Guess What.... Another Rug Show

This is what happens when I'm only having fun hooking one rug and have just that one to share updates on. Yes, sitting on the side lines is my son's rug but that is in hibernation until closer to December.  Or there's nothing else on my frame.

For the cat lovers, this first rug is cute with the cat playing with a ball of yarn.

This antique below I have already adapted into a pattern which I named "Cat's Meow".  Love this piece and am very pleased with my adaptation of it.

This half circle Welcome cat mat.... who couldn't love that?

And equal time for you dog lovers here are two pups greeting each other.

Daisy was a special dog to this hooker and even made her look as tho she was prancing.

A pair of Scotty's with sawtooth border.  I could have made a whole blog post about Scotty rugs as I've plenty in my file.  And I've never owned a Scotty but they were a popular breed to hook obviously.

Nice landscape of a farm with crops and animals.

This has a lot of variety, it is a floral with geometric border, and blotchy patchwork dark background ~ my favorite kind of background to replicate antique rugs.

Someone hooked their favorite spotted holstein.

For those of you who like geometrics and want to reduce your worm pile, here is a scallop rug to inspire you.

Ah, new love.

Guess I'd best be thinking about my next project to start soon.  I made a list of patterns in my stash, complete with dimensions.  Figured rather than digging thru them all the time it would be easier for me to choose from; but none of them pique my interest right now.  A couple are earmarked for classes this year tho.  So my son's rug might come out of hibernation after all.

Have a great day.

Saundra

The Cat's Meow is Bound

With the time I was held captive at the Chrysler dealership and the over 2 hours spent at the ophthalmologists office was able to get a large portion of yarn whipped bottom edge done.  Since it was so close to being finished continued when I got home. 

Here is The Cat's Meow on my harvest table along with a Raggedy Ann I made.  Ann's face is hooked and the rest of the body is cloth or warm and natural.

Here is the back and you can see the variegated yarn used to bind the underside of the rug as well as the label I made for it.  Even tho I pin the dang label on it never ends up being straight.

Funny thing happened while waiting for the eye doctor.  The guy who fills the glasses prescriptions saw me whipping the edge of the rug and wanted to see what I was working on.  Always happy to share my projects I held it up for him to view. 

He asked if I sold them, to which I commented that I do sell some of my rugs.  He asked how much this one would be but mentioned I hadn't done the math on it yet based on the dimensions.  So he said, 'well about how much... $50 - $60?  I smiled and told him there was more than that in the cost of backing and wool used to hook it. 

First, I'll excuse his lack of knowledge because he's a man who probably thinks it is just 'women's busy work' and doesn't put any value in it.  But it still amazes me how clueless some people are when it comes to paying for a hand hooked rug.  Perhaps because they can go to Walmart and pick up a throw rug for a few bucks or see hooked rugs made in China so cheap they don't place much value on hand-hooked American made.

The last loop has been pulled on the Magdalena Farm so now that one needs to be bound, as well as the small Duluth Pumpkin.  And I want to tell you that I was going stir crazy last night because there was nothing on a frame to be hooked.  This has only happened a couple times where I wasn't completely ready to start another rug.  Well That will change as of this afternoon once the grass is cut.  This mama is ready to go with a new one.

Have a great Sunday everyone.

Saundra

Something I learned from Barb...

...Barb Carroll, that is.  While I cannot remember all the subtle things I've learned from Barb over the years of classes there are two which really hit home after this last rug camp. 

First was Rug Binding.  UGH!  Not my favorite thing to do and not sure if I know anyone who enjoys it.  AND, my friends, if you admit you LIKE binding you might end up getting some offers for that task so be careful. 

Moving right along, while being taken on a mini tour at Woolley Fox I knelt down to look at the binding of her beautiful rug Santa Fe Crossing and realized there was a way she did the binding which not only was whipped with wool but allowed the last row of hooking to show instead of the wool whipped edge.  HUH?  Why didn't I absorb this from her book before?  Perhaps I just skipped thru that part thinking I knew it all.  There is a lot to learn in this booklet so contact Woolley Fox to get your copy of this book if they are available.

So this week I started binding The Cat's Meow rug trying to do it the way Barb's rug was done but with the wool yarn I have on hand.  This is the back of the rug where I'm grabbing almost 1/4" of cotton binding and whipping it sorta between the rows of hooking. 

This is a great way to bind a rug so gets a lot of protection from use BUT the whipping isn't seen from the front where the backing is rolled forward and whipped so it is wool yarn seen from the front. 

That is exactly what hit me in the head when seeing Barb's binding method on Sante Fe Crossing.  So thought I'd give it a try on my rug.  Above this the back of the rug with the whipped wool protection and here is the front where it is wool hooking showing.  VOILA.

The other thing I learned this class was about the last row of hooking around MY rug.  Surely every rug is different, but this is what she taught me about MY class rug Magdalena's Farm. 

Barb will always go to the student's wool first for the student's rug since those are the colors he or she likes.  Usually I know first off if I want a light or dark background.  This time I didn't care and told Barb that.  This way she could color plan to her heart's content with freedom knowing it could be light or dark and I'd be happy.  Based on the colors I took to camp Barb chose primitive black.  Sounded great to me!

So she told me to use a wool called Woodland Junction (yes, my name sake from Heavens to Betsy) along the entire edge so it would give the appearance of the rug being scuffed and worn beyond the other primitive black background.  Here is what Woodland Junction looks like along the edge in this section.

Below is what Woodland Junction looks like in the other corner of the rug.  Yeah, it does look like there was a little more wear there and would definitely add to the old look of the rug.  Woodland Junction wool is the only thing I'm using along the last row of hooking AND, it is also being used inside the rug here and there just for the dusty and worn look.  Sounds like a keeper for that antique primitive black background.  It was recently RE-milled by Betsy so you better grab it now because it may be a while before it is milled again. 

Maybe tomorrow I'll have some real progress to show you on Magdalena's Farm rug.  I could have shown you what it looks like now but I'm saving it until there's more hooked.

Have a great night and be kind to one another.

Saundra

Time for Another Rug Show

Since I'm now only hooking on one rug and just showed you an update, I'm stalling here to accomplish more on the rug which hasn't been hooked on yet today.  Guess I'll soon have to pull out something else to start so that I've two to share so you don't get bored....or I don't.  I really like this rug and the border is eye catching except it would make for a troublesome hooking border 'me thinks'.

I always like a horse rug.

And not that I'd hook it myself I found the floral interesting so must be the colors.

Just love this chain stitch rug found in Lancaster and I'm eyeing it for a new pattern.

 

And have eyes on this leopard; my mind is going nuts thinking how to hook the background without going nuts. 

 

Just before choosing to hook The Cat's Meow rug it was between that design and this rug.  Both have the same pastel and quite colors that I found endearing.  And something about the use of red; just a lovely rug and if only one could replicate the softened look of wear.  OH, that reminds me of something Barb taught me at camp and I'll share that tomorrow IF I remember. 

Not sure that I'd hook it but this caught my attention. 

This one below I've my eye on to hook too.  Notice the half moon and full moon faces.  Those same full moon faces appeared in other antique rugs and I first became aware of it when I saw Boyertown Pups at Woolley Fox.  And, I wonder why 3 leaf clovers instead of the lucky 4 leaf clovers. 

One sees 3 leaf clovers in antique rugs but I cannot remember seeing the 4 leaf.  Oh, and the fish, is that a religious symbol in the rug?  Antique rug designs really make me pause and make my mind wonder.  I wonder about the people who hooked them, their textile used, a necessity for use or barter to provide for family?

Well kiddies, I'm going to do a little hooking tonight and hope to post an update tomorrow.  We're to get thunderstorms this evening and should be closing in soon.  Hope you are all safe, getting a little rain but not too much.

So guess I'll say "TA TA" for now.  Please be kind to one another.

Saundra

The Cat's Meow

Ooh, think I like that name for this rug instead of what I've been using.  I've dubbed it 'Cat, Birds and Blooms' but that is quite a mouthful.  Besides I'm really enjoying hooking the design so think it IS "The Cat's Meow". 

Things are working out well as I get to the count down to Woolley Fox camp.  This rug is the only one on the frame and all but one has been bound.  The Granny Geometric is left and will be bound on the 4 hour road trip to Woolley Fox as my pal Deb drives.  That way it will keep my mind busy as we climb the elevation in the mountains of Pennsylvania.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and for you moms out there, hope it was extra special.  Hugs to all and please be kind to one another.

This one isn't on my web site yet but I did post a picture of my Santa and Deer rug there today.  As soon as this one is done I'll post it on my web site too. 

Speaking of web sites... mine really needs a day shifting things around.  Oh well, one day I'll get around to it.  So all I can recommend is you just scroll thru all the old stuff and maybe you'll find a block which has something new in it.  Yup, sounds like a rainy day activity for sure.  But not this week as I'm leaving for Woolley Fox at the end of the week and lots to do before I leave.

OH!!!!!  The rug name......I'd love to hear some suggestions for the name of this rug.  So far I've called it these:  Cat, Birds and Blooms  ~  The Cat's Meow.    But I am open for suggestions and would love to hear them.  Normally I don't sell patterns of a design until after I've hooked it to have a picture for people to see of what I did.   But this time 4 were sold immediately. 

Saundra