In a previous post I commented about how antique rugs often had the blocks of color or 'patchwork' style. That is what I'm trying to replicate in my Chicken Challenge Rug.
People used what they had and made do using what was available. They were not a 'throw away' society as we are today. Frankly I'm guilty of that by selling a frame I don't like until one just seems right. The folk then would have made their own hooking frame and made do. They would have taken a nail and chiseled it or bent it, inserted it into a piece of wood and called it their hook. I'm guilty of not only have those precious antique hooks purchased in an antique shop (which I of course used as soon as I got home), but also have my wonderful Hartman and a back up Hartman in case one gets suddenly missing. (oh dear, but this is going to be a long blog post I'm afraid as I'm going off in a tangent....sorry)
First antique rug will be the inspiration for my adaptation of the Chicken Challenge Rug where I used the patchwork as my background.
While some womenfolk clearly used what they had to hook in their rug and mixed homespun cottons, denim, red union suits, stockings, etc., all in the same rug I still wonder about their history. Did some of the rugs have natural dyes over the various textiles so they started out close to the same color..... But then faded differently because of their textile origin? Or did they use obvious different colors in the background?
This dog rugs seems to be very similar in color choices except for the block in the right corner. Yet you can see variation in color throughout, but close.
Another dog rug shows not only the patchwork background but a patchwork dog.
Here are two more perfect examples of patchwork and also wonder if the person hooking said to themselves..."okay, I've this much of this color and I'll hook a block or in this direction until I run out."
Even the floral below, while a more formal type of rug for the time I think, also has discoloration in the background.
Oh but I do love this whole picture and wish I could spend the night in there. I truly love this rug and it, like many others, are on my 'to do' list. Definitely should have started hooking earlier because there are too many on the list and too many in my stash.
Below, this antique Red Bird I've shown you before, I've hooked it and have sold some patterns of it. T'was another of my loved antique pieces I wanted to hook. Again, as I look at it my mind travels to the wool and wondering where it came from. What was faded and what was worn to change the color? But look at the flat black which is still vivid. OR, was that a repair? AND, the original color and back of the rug might have indicated it was indeed a red bird but age and wear changed it's color.
Sometimes it is more the patchwork and discoloration which attracts me than the subject matter. The first thing my eyes go to in the rug below is the color rather than the flowers and doves. The motifs come in second to my attraction. Not sure what that says about me.
Oh my but there are more photos that I could share and perhaps that will be another background study show as this is getting to be a long post.
For you hookers who don't do primitive I'm sure this has been a boring read; for those of you who would like to replicate antiques this is a great study.
NOW...... for the record!!!!!! I do not try to replicate the antiques to pass them off as antiques!!!!! The main reason I taught myself to hook was because I wanted an antique rug and could not afford to buy one or travel in search of one. Instead decided to teach myself how to hook and make one myself. Oh but that wasn't very smart of me because it became an obsession with hooking rugs. I'm sure many of you are in the same boat... a long list of rugs to do.
OH!!!!! There was some more hooking done on the Chicken Challenge rug but also a lot of stuff to deal with the snow but no new photo. This was the reading first thing this morning before 7 a.m. But then it continued to snow.
Where the heck is spring?
Have a good evening, wrap up and stay warm. Please don't over do the snow shoveling. Work a little.......rest and go back. Hugs to all.
Saundra
No, sadly it still isn't done.... and I'm beginning to believe that my friend Lauren's Chicken Challenge rug must have been more like a 9" x 12" since she finished it in record time (love picking on your Lauren).
I've taken a couple different pictures, some with flash some without ~ some before changes and some after. There's sure to be mixed feelings on the background but I'm keeping on going on. I'll show you what it looks like right now and is a picture taken without a flash which is really more true to what the rug looks like in person albeit a little blurry.
Here is a picture with a flash which shows my patchwork background color in much brighter colors than in person and this is a situation we all have when taking pictures of our rugs.
And then....... a picture before I tried something different in the right flower. You know me, I'm not opposed to pulling out wool and trying something else to see if it will enhance the rug.
I'd be interested in your thoughts on the flower.....make the left one yellow in the center too? Or hook back the center like it was before and make it like the one on the left?
For those of you just checking out my blog for the first time tonight, if you scroll thru previous posts you can read how to participate in the free Chicken Challenge pattern as well as seeing another antique rug which inspired me to make this crazy background. Speaking of which, I'm sure my flash drive is full of antique rugs with a patchwork background and plan to designate a post showing what I've collected so far.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday evening.
Saundra
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