I saw a woman at a craft show making these the other day, and of course I was enchanted, and of course I need a New Hobby! Who doesn’t?
I was quite tempted to buy one of her small rugs, as her designs would fit right into my decorating scheme (I like to think of it as Yardsale Primitive, with just a touch of Curbside Attitude), but the really cute one that would just fit in front of my fireplace was just slightly less than $200. It was approximately 10x14 (yep, inches), and featured maybe three colors of wool in a primitive sketchy design. Considering that $200 buys a lot of groceries, I’m thinking I need to learn to make rugs.
So. All I need is wool strips and canvas and a hooky thing and another thingy to make the wool into strips, and someone to tell me where to buy them. I know I can find wool clothing if I haunt the thrift shops, etc, but if there is a simpler way to get started, I’d appreciate it.
So…anyone here a hooker?
Best,
karol
I wasn’t sure what you were talking about (I was thinking maybe it was like those yarn kits at Wal-Mart), so I looked it up online. Check this site out; it might help you: http://www.rughookingonline.com/.
Most of the ones I saw available commercially were country scenes, which is not my style, though I admire the effort and skill involved in producing them. This one, though, was very cool: http://www.rughookingonline.com/gallery/bamboo.html.
The kind I like are made with long strips of wool instead of yarn, but the general principle is the same. The rug has a different look since it’s not “shag” style.
I’m going to look around that site some more and see what I can find…
What you were looking at are either (traditional) hooked rugs or punch needle rugs. Hooked is worked from the top of the rug, punched from the back. Hooks and needles should be available at any decent needlework or craft supply store and are available online. You can use yarn or cut wool strips. Basic info here. Shear loops for a plush feel, or leave as is for a berber-type surface.
I don’t do this…never been inspired to take it up.
But according to my reference guide, you’re looking for monk’s cloth or burlap for the base and then wool strips or rug weight yarn for the pattern (yarn looks different than fabric, but the same technique - it looks more alike if you don’t cut the yarn after making the loops.), and a punch needle or hand hook (depending if you want to push the loops down or pull them up.)So, you should be fine going to fabric and yarn stores for the supplies.
(It also says you’ll need a frame - but mentions you can get away with an embroidery or quilting frame if you can find one big enough.)
Apparently, you can cut the strips by hand, as well as by machine… I’d go hunting wool in thrift stores and you’re on your way. (Tell me how that goes. I do want to braid a rug one day. And there’s no way I’ll be able to afford to buy the wool from a fabric store.) It says that you need about 4x as much fabric as the size of the rug (so for your 10x14 rug, you’ll need 20inches x28 inches of fabric total.)
Good luck!