Hooked Rug Review from 2016

Here is a review of all the rugs and mats which were hooked during 2016 and posted in order of project.  Those who recently joined may not have seen them but regular followers may have seen them numerous times in various stages of progress, reverse hooking and tweaking.

In the beginning of 2016 this is what was on my frame.

It was originally drawn as "Flag Day Sheep", a Woolley Fox design but I changed it up a tad.

Above was an antique adaptation of an antique which I call "Horse with No Name" and it had straight hooking.  Just a small mat but was fun to hook and use worms.

Still in the mood for small mats and adaptations decided to use the horse shape from an antique rug but added the bunny since there was space.

And then the Out of Hand Rug Hookers group decided on a new challenge lead by Kelley Belfast.  

Kelley designed a pattern with daffodils, sheep and two out buildings. There was certain criteria to be part of the 'giveaway' and the winner was voted on by the participants.  It was quite fun to see all the different and artistic works from hookers who have different color  and cut choices.

Next on my frame was a design by Barb Carroll called Rainbow Cabin. This pattern had been in my stash for a while so decided to use up my patterns.  Uh..... if I were to have a 'do over' I'd make those white areas dark logs and the thin dark rows the light.  What the hell was I thinking???  Oh well.  To Kim.... NO, I'm not going to tweak it!!!!!!!!

After the Rainbow Cabin decided to start a Christmas gift for my grandson.  So his Christmas gift was started very early on to give me time to set it aside and hook something different.  

But going to rug camps I'd start something different and hook on Zach's rug while waiting my turn for the teacher.

The above pattern by Karen Kahle called "Simple Gifts" was a pattern purchased at a rug camp from someone wanting to downsize.  Since I had no clue where to start or what colors I'd want decided to take it to my mentor beloved Barb Carroll.  Looking at it makes me happy and like looking at a brand new bright day ahead.

Then came NED, another antique adaptation offered by Woolley Fox. Poor Ned went thru many tweaks until I was happy with him.  In retrospect tho, wish I'd done what Lauren did and change the butterfly to a flower.

Above is a design called "Turkey and Tallowberries" which is a design by Lori Brechlin and offered in pattern by Kris Miller of Spruce Ridge Studio.

Another design by Lori and hooked in a class with Kris Miller is the "Do Good Be Nice" design.  That Goode witch takes time out of her day to have her nails done.

The last two rugs started and finished in 2016 were the last two written about yesterday. .... Red Lion adaptation......

...and Out in the Garden.

Wishing all of my followers a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2017.

If anyone has questions about hooking please ask...If I don't know the answer I'll research for you to give you the answer.  Happy Hooking.

Saundra

Labeling Rugs

My labels don't get printed out until I have a full page to print. One of the rugs was finished in 2015 but didn't want to waste a sheet of printable fabric with just one label.  Having printed the labels out figured it was time to start stitching them on my rugs.  

First one stitched was the Spring Challenge designed by sweet Kelley Belfast and hosted by the Out of Hand Rug Hookers group.  Since the deadline for this challenge is May 1st wanted to be certain all was accomplished.  The finished size of the rug measures 19" x 24".

For those wondering..... Most of the rug was hooked with #8.5 strips. But some narrow worms were used and for the proddy daffodils the size varied from #8 to #9.5.  Below is the label which shows the original design by sweet Kelley Belfast.  Thought the line drawing would be a nice documentation to have on the label attached.

Next to have a label was A Day in the Country, a design by Tonya Robey of Mad Hen.  It was a kit purchased a few years ago and finally hooked in November/December 2015.

The label attached has a copy of the sample rug Tonya hooked. Since I took liberties with a couple flowers thought it best to show the original hooked piece by Tonya on the back.

Next in line for a label was Flag Day Sheep.  Again I took liberties and changed it to look a little more like a design which Woolley Fox carries called Woolley Sheep.

It was only fitting that the label to the back be how the original Flag Day Sheep design looked like on the web site.

Another rug recently hooked and needing a label is Rainbow Cabin, a design by Carol Endress and offered by Woolley Fox.

This one still needs to be stitched but is just pinned in place.  The label shows a photo of the design hooked by Barb Carroll.  I've seen her hooked version in person and the photo retrieved from the web site is showing up far brighter than it really is.  

Although I've posted how to do these labels on my blog before, if you're new or wish to revisit the how to... click HERE.

For those working folk... TGIF... oh but I remember that well.  It is still rainy, dreary and after all this rain the grass will be be in dire need of cutting.  But meanwhile I'll keep on going on.

Saundra

Never Ending Binding Syndrome

I've just named a syndrome known as the 'never ending binding'. Hey, sounds silly but makes sense.  The more you hook, the faster you hook, the more binding is required.    Yet, I hate the binding part.  Just wish I had the money to afford someone to do it for me.  But the only way it will be done is if I do it.  So it is a self-inflicted "never ending binding syndrome".  

While there is only a tad of sky to hook on the Sheep and Daffodil Challenge rug thought I should set that aside and finish binding the other two mats.  Happily one of those two mats just got bound today. That would be Rainbow Cabin.

Still in the wings is binding of one of the two horse mats hooked.  And VERY SOON will be the challenge rug.

And as soon as those are done I'll start something special for my grandson.  

Have a great evening everyone, since I'm really running late will cut this short.

Saundra

The Rainbow Cabin Update

Happy to say that Rainbow Cabin is finally hooked.  Still needs to be steamed and bound but all hooked and can move on to the next project.

Now there are 3 mats needing to be bound.  Actually that isn't a problem since the two horse mats and this one are relatively small. Plus I'll have a couple appointments at which to bind during the wait in the office.

So now I am free to start the Out of Hand Rug Hookers Challenge.  I've printed the enlargement on paper to about 18 x 25.  But, it hasn't been drawn on linen yet.  Tomorrow I'll do that and pull some wool. 

I'm so happy to hear we can share our progress.  Part of me wondered what I'd have to blog about, plus I'd be so excited to share my progress and have no outlet.  Besides, that is how we all learn, right, by sharing?

If you are on Facebook and interested in joining the challenge you can read about joining the group.

Hope you have a great evening and know that I'm thinking of all my friends, family, whether cyber and personal.

Saundra

Marching Ahead

That post name has two thruths.....tomorrow is March 1st and am marching ahead with hooking the background on Rainbow Cabin now that the rainbow angst has been calmed.  Here is a view of what it looks like now.

Yes there is a bit more background to hook but shouldn't take long hooking this small mat with #9 cuts.  THEN, to decide what size to hook the Out of Hand Rug Hookers Spring Challenge piece.  If you aren't a member and seem interested click on the link to join the group.

Oh, another thing this leap day has given me is another day logged as a post for the month.  Yippee, since some days cannot think of anything creative to write about and fear boring you with redundancy, I don't post. 

I so enjoyed last nights episode of Downton Abby to see the differences in the culture during the decades of life in England and the vast differences between life upstairs of the aristocracy and the downstairs servants.  Also, the differences between the Brits and the US.  

I only I'd started watching this show in it's first season because I refuse to pay to binge watch the show for all those seasons.  

Have a great evening everyone.  Hopefully spring will really be here full time soon since the daffodils and last two days of weather has been mild. Hmmm, weatherman tells me differently, we may have some snow this Friday or weekend.

If at First You Don't Succeed.......

Oh my.....today I've been treading water trying to stay afloat with the Rainbow Cabin rug.  After reading some of the comments from readers realized that the secret to the red situation was within the rainbow.  

Okay, how to hook that section?  Looking at the design wondered if the rainbow colors should go completely to the edges on each side of the rug OR should that background color have one row all the way around.  

Hooking the rainbow all the way to the edges presented a real problem with tails meeting at the end.  And hiding the ends in all the ways I know wasn't pretty at the sides either.  So, I've pulled out the ends of the wool and will try and salvage what has been hooked in the rainbow. Have decided to hook one dark row of background along the edge of the rainbow.  That way the ends can be hidden or ended less noticeable.  

There's a lesson for you guys but if you're like me you'll have to try and learn what works for you.  Now...could be I don't know the right way so if any of you know the secret to doing the rainbow to the end on each side without a lump or too many ends, let me know.  Sure wish I'd taken a picture before I pulled out the sides of the rainbow.  

Oh well ~ will try and salvage the rainbow and hook my butt off tonight because Kelley has posted her challenge rug design on Out of Hand Rug Hookers  so will want to start that tomorrow or soon after.

Have a great evening everyone.  

Saundra

Tornados, Power Outage and Hooking

Last evening there was a lot of turbulent weather, high winds, heavy rains, thunder, lightening and tornado watch.  With the TV on I was keeping track of the tornado path and on the map you can see where Seaford is on it's pathway.  

I had taken a photo of the Rainbow Cabin progress, was walking to the computer to do a blog post and the power went out.  Then it was a slow, feeling my way in the dark for a flashlight, then candles, and my trusty storm lamp.  Hey that $10 Premier Storm Lamp gave forth enough light that I was able to sit, hook and have a glass of cab for a while.  Had my cell phone, wine, hook, wool and Ben at my feet.  Thankfully we came out unscathed but it was a scary go for a while.  Sadly not everyone along the tornado's path was so lucky.

Here is the progress on Rainbow Cabin, there were 3 different dark textures used in the logs of the cabin.  So far the only wool I've cut was the red for the door and a couple more strips of the plaid Texture I spoke of in the previous post for the logs ~ Which was from Dorr, #2011 Sage Green Gold.  But it looks brown to me.  Wanted more of that to put along the edge of the log cabin to have that white line against the dark background. 

Next I'll hook some on both the stars and the rainbow.  Stay tuned to see how it turns out.  Thankfully this is a smallish mat measuring 16 x 23 so that I can start on the Out of Hand challenge rug when it is announced by Kelley.

Have a great day everyone and hope weather is not turbulent where you live.

Saundra

Okay, Here's it Is

Yeah, you've been wondering what progress has been made on Rainbow Cabin.  And sorry for the delay in showing you but must admit I didn't want to stop and take a picture even now.

My plans were and still are to use as many of my worms as possible. But we hookers know there has to be a flow and balance of texture, color and value.  

My first task was to hook the chimney which is to be stone and did use different colors from my worms.  

Since the background is dark that meant the chimney and roof needed to be lighter in value so did an outline around the chimney.  With the sides of my log cabin, as that would be next to dark background chose a great wool worm.  There were were 3 or 4 different wools used for the logs on the cabin.  But it required a special worm from my stash to put that light against the dark background on the sides.  

You will be very surprised what that wool is from Dorr .  It is #2011 Sage Green Gold.  There is a disclaimer there which says it cannot be ripped.  Well, yes it can if the cut is made in the right spot.  

As you can see the door and windows are not filled in yet.  I just wanted to keep on hooking.  And NO, the horse mats aren't fully bound yet either. BUT....did make a great pot of vegetable soup for tonight and a few days lunch and dinner. 

Enjoy your evening and please be kind to one another.

Saundra

Next on the Frame

Even tho the two horse mats still aren't bound, I've chosen a rug to hook.  It will be Rainbow Cabin, a Woolley Fox pattern.  The outside line of the linen has already been checked and it is definitely on the straight of grain, in the ditch and exactly as I expected.  The wonky lines on the cabin will stay that way...wonky.  Rainbow Cabin measures 16 x 23. 

Looking at the pattern just might take some creative license and move that left side star up a smidgen and put a stem on it like it is a flower. After all, there is a plant of stars over to the right.

Will start with my worms for the cabin and other motifs and hope to use as many of them as possible (gotta reduce these).  Don't think there's enough of the color for the roof so when worm stash has been used will cut as needed.  

Plans for the background will be the same as that used in Nantucket Broom Ride, which is Betsy's Pluto.  So that will be a wool which will definitely be cut.

Thank goodness I'm working on another of the patterns from my stash. Try tho I may, it seems that when one or two patterns get used there is a rug camp and another pattern beckons me to be added to the stash again.

Another mild day in the 60s here in Delaware but things are going to change tomorrow ~ will be in the low 40s.

Have a great Sunday evening and lets be kind to one another and to animals.

Saundra