When we each start a rug on our own, or even at a rug camp, we sorta have an idea what color background we want. It's either light or dark. Sometimes I'm not quite sure which way to go when picking wool for rug camp so will pack samples of both values.
Last year at Cape May in a class with Lucille Festa, my table mate Weslee was working on Lucille's Uncle Bullets pattern. The rug wasn't done by the end of camp but was recently posted on a FB hooking group. If you aren't a member this is the treat you would have seen.
OMG, be still my heart!! It was hooked mostly with hand torn and looks old as the hills (translation "Beautiful").
At rug camp and watching Wes hooking knew it was going to be gorgeous and admired her steady hand ripping and hooking those hand torn strips. On Thursday it was time for the 'throw down' of camp rugs in progress. This was her rug that day.
OMG, do you see what a difference a background color makes? I thought it was wonderful before, but look at the previous photo finish. Although I'm guilty of reverse hooking a LOT of loops, must admit it would have been a sad several minutes to pull out those light loops already hooked. But for sure Weslee made the right call.
Good job Wes.
Saundra
I love it when people send me pictures of their finished Domestic Zoo. Although I've sold dozens of the patterns only a small handful of people have shared their photos with me.
My friend Shari started this Domestic Zoo rug a few years ago and has hooked several other rugs and kept busy making dolls before finally getting this one bound recently. Today she sent me a picture. Thanks Shari, so happy it is finally finished and one UFO out of the way.
DANG IT. this is the way the picture came and then I turned it on it's side with the PAINT program in the hopes it would be sideways and upright. Nope.... so sorry.
Here are a few other versions of Domestic Zoo:
This one is by Susan and nice with a dark background.
A Domestic Zoo hooked by Mary.
And a Domestic Zoo by Debbe.
Thank you all for sharing the rugs with me. I'd really like to have pictures of the rugs hooked by others if you're willing to share.
Now to Newbie Hooker Tidbits.
Annie wrote and we chatted about her not having a cutter or linen but did have a rotary cutter. Hey, in the beginning I didn't have a cutter either and used a rotary or scissors.
First you must rip the wool so you will start out on the straight of grain. You could rip every 3 or 4 inches and either take the rotary cutter and use a quilt guide edge to cut the strips to your width.... OR, you could even rip the wool every 1" or so and scissor cut down the middle (or rotary cut down the middle), down the middle again, until you achieve your strip size of choice.
When first starting out hooking my strip size of choice was 1/4" wide a/k/a #8 cut in cutter strip language. But since then my favorite strip size (because I'm a primitive hooker) is #8.5. And, if you've followed me for a while know that I've begun hooking with a torn strip ranging from 1/2" to over 3/4" depending on how straight my 'snip' is.
Tomorrow I'll talk about backing (foundation). There's burlap, monks cloth, linen, hairless linen, verel and loosely woven wool.
If any newbies have subjects they would like me to talk about you can write me personally by writing me at: saundra125@comcast.net. If my info so far has not been clear enough, please also write me for more explanation. Since this is a craft/art/hobby that I enjoy so much it would be a pleasure to share the joy of TRADITIONAL RUG HOOKING.
Have a great evening and see you same time tomorrow night. Stay warm and wrap up in your woolies.
Saundra
