Magdalena's Lititz Hens

Am luv'n this rug so far.  Just wish the digital camera could capture the proper colors of the wool.  The right hen is NOT red , it is a warm brown.  With the other setting on the camera the photos appear even brighter.

Initially, when pulling colors for the rug there were two pieces of wool from which to make my selection for the right hen.  The other was too dark brown, almost black.  Perhaps that one would have made a better photo.  But, I will live with this rug and love what I see in person.  

Still have Star Geo to bind and several rugs to label before attending the April rug camp in 2 months.  Yeah sounds like so far away (in kid's time) but real time will go in a flash.

Yesterday's weather was great and today was even better.  Tomorrow is going to be disappointing compared to these last two.  But hey, days are getting longer so sun will bring out the temps.  

Then there's MARCH WINDS and APRIL SHOWERS.  It was March 2nd last year which brought down two huge live trees in my yard.  So I'm really skeptical about March.

Good evening to all.

Saundra

Oldies but Goodies

Sure haven't put many steps on my Fitbit during this sub-freezing arctic air.  Instead I've been sitting on my butt hooking, or sitting in front of the computer listing items on eBay or perusing old rugs.  So it's time to share some oldies but goodies.

This one is definitely on my 'to hook' list as I already have the pattern.  It is an early Mennonite Farm scene from 1900s.   

A Bulldog hooked rug from Pine Bush, NY measures 21 x 34.

A Deer with neutral colored hit and miss border, and background I so love.

The below rug was purportedly hooked by H. Shull's mother to commemorate his birthday in Erwinna, PA.  Late 19th century measuring 23 1/2 X 43.

Early 20th century lion measuring 30 x 46..

A more colorful rug is this monochromatic floral.  I've never hooked a rug with a red background before and would like to do that sometime.

A Rooster circa 1920 from Williamsburg, VA, wool on burlap measuring 22 x 32.

An oval cat and dog rug.

Just checked the outside temperature and it is a whopping 37* Fahrenheit.  So think I'll walk the half mile down to get my mail (which I didn't get yesterday) and the half mile back.  Gotta get off this butt!!!

Saundra

Taming an Ugly

A few years ago I purchased a couple yards of a pinkish red wool which looked appealing at the time.  But since then have come to think of it as putrid pink.  Tried using some in Lititz Hens and had to pull it out.

Didn't feel like getting out all my equipment and mixing dye recipes so went to my stash of pre-mixed jars of dye from previous projects.  The wool looks different on the reverse side so have displayed it so you can see both sides.

The narrow center piece of wool is what I started with.  Wool on the left  was put in a pot of Olde Patina dye (Beautiful Wool by Laurice Heath).  The wool on the right was put in a pot with Evening Shade A Rug to Dye For by Tonya Benson Robey).

Still cold here and weather forecast is calling for about  an inch of snow but at least it won't be the frigid temps of the last couple days.  Still in the teens right now tho.

Hard to believe it is February already.

Saundra

Lititz Hens Update

Haven't worked on binding Star Geometric since the previous post.  After realizing it would be better with double strand yarn for better coverage have put it on hold.  Oh well, binding isn't my favorite thing to do anyway 😏.

Again, this is a design by Magdalena Briner Eby which I've named Lititz Hens.  It measures 19 1/2 x 40.

That right hen doesn't look that red in person and makes me second guess my choice of wool colors.  No way I'm pulling out that whole hen tho, so it stays as is.

Binding this one will go much easier since I sewed on a 3" cotton binding tape before hooking.  Knowing there would NOT be any change to the border makes this style of binding really easy.  This one might even get bound before Star.

Luckily this area did not get the snow which was predicted but did get a few rain drops.  However there is another front coming thru and we won't escape the frigid temperatures.  Thank gawd my heater didn't fail during this forecast.

Saundra

Love Hooking ~ Hate Binding

It has been a couple weeks since the last loop was pulled on Star Geometric.  It has been steamed, foundation secured, trimmed and ready for the final stage.

Binding a rug isn't hard to do but it takes time away from hooking another rug.  

I've done several types of binding and have posted several ways on my blog previously.  Sometimes (most times) I don't want a whipped edge as the additional row of color isn't always what is wanted.  Plus, I've whipped the edges with wool before and it doesn't take long for the wool yarn to separate and show the foundation.

Gritting my teeth I've started to bind the rug.  UH, taking away from my hooking time !#*?!  

This is how I'm binding Star rug.  Am using wool yarn but won't be whipped where that edge provides a part of the border and shows at the top.  But rather whipping which will be at the bottom to provide strength and support at the edge.

Notice I've placed the rug binding about 1/4" inside from the edge and did a running stitch to secure the binding tape to the rug's foundation.    With wool yarn I whip by placing the needle under the row of hooking and upward into the cotton binding.  

Was using single wool strands but now see I should have used double strands.  So that will change when getting back to this undesirable task, 😀

This is what it looks like from the top view.  No extra border and no wool yarn showing at the top.

On another thought and wool in my stash....that ugly pinkish/red wool is still driving me crazy and need to do an over dye.  But that will be in my future as I've an appointment tomorrow and need to get back to the Magdalena rug.   OH, will be making a pot of vegetable soup tomorrow also ~ so guess my tomorrow is full.

Weather is going to get crazy here soon, coming from you mid-west folks have it rough right now.  

Happy Monday.

Saundra

LITITZ HENS

Am calling this design by Magdalena Briner Eby "Lititz Hens".  Sorry more hasn't been accomplished on it since the last posting, but such is life.

In case you are a new visitor, the dimensions of this pattern is 19 1/2 x 40.  Neither this rug nor Magdalena's Goat, previously hooked by me, appear in this book.  But if this isn't on your rug hooking book shelves it should be.  If you wish to order a copy you can contact Kathy Wright HERE.

If you missed Magdalena's Goat I hooked this the original size (29 x 35) which was close to colors Magdalena used to hook hers.  

And this smaller size of 22 x 26 was hooked in different colors  just to give prospective hookers color ideas.

Okay, with the 'such is life' comment above, I was without heat for 24 hours.  Being a 'glass half full' type of person, am thankful the temps weren't those of the previous week.  Last week with soaring winds and temperature in the teens it could have been much worse.

Thankfully it is warm now and getting ready to have a bowl of chili to warm my insides as well.  Happy Saturday.

Saundra

Let's Have a Rug Show!

Thought I'd start off with something for Kelley.  A cat rug with stars and scallop border.  Said to be from late 19th century hooked using wool and cotton.  At a later date I learned this is not an antique but a design by Kathy Morton.

Not wanting to show favoritism, here is a dog hooked in the 19th century.  Measuring 28 x 39 it comes from Sturbridge MA.

Colonial houses with well in foreground.

Colorful birds from Ephrata, PA measures 27 x 44 and said to have been hooked between 1850 - 1900.

A hooked dog rug with a faux 'hooked' braided inside border.  Thout that was very interesting and very well done.  Tap on the photo to get a better view.

Berries in corners and center with hit and miss background 19th century.

Of course I have to show some horses after showing a cat, dogs, birds, etc.  Late 19th century 23 x 40 from Pennsylvania.

Found this on Pinterest and can't believe it is in such wonderful shape.  Must have been museum stored for centuries.  It is a 12th century Girona tapestry  depicting the month of April.  Would make a nice hooked rug and conversation piece.

All that is missing is a truly primitive and naive hooked pot of flowers with small houses.  

Good evening to you all.

Saundra

RUG on my FRAME

Previously only a portion of the left hen was shown on my blog.  This is the whole view of the rug in progress which measures 19 1/2 x 40.  Must admit I was shocked to see this photo from my camera.  

The hen to the right was a BROWN.  But it looks red in the photo so was quite shocked to see this picture.  Next time a photo is taken it will be without a flash. 

Will tell you the name of the rug next time with HOPEFULLY a much better photo.  

Saundra

Barbara E. Merry UPDATE

Recently a reader/follower asked me if I knew about Barbara Merry.  The answer was 'yes I have heard about her'.  What he told me which I didn't know, was that she was also a painter and she would sell him paintings right off her wall.  So here are a few rugs hooked by Barbara Merry.

Friend Cathy sent me a photo of a Barbara Merry rug she purchased a few years ago.  And what a lovely piece it is.  Thanks Cathy for sending me the photo.

Below could serve as the weather report for this weekend ~ a landscape and sleigh ride with the familiar initials hooked at the bottom.

I thought this rug was cute, it indicates a younger Barbara scrubbing the steps and an after with a few years gone by and with her husband on those same steps.

This rug says "Wedding Rug" at the bottom left.

A black cat, perhaps her favorite with all the hearts.

Maine Village with free range chickens.

Thought the rug below was quite interesting with the standing wool rainbow and border.

Saw this Home Sweet Home rug on Pinterest and gives credit to Barbara but I don't see her signature initials or last name.

This one with two kids on a seesaw is my very favorite rug by Barbara.

If anyone has pictures of other rugs or a complete view of the Home Sweet Home with initials I'd love for you to share.  You can send me the photo thru my "Contact" section on the right side bar.  

Happy Friday and hunker down for the cold and white stuff this weekend.  I'll be hooking inside and making a pot of chili.

Saundra

New Project

Sorry I've been MIA but had a pattern to draw and eBay sales to pack/ship and new listings.  Oh, and a bit of a conflict with PayPal which was time consuming.  So here ya go....a partial view of my new rug in progress.  

Short but sweet post so now gotta run to do errands before I can pull more loops.

Saundra

Onion Skin Dyeing

Today is the day to get this task done.  It has been so long since dyeing with onion skins and was looking forward to the results.  Wanting to impress my readers 😀 thought it best to pull out my "Natural Dyeing" booklet by Marie Sugar and follow instructions.

It said to use 2 cups of onion skins ~ I mixed both yellow and red onion skins together.  I pressed the down but didn't push so hard it would crush the skins into bits.

The zipper mesh bag was purchased at the Dollar Tree.  There are 3 bags for only $1.

Decided to use these various pieces of bolt wool and parts of dismantled clothing.  There is approximately a yard there.

A picture of the color leaching from the skins before putting in the wool.

With the color almost all absorbed into the wool I wasn't impressed with the results and knew you wouldn't be either.  So pulled out the wool and added another 2 cups of skins into the same bag.

Back into the pot went the wool after the additional skins had leached their color.  Here is the before:

Here are the results.

None of those colors have a plan yet but sure will be more useful to me for antique or primitive rugs that the before wool.  Even in the past when I had disaster dye jobs have found particular pieces very handy.  

Saundra

Plans, Time and Priorities Updated

'Plans' for today's blog post was going to be about doing onion skin dying.    When going to the grocery store I'd gather loose onion skins from the bin and put them in baggies plus save my own when using onions in recipes.  

But with other more pressing 'priorities' that plan went by the way side.   Am trying to downsize to rid items from my sewing room related to crafts I no longer do.  

Today was busy taking photos of various items to list on eBay tomorrow...such as more flour/seed feed sacks and quilt books.  There were some listed last week which are closing tomorrow.

While checking my book shelves for more Quilt Patterns I found this CHERI  SAFFIOTE hard back quilt book.  HERE is the link to the listing on eBay.

Instead of taking photos to list on eBay, what I'd really like to do is get busy hooking my new rug project.  But tomorrow a few eBay listings end which will need to be packaged for shipping.  Now I need to list those new items which also takes 'time'.

This Little Quilts pattern book is also listed on eBay.

 

When making primitive dolls I aspired to make small quilts for dolls, decoration, etc.  In retrospect think that would have been a much wiser choice than starting a huge STAR QUILT which still isn't finished after all these years.

That "S" word is coming my way and I'm not happy about that.  Yes, it is beautiful but requires more 'time' from me to shovel and keep steps clean so I don't slip.

Gonna go pull a few loops on my new project and who knows when that onion skin dyeing will eventually get done.

Hope everyone is warm and tucked in.

Saundra