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| The design so far |
So for the last month, I've said I'm going to write my blog on Sunday afternoons. For 15 years, I always managed to have Thursdays off for quilting and posting my blog. Then in the last year with a new job change, I'm working Monday - Friday. Go figure that now that I'm looking at 60, I'm so tired Thursday nights after work that it's become more of a chore to post rather than the pleasure it's always been. Plus somewhere along the line, I lost my creative mo-jo.
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| Frame my husband made for me |
took a 5 day rug hooking class with Linda Bell. Rug hooking, for anybody who doesn't know is where you take thin strips of wool (think 1/8th-1/4th in thick), use a hook to pull them through a backing making little equal loops. The loops make lines and the lines fill in patterns. The patterns can be abstract or representational. It's a very old school tactile craft and I've totally fallen in love.
While at JCC, we learned how to make a pattern, cut wool, and practiced making little loops. Hooking the loops is something it takes 5 minutes to learn and a LOT of practicing to get right. Some ladies in the room got it right away - that would NOT be me. The more I hooked though, the more even they became.
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| Quickie Pattern designed in less than 30 minutes |
I was working on a design that I quickly drew up using a picture in one of my books as inspiration. When I say quickly, I mean like 10 minutes. So crazy! Then without my usual process of doing value drawings and auditioning color palettes, I quickly came up with a fly by seat of my pants plan of attack. Really it's not a bad idea to work out of your comfort zone every now and again. Besides this was all about the hooking.
Things I learned that week
- curves are harder to hook evenly than straight lines
- light colors show imperfect loops easier than darker colors
- remember to stretch your hands, arms and shoulders regularly
- A frame that rotates is a true blessing
- Wool is WAY more expensive than cotton
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| Wool Strips - called - Noodles |
I know there are still plenty of rug hookers out there, but I've also learned that it's relatively an unknown art. I thought I would write a series of posts in the upcoming weeks that will take you along on my rug hooking adventure.
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| Close Up of what the loops |
16 comments:
Your rug looks very nice. Just like any technique, it takes practice, practice and more practice to make stitches even. Happy hooking!
Very cool! It takes courage to let go and learn something completely new! Even something more expensive than cotton, lol! Have a blast, looking forward to going on the journey with you.
as a longtime rug hooker - you are doing an excellent job - well done
Looking great!!! Love your quickie design!!! Interesting that they're called noodles! I've noticed some very cool rug hooked pieces at our county fair every year.
This is an old craft that is making a come back. I saw many rug on the net in the past few years. Good for you for trying something new. Sometimes that's what we need to kick up the dust. I went back to work full time too and it took me over six month before my energy level came back. When you're past 60, things have a tendency of slowing down, not picking up, lol. Take care of yourself because nobody else will. Love the frame your DH did for you. He's a keeper. ;^)
I used to do rug hooking and LOVED it, then put it aside for too long
thanks for the reminder
LeeAnna
Hi Nina Marie, I'm so glad that you're enjoying rug hooking. It's all textile and creative - which is what's important. A new job, no matter how interesting, is hard, especially at our age. Eventually you'll get your mo-jo and energy back. Take care.
Your rug hooking looks so good! I have a very hard time with keeping the loops consistent. I think stick to quilting!
thanks Maggie - it's so much fun!
Hi Nancy - hope you're well! Honestly I don't ever see anybody doing rug hooking here or at least I haven't notice it.
I'm tellin' ya LeeAnna, I needed something that wasn't so head intensive as quilting had gotten - plus it seemed to lock me in my studio for too long a time.
right? Omgoodness - apparently it's a process. But little by little they are getting better and my husband reminded me how long it took me to get my hand quilting look good!
Get this Jenny- Hand dyed wool is 60-85 dollars a yard - lol - I was sooo thankful I know how to hand dye and wool is even easier than cotton
Oh Nina Marie -- thanks for this reminder that the "ebbs" in creativity don't mean it's never coming back. The "real" craft of rug hooking is a mystery to me and I'm fascinated to learn more as you document your journey -- on Sundays, if you feel like it, wink wink. When I was a child in the late 1970s, early 1980s, "Latch Hook" rug kits were one of the "rainy day activities" I got to choose from before our annual family vacation to Lake Nisswa. Other projects were paint by number, paper dolls, puzzles... Maybe a really simple cross stitch kit. I am sure the yarn in those kits was acrylic and not wool, and I am trying to remember now if the kit came with little balls of yarn or if the yarn was precut into short lengths, as my kits definitely did not create loops across the surface from continuous lengths of wool like what you're doing. So now I'm curious about the "real" craft that was so severely simplified in my kiddie kit. The projects I made back then weren't bigger than a pillow and the designs were really, really simple, like a big heart or a rainbow without any kind of detail. I'm happy to see you enjoying a new creative journey and taking us along for the ride! Also, thank you for continuing to host the linky party even during times when you weren't actively creating yourself. We appreciate you!
ohhhh I latch hooked a few projects in those days as well so I know exactly what you mean. It's funny, pretty much everyone thinks that is what I'm doing but its sooooo not. I'll have to get a list of short videos for next week's post so people have a better idea of how it works. I remember seeing it for the first time and being totally fascinated. Each session lends itself to a new discovery. Thanks so much for your encouragement.
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