transmitted between people at that that time.  

The Postman was a movie Kevin Costner starred in where I think there was a line like...'thru wind, rain, sleet and snow your mail will be delivered'.  Or something to that effect.  Well what the hell has happened despite the exorbitant rising costs of shipping?

On December 6, 2020 I ordered a pattern from Cushing and just received it yesterday January 12, 2021 ~ it took 37 days to get here from Wells, Maine.  FYI I do NOT blame Cushing as I've always received my orders from them in a timely fashion.  Anyhoo......

Here is my late birthday/early Christmas present to myself arriving after the new year 😂.

Not sure I'll hook either of these this winter because I've still a rug on the frame and want to hook a heart or so next. But who knows what this fickle hooker will choose to do.  For sure will need to watch Lisanne's tutorial on hooking a plaid for the ice skates piece.  Thanks Lisanne!

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

www.facebook.com/WoodlandJunctionHookedRugs

Workshop Rug Throw Down

On Wednesday morning after breakfast it was time for all the students to display their rugs in progress for all to enjoy.  Even tho these rugs aren't always finished it is so great to see new designs or familiar designs hooked in different colors.

Our teacher Lisanne had a brilliant idea for each of her students to place their name tag on their piece to identify the hooker.  What a brilliant idea!!!!!  I've seen Give Ye Thanks hooked by others and my gal pal Deb has also hooked it.  The pattern is by Spruce Ridge Studio.

There were a couple 'over achievers' in the group and Lynne is one.  So she began another rug in narrow cut when this one was done.

 Appears Elissa was working on three pieces...Oh my another over achiever!

Since I don't see a name on this rug below I'm not sure which classit was being hooked in.  Unless she forgot her name tag.

And another over achiever would be Peg Dutton hooking her house with picket fence and brick steps.  Even tho Peg used a narrow cut the lesson on hooking bricks was a great lesson to hear when Lisanne was working with Peg.  That lesson could be applied to a larger cut too.

Hex and Rex (also sold by Spruce Ridge) was being hooked by my friend Shari in Terri's class.  

Shari had finished hooking the whale piece before camp and was to learn how to do a braided edge on it during the class with Terri.

This may have been from Sibyl's class since it is a narrow cut.

 

The rug show was in the lower level of the hotel and space was limited with standing and slow moving room only.  Therefore I'm sure that I didn't get everyone of the rugs photographed since many were viewing and taking pictures too.  

Nope, you didn't see mine there but did take a picture of it.  Hey, a girl has to keep a little something secret, right?  Tomorrow I'll post a picture of what it looked like that Wednesday morning and how it looks tomorrow.  KEEP IN MIND, that I've been busy this week with unpacking, laundry, leaves, drawing patterns, etc. (yeah, excuses, excuses).  But did want to leave you with wanting more......

Hugs to all and hope you have a great evening.

Saundra

Finally a Post Camp Post

As promised I took pictures at camp and even managed to squeak in a mini-post while there (scroll down to see that one). Here are a few pics of students.

This angle is across the room toward the other class which was being taught by Terri Schaefer.  Terri was teaching both braiding an edge to a rug as well as for those wanting to learn to hook.  Terri was a more primitive hooker which is my fav.

In the sweater vest is my teacher Lisanne Miller (P is for Primitive.)   She is working with my tablemate Renia, who is a sweetie and we had a great time together those few days.  And I asked Renia's opinion on a couple areas I hooked on the rug and liked her input so made a couple changes in color of wool.  Renia lacks self-confidence in her hooking but knows more than she gives herself credit for.  

Now you can see the frontal view of Renia and across the room the teacher who is helping Elissa and Lynne listening to absorb some of the lecture too.  Uh, Lisanne's hands on hips is NOT an aggressive posture by the way.....she is a very easy-go-lucky woman and great teacher.

Peg is busily hooking away on her house.

I tried to capture a frontal photo of both my friend Shari (in the dark top) and Terri.  But by the time my camera was on and snapped the picture Terri was leaving.  

Again tried to capture a picture of Terri showing Shari how to do the binding around her previously hooked rug.  It happens to be the Out of Hand Challenge design Shari drew.

Here are some of the examples of works by our teachers....beginning with Lisanne's rugs.  I like this primitive American design and Lisanne used some paisley in this piece.

Below are four quadrants of one rug that Lisanne hooked.  Each square was so special that I had to take a picture of each square.  As you are looking at them notice the 'puzzle piece' way she taught us to hook a background.  

As cameras or flash often does, the colors change in the photo. When you looked at the rug in person all you saw was a primitive dark/black background.  Yet hooked in Lisanne's 'puzzle piece' background it all blended together nicely.

 I love the primitive gold border...her border hooking technique is yet another lesson we learned.

 And the fourth section.  Wish I'd had a foot stool to stand on to take a picture of the complete rug as it was a beauty.  

Oh my but do I love this design.  How cool is that the wishbone hovers over the turkey?  Plus it is an American tradition for not only pulling the wishbone of foul but also turkey for Thanksgiving, which also happens to be the name of the design.

The design below, hooked by Lisanne was also an example and learning experience.  She was a great teacher, fun, ornery (my kinda woman), and full of information.  For sure she is on my 'wanna class again' list and if you are interested in taking a class with Lisanne, click on the link posted above.

Here are a few of Terri's small pieces for sale.  I just LOVE that character on the far left with the 'glam' glasses.  Also shows a few of her chair pad patterns which have braided edges to show how it looks.

This is a close up of that cool looking character.  There is a fancy pin in the hooked hat and jewels sewn to the corner of the 'cat eye' glasses.

Both my friend Shari and I purchased the chair pad kit with the crows shown on the left in the picture below.  She purchased hers first and then figured if I didn't get one I'd be jealous when she showed me her progress on hers.  Hey, girls will be girls.

 The mustachioed Pumpkin character is sorta cool too, eh?

Another of Terri's hooked and braided rugs.

And another but didn't get pictures of all her samples as time was short when the room was empty and easy movment around to get photos.

Okay, there's more photos to share but by now you're on sensory overload and I'll save more for later.  There is still the impromptu rug show as well as the 'throw down' of camp rugs.  So stay tuned.

Have a great weekend.

Saundra