Quilting Fitzy asked me to tell more about my rug hooking. I am definitely not an expert on rug hooking. I have only been doing it for a short time. I don’t have the expensive frame, hooks, or wool cutters that dedicated hookers have. It is not a huge investment to start rug hooking unless you want all the fancy tools that go along with it. I purchased a $5 hook to get myself started. I had trouble using it so in the end I bought a tiny crochet hook and put a rubber cover over the end and it works great for me. I would like to eventually get a frame. It would hold the rug much tighter and make the hooking process a lot easier. But I am not ready to make that investment yet so I use my round quilting hoop. If I am working on a smaller project I use a heavy embroidery hoop that I have. I cut my wool myself using my rotary cutter, mat and Omnigrid ruler. I purchase a lot of my wool at thrift shops, Goodwill, etc. I have had the best luck in buying 100% wool skirts and then taking the waistband and all seams out. I then felt the wool by washing it in hot water in my washing machine and drying it in my dryer. I have dyed it using regular fabric dyes. I usually take the easy route out. For example, if I am working in a lot of blue fabrics I will cut large pieces from each and put in a large pot on the stove and boil them, I then let them sit. The dyes bleed and run into each other. This is called marrying the fabric. I use monks cloth or linen to hook on. It is easily available online. You can draw your own pattern or purchase patterns already drawn on the cloth. There are free instructions out there on how to finish your rug. I am sure you could just google and find them. At the moment I am working on a couple of things. First, my Bullvye rug which I showed in a previous blog. I am also hooking a purse which has penny’s some with felted wool centers.
Above is a wool bag that I hooked a flower vase onto it. It was a Kindred Spirits pattern.
Hooking is a lot of fun. I just need to find the time to do more of it. It is an addiction just like quilting. I have more ideas floating around then I will ever find the time to do!
5 comments:
Hi Laura, thanks for sharing your rug hooking information with us. What I see of it, looks beautiful. And I'm guessing you love it, as it seems like a lot of work to take apart a skirt and then the rest of the process..*VBS* But I do understand it doesn't seem like work if you like what you are doing. I'll be excited to see more.
Laura! Love your hooking projects today too! Another "craft" I've wanted to do, but didn't want to start yet another one. At least with punch needle I only need the embroidery floss.
I love the texture your wool has - the projects are both great
Laura, THANKS for the info. I guess I am on the right track so far. I've been to Goodwill and have purchased my first three pieces of clothing to recycle. I felted the wool and am now cutting into strips. I am cutting with the rotary cutter, same as you...but UGH...it's really no fun. I can only stand to do a bit. I had planned on using an embroidery hoop too, glad to see that works ok until we decide it's time to ugrade! I'd thought I'd just start on burlap but haven't gotten that far, from what I've heard tho it might not have such a long life. I'll be watching your blog for further info! 8^)
(I can only find 2 rug hooking blogs, have you had any luck?)
thanks for the info...I bought another woman's UFO at an estate sale that included several marked base pieces for rug hooking. I've been holding onto them in the someday pile!
Siobhan
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