How to Hook a Square Corner for Newbies

Actually it isn't just for newbies because I didn't learn this until I'd been hooking for a while.  Sometimes a design tells me to have a curved corner.  Such as this hit and miss circle mat I hooked.

But when you want the corner square there is a bit of an unknown easy step.  Forget all the sharpie changes in border line drawings......Here is a picture of an edge row at the top of my challenge rug.  I hook one hole beyond the hooking lines of the design.

Then when I continue down the left side my next loop is pulled up in one hole inside where the edge should be.  That gives a nice squared off corner because of the direction of the loops.

Below is an example of before and after I knew this valuable information of a very simplistic technique.  If you click on the picture to make it bigger you will see that some of those geometric designs are squiggly and irregular.  THEN, there are some which have sharp and crisp edges.  Yupper, that is the before and after I learned how to make sharp corners.  

Have a great evening folks.  Temperatures mild today and tomorrow is better.  Wish I could afford the time to cut (mulch) leaves in my huge yard but the countdown is on preparing to leave for rug camp.  Did manage to rake some leaves today but other chores are beckoning me now.

Saundra

ALMOST TURKEY TIME (and Newbie Time)

Yup, people out buying turkeys or getting ready to refrigerator thaw them out to prepare for cooking the Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.  This is a design I hooked and was enlarged from a Needl'love booklet .  It has been a favorite of mine and you can see the single "S" on it so this one was also a rug hooked betwixt and between the divorce and name change.   However, I do have fond memories of being with the rug hooking friends who comforted me during that time of hookit it at camp.   I can remember being in the corner of the class room at Cape May with Lucille Festa as my teacher.  In the class and beside me was my gal pals Deb, Char and Yahna.

Thanks for all the positive comments from people who have read and are now anticipating the "Newbie Rug Hooker Tidbits" section of my blog. 

Topics tonight are:

~  Do I hook in every hole?"

No, not usually unless you are using a very fine cut.  However, if you are hooking a #3 wool strip doubt you are reading my blog.

~ How many holes from the last loop do I pull the next one?

It depends on the type of backing/foundation and the size cut you are using.  So I use Dorr natural primitive linen and hook in either #8 or #8.5 normally, so I would hook PROBABLY in a space sequence of 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2.  Now in turning a corner or rounding a bend it might be just the next hole over from the X of the linen weave turn. 

The object is to not pack tight nor too loosely.  You want your loop to be like a tear drop where (sideways) you can see an open space at the top between the loop.  AND, when you hook the next row it would be normally 3 spaces over.  Again, it depends on the cut you are using.

You want your rows to look like little soldiers with their shoulders JUST touching but not crammed together.  You also want to see the roundness of the shoulders from the top so the light can catch the true color of the wool.

~ What prevents the loops from pulling out?

Just the pressure of the loops keeps them from coming out.  NOW, my girl Shadow would sometimes sit on the rug and turn to scratch or lick herself and perhaps a loop would come out.  Since I hooked it all I have to do is just replace the loop with my hook.

~ How do I keep my rug from slipping and should I coat the back?

Absolutely DO NOT coat the back with that rubbery stuff.  If you have ever had a purchased mat which was coated with it you know how it disintegrates.  That mixture does not allow your expensive and wonderful wool to breathe or free itself from dirt and moisture. 

If you want to keep your rugs from slipping you can purchase those rubber woven mats which are very similar to the kitchen shelf linings.  Those are sold in the rug or mat department and sold in different sizes;  they work great.
Okay you wonderful world of newbie rug hooker wannabes..... I need some questions you want answers to.  Please write me at saundra125@comcast.net so that I can keep the help flowing. 

Have a great evening, stay warm and have a thankful wonderful Thanksgiving day.

Saundra