Be Prepared

The Boy Scout motto is "Be Prepared".  The next time I host or do a textile challenge my motto is "be more prepared".  In 2021, during the pandemic, I hosted a textile challenge on my blog and you can read a little about it HERE.  The objective was using more of an alternate textile than wool in a rug to get back to our roots, so to speak.  

Not such a wise decision was that I chose to use woven cotton and homespun as my alternate textile.  Not next time baby, it is a bear to pull through the linen.  Finished works by the participants of the challenge were featured in the August/September 2021 issue of ATHA magazine.  Thanks to all the rug hookers who joined in, it was fun.

So in order for  me to be more prepared for the next challenge I've started looking for and collecting silks, cotton knits and nylons.  If you peruse the rug hooking sale sites on FB you've seen Sari silk offered I'm sure.  What makes Sari silk (a silk garment worn in India) any more special than a silk item worn in America?  Go to your local thrift shop and look for silk items.  Yeah, you'll have to dismantle and rip it yourself but much more thrifty and you can use the savings toward gas.

Yesterday I did rip a couple items which you see bundled to the left of the photo below.  I'll bet that colorful blouse will be beautiful and will eventually work on that.  The white nylons will be thrown in a dye pot once I know what the project will be.  You can also see a green and yellow piece of nylon stocking.

And here is my collection of cotton knit, and more yellow and green nylon stockings.  These will have to be cut vs. ripped, but at least I've got my bounty ready.

For those who have followed me regularly, you know my passion for hooking antique adaptations.  Here is a photo of antique star and diamond rug which measures 33 x 70.  Love those blotchy off color patches on antique rugs.  Shows me they used what they had.

Now look at the close up detail of the textiles used AND notice the spacing between the loops.

And yet another closeup of another section of the rug with burlap showing thru.  That may also indicate weakening of the foundation.  Point is, that's not wool.

Here is the back of another antique rug and look at the spacing between loops.

On another rug, the photo below shows this person even used a sweater.

And probably my all time favorite antique rug designer/hooker is Magdalena Briner Eby.  Here are two closeup photos of the front and what is now known as Great Granddaughter's Rug.

Notice that even tho these rugs were well used, walked on (pressed), during Magdalena's time you can still see foundation showing.  And of course they got dirty which adds beauty to the antique and tones down the bright white.  Sometimes I have used walnut juice from walnuts collected in the fall or I've a favorite dye recipe called Olde Patina which I use.  So if you want to make a rug look old, follow in the footsteps of our foremothers, just say'n.

Here's Magdalena's fine rug held by relatives.  That is the great granddaughter in the middle.

In 2019 I hooked that design and tried to follow the color scheme Magdalena used but hooked in my normal rhythm and using what I had on hand.

Guess I've rambled long enough on this post and need to save up something for future posts.  Happy Hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

ELEVEN DAYS INTO THE CHALLENGE (Updated info)

This is day 11 of the alternative textile challenge with 6 people having  completed their Tulip and both people completing Magdalena's Pup.  

Update:  Chris posted a very interesting question to all you participants.  She wondered if you plan to steam your piece.  She's worried since both ribbon and pantyhose are in her piece they may melt or singe.  Chris, I can only speak for myself and I don't have either of those textiles in my piece.  I don't plan to steam, but since it is supposed to look old anyway, mine is on the floor in my kitchen between the sink and where I prepare food.  It will get pressed when standing on it and if anything spills on it oh well.

Cathy of Acorn Hollow has completed her Tattered Tulip and her sentiments were like  mine....happy to have it finished.   She used ribbon, old curtains, skirt lining, vintage bark cloth and vintage lace.  She enlarged hers 10 x 10 and said it was much harder than she thought.

Lauren has accomplished a lot since her last posting.  But me thinks she can't wait for this to be done so she can go back to her wonderful warm wool.  Your colors work well together ~ I especially like that olive green in the background.  Oh, and great colors.

Chris couldn't wait to cut up her old pantyhose and put them in her Tulip rebelling against having to once wear them.  She said the nylons hooked  "as smooth as buttah".

Kimm also accomplished more on her Hearts in Circles design.  She said the pink and tan appeared too bright so she coffee stained it.

Jane sent an update on her Scrappy Cat, said she had just enough of the stripe brown and tan jersey to put some in the head.  A remnant of a rayon paisley skirt was used to outline the cat.  The background is a variety of knits. 

Here is a picture of some of the fabrics Jane spoke of. 

Pam sent me this photo  a day or so ago and I emailed her saying the photo was distracting and to take another.  Explained that with the sun and the shadow of her hand it destroyed the beauty of her work.  But since I've not received another photo thought I'd post it anyway since her hooking and the velvet is wonderful.  

Breaking News, this just in.......

This afternoon Maria Barton asked to join our group and has chosen Magdalena's Pup as her challenge.  She said once while hooking a Horse and Scroll she added some cotton but she'd never hooked an entire piece with alternative textiles and can't wait to do the challenge.  She has, or had, an active BLOG and welcome her to the group.  

Donna, who also has a BLOG  has joined us as well and has chosen the Tattered Tulip.  And, would you believe that Margaret, who has already finished her Magdalena Pup wants to do the Tulip challenge also???  

Wow, am quite surprised by the second wind this challenge has taken.  I'm having a glass of wine so don't hold me to what I'm about to say 😊 but maybe, just maybe I'll do another challenge along with the rest of you and choose my textiles more realistically and more hand friendly.

Tomorrow I'll post something else other than challenge updates to give everyone a break.  But will post something for sure.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

That Textile Challenge (Updated)

Original plan was to post completed photos of all the challenge pieces today.  But you can just scroll thru previous posts so I'll just show the latest finishes. 

Elizabeth sent me a photo of her Tulip this afternoon, great job gal, and love the colors of the wool used to whip the edge!

While perusing other blogs I stumbled upon Donna's Tulip so swiped a photo from her blog.

Karen was so excited to start her journey with this challenge just after having a cast removed from her arm and before PT.  Unfortunately she had to stop hooking due to the pain from an injury.  Don't worry Karen, take time to heal that valuable rug hooking hand/arm and send me a photo when it is finished, whenever that is.  This was all she was able to accomplish before the pain became unbearable at the beginning.

After Jane took a picture of her Scrappy Cat she realized it needed a a couple tweaks.  She added a border at the edge and gave it a face lift.  Here is "Walter's Scrappy Cat" redux.  Thanks for the update Jane.

Thanks to all of you who participated in this Textile Challenge.  Think it helped fill in time during this lockdown and provide not only entertainment for each of us but a connection to others albeit long distance.  I appreciate your continued viewership.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

IT'S HERE!!!!!!

The ATHA magazine with our article has arrived!!!!!  Even tho I wrote the article and knew what was said, it is so much more fun holding it in my hand and reading it all over again.  Even more fun is looking at everyone's work and recalling our challenge again.

For those of you who submitted photos who were not members of ATHA at the time, sorry but your names weren't mentioned.  Don't know if it is possible for you to buy just one issue or not, but if you'd like to join ATHA you can check it out HERE.  Perhaps you could contact them to see if they have any extra issues of this one issue before they disappear.  BTW, I'm planning on hosting another "alternative textile challenge" after the new year and have started collecting my goodies to make it easier for me this time.

This is a jampacked issue with several free patterns and I see one I'd like to start for my front door next.  And of course the Tattered Tulip pattern is in there as well.  Thanks to all of you who decided to play with me on this textile challenge.  

Happy hooking, happy reading and enjoy the magazine.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

The Beat Goes On

Am truly surprised and honored by the response of people wanting to participate in this Textile Challenge.  Some even enjoyed it so much they wanted a second serving, but me thinks my friend Lauren won't be one of them 😁.  You did a fantastic job on this beauty despite what you think Lauren.

The finished dimensions of her piece is 12 3/4 X 15 1/2; she  used Sari ribbon, woven cotton, paisley, 1 strip of velvet, 2 different wool yarns and an old t-shirt.  So you can see the great wool yarn edge better, here is a close up.  Also note a random color hooked in at the bottom left.  That is exactly what our foremothers would have done when they ran out of the textile they were using for the background.  That gives it character and I love it!

Denise finished her Scrappy Cat and asked to do Magdalena's Pup next.  Some of the cottons she used in this piece she previouslyl cut to do a quilt; but said she's enjoying it much more in this piece than the quilt that almost was.  Sweet looking feline you have there Denise.

Kimm also finished her Hearts in Circles antique adaptation.  She stained hers with coffee and said coffee stains darker and faster than tea.  But Kimm I think it looks lovely.  Maybe you'll try it again in different colors or using tea. 

Rhonda completed her challenge piece and while she complained about not being a good photographer it seems none of us ever get the true colors when photographing our work ~ that's a constant complaint of mine.  Looks good and primitive just how I like it.

Donna started hers yesterday and is making good headway.  She is using quilting cotton, sari ribbon, some yarn and stretch jersey, which, she says Deanne calls 'sexy jersey'.

Pamm finished her velvety tulip today and it is a stunner.  She said the pink and green (which is showing up as a gold/green on my monitor) is hand dyed but the purple velvet has white on the backside and that is what is causing those little threads.   She also said doing this challenge makes her appreciate how easy it is to hook with wool.    Pamm, couldn't agree with you more about the wool ~ and, FYI, all of us who participated had those dang threads with the cotton we used too, not to worry.    

I've been asked how people are finishing their pieces.  I just folded back the linen and tacked down, then did the Betsy Reed style of primitive edge.  

To do that I cut 3" strips of like cotton background and twisted it into a ball to wrinkle it until ready to do the edge.  I had a ball of vintage pink and ecru thread to do the whipped edge.  Not fancy but adds to the primitive nature of the challenge.

This morning I began my normal ritual of searching for Covid vaccine in my area then shocked finding availability at my local Walgreens.   Was able to secure an appointment for tomorrow with the 2nd dose in 28 days.  A couple hours later received a phone call from Walgreens saying they had 3 pharmacists on duty and did I want to go in today.  Heck yeah!  So I had my first Pfizer shot today around 1:44 p.m. and will have the second on March 31st.

Happy Hooking and stay safe.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Scrappy Cat and Tattered Tulip

Want to thank all those who decided to take on this alternative textile challenge and honestly was happily surprised at the number who participated.  

For those who may not have a big selection of cottons there are other fibers you can use for this challenge: socks with holes in the toe or heel, worn t-shirts, silk ties your partner doesn't wear, out of style blouses or items you planned for the thrift shop.  OR, go to the local thrift shop and purchase what you need at a very low price.  That would be more in keeping with the challenge rather than depending on wonderful warm wool.  A little bit in a piece is understandable I used a couple strips in the center of my leaves, and those odd colors in the background, but that's it.

Look at Denise's wonderful Scrappy Cat.  She said she's using all homespun.  Looks that hooks better and with less threads than my woven cotton.  You've a pretty feline there Denise, looks like a pure bred to me 😉.

Chris just made her debut showing today with her Tattered Tulip.

She is using hand torn quilting cotton, ribbon, yarn  and really wants to cut up an old pair of pantyhose because she hated them.     Chris confessed that color planning was always a challenge for her but with this challenge the gathering of different textiles mattered more than the right color.  Said it was freeing to give into the randomness of color choices.  Well said Chris!!!!   And here is a peek at what she's using in her piece.

Had hoped to post a photo of others which were close to ready but they hadn't arrived in my mail box by 6:40 p.m. so decided to post what I had.  Pam sent me a photo of her tulip, which is gorgeous and being hooked with velvet, but the photo had blotches of sunlight and shadows of her hand which distracted from the beauty of her work.  Am awaiting for another photo but she just might be finished if I receive it tomorrow.  

Happy  hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Winding Down

Soon we will all be doing yard work and cutting grass, our time will be limited so lets get these challenge pieces finished so I can share them on my blog.  

The Textile Challenge was opened February 13th.  While not everyone may have joined that day the challenge has been underway for just over 3 weeks.  Monday I will do a blog post of participants' projects.

The majority of people chose the Tattered Tulip since it was an smallish piece, 3 people chose Magdalena's Pup, 3 decided on Scrappy Cat and one person chose Hearts in Circles.  There were those people who finished their piece early and wanted to do another challenge so chose something else.  Out of that whole group there were only 2 people who haven't responded.  Yet the rest of us had a great time with comradery and sharing.  

Elizabeth drew her Tulip pattern measuring 15 x 17 so is a little larger than mine was.  She is using light weight cotton, sari silk and tie silk.  And you can definitely see where wool was used; and oh what a difference wool makes, eh Lauren, lol.  We sure do cherish our wool now don't we?

Maria just sent me her update on Magdalena's Pup and this makes me want to hook one now too and even with alternative textiles (did I honestly just say that???)  

She also sent a photo of what she's hooking in her piece ~ yarn, t-shirts and hose.

Jane also sent me her finished Scrappy Cat she named "Walter's Cat" since that cat would always greet her when cutting the grass and it had bowed front legs.

Jane sent a photo of some of the textiles used at the bottom and elsewhere loosely in the rug.  She said she used these on the wrong side to make the colors muted and also pretended she was a 13 year old hooking in the dark with whatever was available.   Oh if only we could revert back to that unharnessed innocence whenever we wanted ~ where the sky could be green or pink and animals blue?  Hmmm, is that an idea for a future challenge anyone?

Happy Saturday and happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

 

More Progress on the Textile Challenge

The first updates on this post will be for the litter of Magdalena's Pups. First up is the progress of Tammy.  I think Tammy (like me) is using mostly cotton to hook the project, which isn't very forgiving.  But our foremothers used it and want to struggle thru.

Wonderful looking pup you've got there Tammy and can't wait to see what you do with the rest.  I always enjoyed hooking those curves in the corners of Magdalena's rugs ~ maybe just me but seemed to make the finishing go so much faster.

Margaret is also hooking Magdalena's Pup.  I might be wrong but believe she is hooking this a little larger size than the rest of us.  Margaret is using ultra suede, wool, cotton knit and the red collar is red lace seam binding (OMG I've used that in the past when making my own clothing).

Love the pup's blue eye!!!!!  Looking forward to your background Margaret....is it just an outline in blue or is the whole background going to be blue?  You're keeping us in suspense.

Now to the spring tulips.... Nancy's Tulip appears to have the morning sun shinning on the tips of an Agrass Golden Tulip.  The blue background is a soft change from the dark background I'm doing.  Very nice Nancy!!

Lauren posted her update on her blog but she deserves a spot here as as she is part of our group.  And she should post what she's doing on her blog.  Lauren showed the group the textiles planned to hook the piece and they all melded together so well.  No doubt it will be a beautiful piece because she will have angst if every loop doesn't lay just right and will play with every loop until it does what she wants.  

Now to my Tattered Tulip.  I took two photos just in case one was really off kilter, and just seconds apart.  For you long time followers am sure you've seen my ORB photos.  This evening I saw an orb like one I've never seen before.  It happened to be the first photo.  Do you see that PINK ORB???  I have only seen white orbs in all the photos I've taken.  

Seconds later I took another photo and this is the one I sent to the 'group' who communicate with one another.  I didn't see the orb until viewing it on my PC.

As this Challenge was started a week ago I'm officially closing the invitation to new participants.  Unfortunately Becky, Linda and Robin are NO-Reply Bloggers.  However, you could do your own personal challenge or start your own group challenge ~ and Robin I think you are doing just that, good for you to inspire activity during this never-ending shut down.

But we who signed up for this challenge will be in it for the long haul...right gals?????   Yeah, I need a good soft wool hug but I'll be with you and have your backs all the way.

Saundra

Miscellaneous Rug Hooking Chit Chat

 Someone asked about the wool colors in the Oxen.

Below is the wool I overdyed years ago before hooking the Rottweiler Memorial of Shumba and Panzer and had some left.   Yeah, it really is the same wool used in the darker Ox but the flash makes it appear lighter.  This came from a recipe book I have and think it was in a Jewel Tones booklet.  If anyone was truly interested I could look for the recipe.  And think it is one of the XOXO scrunched wool in baking pan recipes.

The other Ox wool is what was left over from an onion skin dye bath.  As the dye started to take up decided to toss in a little more white wool to absorb what was left for a lighter shade.  Now all my onion skin dyed wool is gone.

I discovered Margaret Shaw is the designer of this rug and she is going to draw a pattern for me.  She did say it won't listed on her FB web site as a regular design but will draw it.  Obviously she is taking the holiday off but I'm excited to get the pattern and is what I'll work on at Cape May in September....hopefully.

Today I saw the ATHA Magazine layout for our Textile Challenge gals!!!!!!!!  It is going to print today and I'm getting really excited.  However did learn that those of you who are not ATHA members will not have your name mentioned but your project will be seen in the article. 

I'm hoping to host another Textile Challenge this winter and plan to start a little earlier than last.  So if you plan to participate you may want to  get credit for your work and be an ATHA member.  The magazine is full of great information, inspiration and sometimes a free pattern.  You can subscribe HERE to join or even just to buy the upcoming issue.

Am drawing two big rug patterns for someone ~ the large Mighty Whale and the large original size of Magdalena's Goat.  So they will be ready to ship tomorrow.

Happy hooking and hope you have a fun-filled and safe weekend.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com