The Acadian Frame

Tomorrow will be December 1st.  Doesn't seem like it has been a year since last year's holiday season ~ yet right now it seems like light years away from rug camp with Barb Carroll next May 2016.  Time sure has a way of sneaking up on us tho.

Each December I treat myself to some nice special gift.  I am usually quite generous to myself since it includes my December birthday as well as Christmas.  One year it was an iPad, another year a Townsend Orbiter floor frame (for big rugs), another year a Garmin GPS, well you get the idea.  

This year I was contemplating purchasing the Acadian Rug Hooking Frame.  Must admit I'd be embarrassed to tell you how many frames I have but they each have their purpose.  

Last May while at Barb's camp someone was using her frame and Barb raved about how she loved it.  I had my own frame and didn't even think about trying it out then but did take a couple pictures of the Acadian Frame.  It is obvious in the photo there is a swivel ball so the frame tilts and rotates.  Not sure if it adjusts to height or not but in the picture below wonder if the inside dowel rotates, which would make for smooth rotating movement.

I love my Snapdragon frame top but have an issue with the two floor stands when traveling to camps.  My Snapdragon is nice working at home on my sofa which sits low while using the K's Creations Big Foot floor stand which you see below.  But with use over time the movement has cut grooves in the metal rod.   So when I take it to camp and adjust the height of the floor stand the frame drops down and settles into those same grooves cut into the rod at the position is it used at home. A very annoying and combative fight continues during the entire duration of the camp.

I also have an old Rughooking 101 floor stand which is higher but as you can see by the height of the Snapdragon frame, it sits higher on the other stand and a bit too high for a nice working position.  However, it is better than bending over to the low position on the other stand at camp.

I've emailed Cindy, who does not have a web site, and asked her the questions about adjustment.  Here is also some information posted on Cindy Gay's blog which even has a couple personal reviews on how it works.   

So what is a girl to do other than continue looking for the perfect frame. I'm hoping the Acadian Rug Frame will be the answer and hope that I don't weaken and buy it before next May when I try it out at Barbs.

Another option I guess would be to buy another K's Creations floor stand but at $179 that could be applied to another whole new frame.

Enjoy your last day of November as December rolls in after midnight tonight.

Saundra

Questions from a Newbie and Answers

One of the questions Julie asked was where to hook after the major motif has been hooked.  Usually the major motif is in the center of the design, the largest and focus of the rug.  In this adaptation of an antique which I named "Cat's Meow", if memory serves me, I hooked the cat in the middle, the star and some background around that first.

Then I would have defined and held the outer edge by hooking (in this case) a one row border and working my way in with the heart, flowers and berries, then working background as I made my way along each edge and toward the center.  

But everyone has their own system that works best for them.  There is no right or wrong way.  But sometimes there is a 'best way'.  That is in the instance of 'hooking what is on top first'.

A prime example of 'hooking what is on top first' is Ali Katz.  I hooked the forward green cat first since it is standing in front of the blue cat. Had I hooked the blue cat first the face and shoulder of the green cat would have been distorted.  Therefore I had to hold the body space for that green cat.  Next I would have hooked the blue cat since it was in front or on top of the others.  And followed that theory throughout the rug.  Since background is very boring I try to hook my background around the motifs as I go.

The other question Julie asked was when to hook the border and the worry of loops being pulled out if the hooked section is on the grippers.

Fortunately I have a Snapdragon frame which is great since it has paddles which when flipped tightens the linen on the frame as tight as a drum.  Then when you want to release the pattern you flip the 4 paddles again and just lift off the pattern no problem.  Word of caution here is the paddles have magnets in them.  The Snapdragon frame comes in laptop, floor frame style and too many to mention.  So click on the link above and contact them to see if they can fill your needs or ask questions.  Mine is on a floor frame and mine has wooden paddles which is/was a little cheaper.

But, if budget is limited and cannot afford another frame here is what you do, as I didn't always have a Snapdragon.  What you need to do is grip your pattern and gently pull downward away from the grippers to release those teeth from the holes of the linen.  Do that EASY and then as easily and slowly lift outward and upward on each of the four sides until the linen is free.

I still do use a regular gripper frame and that is what it takes to remove the pattern without causing much pulling out of loops.  Now, that said, there may always be a lump in the back where the loop was teased out a little.  But immediately correct it by pulling the loop or loops back up.

A disclaimer here..... I am not the know all of hooking lessons as I'm self taught and picked up what else from teachers I've had.  But what I do try is help newbies be a little further ahead than I was when there were no blogs to explain things.  

There is still much I need and want to learn.  One thing I'd LOVE to know is how to avoid the ripple of the edge of a rug when there is a triangle design.  Obviously I did something wrong when I hooked this back in the day.

Have a great November 1st; hard to believe we are in the month of Thanksgiving and soon will be Christmas again.  Thankfully, one of my gifts is already hooked and ready for hanging!!!!!!  So glad I started early.

Saundra

Talking about Rug Hooking Frames

Okay newbies..... you asked for it.  Now it's time to talk about frames.  Just like most of you I started out with little money spent on equipment until finding out if rug hooking was something I wanted to continue.  And, just like with cutters, there were fewer options available then than now.

My very first frame was a stitchery hoop but not the nice one which would sit in your lap that quilters use.  Mine was just the hoop with a short expandable screw.  It was rather difficult to do a two-handed task when you need one to hold the hoop.  So I placed the side of the hoop against my midriff and pressed the other side up against a table.  Not fun and hooking was slow not only because it was a new task but also the awkwardness of the hoop.

So when I decided to purchase my first used Bliss cutter I asked the teacher what kind of frame she would recommend.  At that time the supposed crème de la crème was the Puritan frame.  Since she was reducing her teaching and students, she happened to have a used Puritan frame with floor stand for sale. Now I was set.  This is a picture of a Puritan frame.

I couldn't stand the frame because mine didn't tilt and rotate.  Perhaps other ones could, but not mine and I didn't know how to go about making it rotate.  So in the attic it went when I discovered there was something new called a 'sit-upon'.  I've since sold the Puritan.

As I didn't know any USA sit-upon manufacturers I purchased one from Quilters Woodwork in Canada.  I love it, still use it when I go to camps.  That one goes with me to the sleeping room and another floor frame stays set up in the class room. 

Now there are several good quality frames and here is a picture of one offered by Searsport.  Notice the narrow paddle. 

You don't really sit on it but rather your thighs hold it secure and I was able to prop my feet up on the coffee table and hook forever.  The frame tilted and rotated as it was on a swivel ball and I was in heaven.  If only I'd gotten a bigger frame so that I wouldn't have to move my rug as much. 

And I did.  I purchased the larger 12 x 16 solid oak frame from Rughooking101.  You will notice the paddle is somewhat larger and it would be nice if they could narrow that down a smidgen, but it is a very good frame which I also continue to use.

Then later got lucky and purchased Rughooking 101's floor stand used from another hooker.  So now I had the sit-upon or could put the frame on the floor stand. 

And then the Snapdragon was born.  Oh boy does it keep your backing tight!  And yes....sigh...... I also have one of those as well as the Townsend Orbiter.  I'm having trouble with either my computer or Blogger as I'm unable to post the other pictures.  But if you follow the link you can see what the Snapdragon looks like.  Must say here tho, since there are some small magnets it is not a frame for anyone who may have a pacemaker installed.

When I first got a frame with gripper strips it was dicey at first until I learned how to move my arms and hands around the prickly strips.  If you already have gripper strips and having that issue, here are some things you can do to keep from getting scratched:

~ cut a pair of socks open at the toe area, make a small hole for the thumb and a larger area for the four fingers.  Voila, a hooking arm protector.

~  probably won't work on the snapdragon, but other gripper frames you could buy 4 paint rollers (cardboard inside not plastic), cut down one side and slide over grippers.

~ you could also either make or buy an elastic stretched gripper cover which some hookers make and sell.

Now you're thinking, "what does she do with all those frames?"  I do honestly use them all.  Not all at the same time tho.  My Townsend is used when I hook a large rug and it was fabulous when I hooked Wee Folk.  Sure wish I'd had it when I hooked Domestic Zoo.

When I go to a rug camp I usually take two frames; my snapdragon on the floor stand for the classroom and then I take a sit-upon to use in the hotel room to hook at night.  And, when my gal pals stop by for a hook-in they can use one of my frames and they don't have to worry about bringing one.

But, I have also had 3 rugs going at the same time and had all three on 3 different frames so they were ready to go when my mood changed.

I'm sure you're also wondering...... IF I could only afford one frame which would I own?  Hands down it would be the Snapdragon whether on a floor stand or sit-upon.  AND, you could buy both and use the top on either the stand or sit-upon. 

Have a great evening everyone.

Saundra

A Patternless Frame

It is driving me wacky to see my Snapdragon without a project on it.  See how lonely and reject it appears?

You can see the next project waiting in the wings all rolled up with most of the wool.  Oh, and I've had comments about my pattern drawing and if it hurts my back.  You can see the pattern laying on the 'craft' table I purchased from JoAnne Fabrics a few years ago.  It has to large leaves which fold down but I keep the table set up and when it is not being used for pattern drawing it holds my Townsend cutter. 

And this is all I've accomplished on the binding so far on my Oh Deer.  I've only just turned the corner on one short end.....sigh.  And that would leave the wool whipping of the end but also the inside stitching of the tape.  But THEN there is still the Henny Penny to be bound.

So honestly folks, how long do you think I'll last before a pattern is on my Snapdragon again?  I'm beginning to get the 'shakes'. 

Thanks for dropping by.

Saundra

Tuesday Chit Chat

First is an update on Big Dog.  Since consolidating my worms and separating by color I've used more of them in the rug but still need to cut some wool for consistency in the sky.  Plus value plays a role in what goes next to the stars so sometimes am inhibited with what color I'd really like to put in places. 

I received the new yoke from Sue of Snapdragon and am liking it.  What's even better is there is only one screw to contend with when assembling at class or upon returning home.

In a previous post I mentioned being lucky to receive a back-up serger from a friend.  This coming Sunday I'll be teaching that Friend (Lenny) to hook.  She's always been a textile person with quilting, weaving, doll making, applique, soap making, but not rug hooking.... til now.  So I will take her thru the whole process of drawing out the pattern, having her try different hooks, different frames; and lucky her will have all my pre-cut wool strips to choose from. 

Once she goes home she might want to come back with situations she wants answers to, just like we all did when we went out on our maiden voyage without a captain at the helm.  I'll be sure to take pictures.

Thanks for stopping by.

Saundra

Frame Frustration

The other day I mentioned my frustration with my hooking frame.  I own several frames and each has it's special purpose ~ I've 3 different size sit-upons which I use, a Townsend Orbiter floor frame which is fantastic with big rugs, and my Snapdragon.  Now, I must say here that my Snapdragon is my favorite.  The Snapdragon keeps the foundation tight as a drum and when the paddles are released you just lift the pattern off the frame and there is no pulling out of wool strips during the process.

Yet, it was a frustration with the Snapdragon on my floor frame which was giving me fits.  Okay, for history, I chose a ball swivel type Snapdragon and purchased the K's Creation Big Foot floor frame as I'd seen other hookers use it at camps and liked it. 

Yes, it takes a while to adapt switching frames and stands and eventually found that if I didn't tighten the yoke on the ball tight enough then my frame would flop down.  And if I did tighten it enough began to notice it was chewing up the yoke on the frame.  Plus, noticed the inner rod was beginning to get deep grooves from the rotation.

So then what was happening is that the inner rod would plummet down lower than the height it was set for.  This actually had been going on since September when I was at Cape May but endured with the big rug until I came home and put the Wee Folk on my Townsend Frame.  So all was good with Wee Folk on the Townsend.

Then, switch over to Big Dog Hollow and I put it on the Snapdragon and Big Foot.   However, as Big Dog Hollow weight started to increase the dropping of the inner rod became more frequent. 

Then I went to my Rughooking101 floor stand (it is their sit-upon I'm using right now) and put the Snapdragon on it but since that floor stand isn't adjustable it was too high at the location in my home where I hook. 

Finally, getting so frustrated decided to pull out my larger Rughooking101 sit-upon and use that.  Then figured it was time to contact both Sue of Snapdragon and Brett of K's Creations and tell them of my dilemma. 

Okay folks, I want to tell you these people have integrity and are customer service oriented people.  My correspondence to them was more of a need of help rather than complaint and they were more than willing to offer assistance.

Sue wrote saying she has developed a yoke to help.  So if you are having a similar problem contact her as the cost of this is only $18 plus shipping.  Here is a picture of it with the Snapdragon. 

And Brett has contacted me saying that I need a new inner rod replacement. 

So the frame frustration problem is going to end happily ever after. 

Thanks for visiting and remember to be kind to one another.

Saundra

Rug Hooking Frames

I get asked a lot, and see the same inquiry posted on rug hooking groups about what the best rug hooking frame is. Since each person's finances are not the same, their needs are not the same either.  So I will share my personal experience and opinion on what works best for me.  Please, if you sell any of these frames and are not happy with what I've said, just remember this my humble opinion so don't crucify me.

When I first started I began with a humble embroidery hoop.  But since I needed to guide the strip of wool with one hand and pull the loop with the other, it was rather awkward with the loop rested against my belly and against a table top.  But I stayed with using it to see if this was something I wanted to continue and buy better tools.  Yup, loved it and figured the proper tools were needed.

Sixteen years ago there were not the multitude of rug hooking businesses available so the the 'Cadillac' of rug hooking frames was said to be the Puritan.  I bought one, hated it both as a lap frame and on the stand and sold it for a song.

Then, when the exchange rate was better between Canada and the US I purchased a sit upon  from Quilter's Workshop in Canada.  I loved, loved that frame and after getting it wished that I'd ordered the larger one.  I still have this frame, still love it and use it for smaller pieces.

After using this size for a while and had a few extra pennies to rub together went on the hunt for another frame but the exchange rate in Canada was not as good so hunted in the US for something larger.  Voila, by then Rughooking101 had a frame so purchased it.  I still have it and still use it.  This one does give my rotator cuff a work out because it is solid oak.  Also the paddle is larger and not as sleek as the one above, and really, it is the thigh which secures the frame and you don't really put your spine on the paddle.

Then decided that a floor stand was needed so that when I went to rug camps I would have the floor stand for the class.  Luckily I was able to purchase a used rughooking101 floor stand for the frame and had the smaller Quilter's Workshop sit-upon to hook in the sleeping room at night.

More time passes and at rug camps there are women who have just gotten the Snapdragon frame.  Oh my be still  my heart.  It keeps the linen drum top tight and easily snap the underside paddles to release the pattern so that no wool strips get pulled or teased out.  Well don't you know that I had to find a way to 'get me one of those' beauties.  So I have the Snapdragon with the Big foot floor stand.  Frankly, I used the Snapdragon on my Rughooking101 floor stand for a while but decided to get this floor stand too.

And, after much deliberation and on an impulse purchased the Townsend Orbiter.  Actually, before that I had the red lap top portable and just do not care for any lap top frame so sold that one.

I purchased this during the past winter in anticipation of taking it to rug camp so I can roll it in and set it up in a flash.  It is for larger and more heavy rugs and wish I'd had it when I was hooking Domestic Zoo.  This is a very expensive piece of equipment.

So now you ask, which do I recommend.  That depends on your finances.  If you have the financial resources I would recommend the Snapdragon hands down.  It is less expensive than the Townsend Orbiter but more expensive that the sit-upon frames.

If you don't have that kind of money to put into a frame, then the sit-upon is a good way to go. However, if you have an opportunity to go to a local hook-in or meet up with some hookers that would be a good way to 'test drive' hooks and frames and most of us are very happy to let other hookers try them out.  That way you would know what is best for you.  

And then if neither option seems financially feasible at this time, there are people who have constructed their own box frame and used heavy duty thumb tacks to secure their pattern to it and moved around and re-tacked the pattern when time to hook another area.  Or you could purchase the    artists frame sections, join them and tack your pattern onto that.  

Hope this has helped, but if you have further questions, please feel free to ask.  Happy Hooking.

Saundra

Snapdragon back in operation

Oh boy, I can now play with my new toy (the Bee Creek floor frame) and have my Snapdragon back home and in operating condition.  A few weeks ago I posted that my Snapdragon yoke and base had holes too large to accommodate the smaller ball head of the floor frame.  My Snapdragon was the prototype for future ball swivel floor stands and I provided the folks the dimensions of my ball so they could make a Snapdragon to fit my swivel floor stand.  I was scared that since they were 'custom making' my frame that the price would be above and beyond the price they were costing.  But they assured me that my cost would be the same as the others since the more types of frames they could offer the hooking community, the better. 

Then later comes along this great sturdy floor stand by Bee Creek (a/k/a Ks Creations) and since they were flying off the shelves decided to make their Snapdragons with a smaller opening.

So, I sent my Snapdragon back to the Snapdragon People (Sue Lauersdorf) and for a reasonable fee they replaced the base, a new yoke, replaced the corner fittings and screws and reshaped the paddles.  Oh..... and a new warranty.  Of course I was given back the old yoke, base and corner fittings and have them if I ever need them again.  But I am one happy hooker now so I can use my new toy and have my Snapdragon back.

You can see the Snapdragon and frame in the center, behind that on the sofa is my Frost Sheep design and to the left is my loyal companion Shadow keeping vigil out the front window to be sure no one enters without sounding her alarm.  Now, if only I could find the time to hook as long per day that I used to; summer yard work has certainly interfered with my hooking time.