On My Frame

Couldn't wait to put another linen on my rug frame after pulling the last loop on the paisley design.   Knew it would be an antique adaptation called Early Farm Scene and a pattern purchased on eBay for a good price.  

After starting to hook realized it was the drawer's version of the antique design.  Guess I should have drawn it myself to get a more accurate placement of all the elements.  See all the red lines?  Those are changes I'm making to the design as the flowers were way too low , the tree is not drawn like the original and neither is the dog so will hook that differently as well.

Here is a picture of the original antique which would actually be longer than the 28" of the design above if it were drawn to scale.  But I'm okay with a smaller rug and will work with what I have and know in the end I'll still be quite happy.  

IF I know there won't be added border or extension to a rug design I like preparing the edges of my foundation before it is hooked.  You can see the pre-binding stitches have been made 1 1/4" away from the last row because I won't be making a border or making the design bigger.  After a rug is hooked it is bulky to manipulate on a sewing machine stitching two rows of straight stitch 1/4" apart and then a third row of zig zag to connect the two other rows.

I know some people prefer to not stitch the edge of the rug but I want to ensure the edges of my rug won't unravel and fall apart after years of use.

Saundra

Preparing to Start

There's still a little more hooking to do on the cat mat but as soon as it is done would like to start on my grandson's Favorite Teams rug. You're seeing lots of lines around the perimeter of the design.  That is because I know for sure that I'll not be making changes to the border or size of rug.  

I don't do this style each and every time before starting to hook a rug, only to the ones I'm sure size and design are set in stone.  And that task is a lot easier to manipulate a rug in a sewing machine when it doesn't have the weight and bulk of it being hooked.   

So I machine stitched two rows of straight stitching 1" away from the border line and then joined them together with one row of zig zag.

So now you also see another drawn line just inside that and 1/4" from the border's edge.  That is the sewing guide line for me to attach the binding fabric.

Wanted to clarify tho, that I do always, always, prepare the edge of my foundation before binding.   Never do I leave a raw loose edge on my foundation even if it is covered with binding tape or rolled and whipped edge.  That unstitched edge is still moving with each pick up of the hands and making it vulnerable to teasing.

As I'm cleaning out and donating my fabrics thought this black and white checkered fabric would be perfect for the binding of the rug/wall hanging.  It is plenty wide enough for me to sew on a sleeve for a dowel to be inserted for it to go on the wall.  Or, no dowel if it goes on the floor.

Have a great evening.  And pay a visit to our old friend who has a new face.... that would be our Kim (previously of Millie's Mats) but now is a Glass Half Full.  Go pay a visit and be a follower.

Saundra