Finally finished...

I am so pleased to share with you all that I have finished my first hooked rug.

 

I am running a competition on my Facebook page to name the pattern which I plan to sell in my Etsy shop.

 



 

This has inspired me to design and make more rugs, but I also have some patterns from Not Forgotten Farm that I am looking forward to making. As I am not finding it very easy to get wool fabric for rug hooking I will probably make them using t-shirts, like my rug.

 

I do have a largish piece of green wool fabric that I want to cut up and over dye pieces. I would like to use natural dyes so I shall be investigating recipes. I will let you know how I get on.

 

 

Bright Blessings

 

 

From the Cabin xxx

Nearly there...

Ok, I've finished cutting my t-shirts into strips and have wound them onto the wooden spools...

 

I watched a You Tube video of a lady who was cutting t-shirts for braided rugs and I thought I use that idea for a quicker way for cutting my strips...

 

By folding the fabric in half, then half again

 

Always clean your mat after each t-shirt as they leave a mess behind that will transfer to your next t-shirt, which in itself isn't a major problem but it just gives you extra work so it's easier to clean as you go and while the mat is drying you can (as I did) wind your strips onto your spools.

 

 

 

 

What a lovely array of colours and they look so cool on the spools.



This is the hook I will be using from Fred Aldous


Before transferring the design I stitched a zigzag stitch around the edge so the fabric wouldn't un weave while I was working.

Then it was transferring onto my jute fabric backing ( cheap one from The Works as this is my first rug and lesson). I don't seem to be able to get hold of red dot transfer fabric in the UK, so I had to improvise using tracing paper.....

Then it was a case of transferring my design from my note book with a sharpie pen...

 

 

 

I made holes with a hole punch first, which wasn't that successful, so I followed the lines of the design and punched holes using a large needle; the batting was something soft to work on so the needle went through the paper.

 

Here is the design on the fabric. following instruction I found on beginners rug hooking, I don't have the link today but I will find it again and share it with you all. I stitch along the  rectangular outline and then a second stitch line a 1/4 inch outside of that....

The stitching is difficult to see in the photo as the thread is a similar colour. This stitching helps stabilise the fabric when you put it in your frame.


Now I am ready to hook, come back soon to see my work in progress...


Bright Blessings


From the Cabin xxxxx

 

 

 

 

Rug hooking materials...

I have wanted to learn rug hooking for a while now and to design my own patterns.

I also want to use old cloths to hook with. I have found it difficult to find wool cloths in the charity shops so I thought I would try t-shirts.

I bought this pile from a charity shop

muted colours in stripes & floral

And cut them into strips

 

 

Then wound them onto some wooden spools I purchased many years ago and not got around to using in a craft project.

I have drawn my first design and I have some patterns coming from Lori of Not Forgotten Farm.

I haven’t cut all the t-shirts yet so when I have I will hook my design.

I will be back to let you know how I get on.

Bright Blessings from the Cabin xx

 



Foraging for Blackberries & Finding Inspiration...

 

After reading one of Lori of Not Forgotten Farm posts where she had gone back to her home town for a visit and went round the cemetery there and found a carving on a headstone which she converted into a punch needle pattern. Sooooo I thought I'd do the same.

 

One dull grey afternoon inbetween rain showers I went out with my basket and camera.

 

I collected some blackberries on the way to the cemetery, but not many, I think I left it a bit late to get a good harvest. Anyhoo, I carried on to the cemetary where I found some more blackberries bushes and ended up with enough for 1 pie, (they are now washed and in the freezer ready for use at Christmas).

 

I took a number of snaps, here are some of my favourites:

 

 

These three angels, all slightly different could be converted into a pattern for punch needle, rug hook or cross stitch; I haven't made up my mind yet.

 

This lady I think will be my first punch needle pattern, just waiting for my tool to come and I will start experimenting.

 

This one has what looks like a greyhound on it, it's an old headstone and has been battered by the weather, this could be a good punch needle or rug hook pattern.

 

This one has a diving bird on it, again it's not terribly clear as the stone is so weathered.

 

I will go to the other cemetery outside St. Mary's church in Burnham and see what inspiration I find there.

 

Blessed Be

Julie x