NEW RAG RUG BOOK

Jenni Stuart-Anderson, who some of you have probably seen on her stand at the Knitting & Stitching shows over the years, has just brought out a new book: More Rag Rugs & Recycled Textile Projects.

The projects include brooches, shaggy doorstops, a wall hanging and a pegloomed rug, as well as instructions for making your own pegloom or large frame for hooking.

It covers design, materials and techniques with lots of pictures of rug, old and new. Price is £14.95 + £2.50 UK p&p, with a special price of £25.00 for both this and her previous book: Rag Rug Making, + £5.00 UK p&p. See her website for payment details: www.jenni.ragrugs.freeuk.com

Road rug finished

Designed and hooked by Margaret Cooter

It measures 64cm x 85cm and is made of wool strips, recycled from a bit of blanket and some charity shop garments. The roads are parts of routes we drive on quite often - eg to the grocery store and favourite museums - and some of it is just plain made up. Now that it's done I have the urge to join up those sideroads - they seem to be crying out to be joined up....

My blog shows how this is linked to some books I'm making - click here.

Silent Spirit

Designed and hooked by Jill Izzard

This large Wall Rug was hooked using 100% Dupion Silk and then sheared to create a textured surface.

It is very heavy measuring approx 150 x 80 cms.

I have named this rug 'Silent Spirit'.

The rug hanging will be exhibited within Textile Expressions Gallery at the Knitting and Stitching Show to be held at Alexandra Palace in London from 6 - 9 October 2011 and then exhibited at The Harrogate International Centre during late November 2011.

Jill

Karin's Chicken Rug

My friend Karin in Germany has just completed her chicken rug. I love it - It's so exhuberant, full of life and very feisty!

Ruth

First Punch Needle Project!

Designed and needle punched by Ruth Robinson

Having bought a set of punch needles from US some years ago, and failing miserably at the time in my attempts to use them, I recently decided to give it another go. 'Flower' is the result, using a Cameo Ultra Punch (with its largest needle) on 100% wool fabric, which is very dense, bought from Mary Drayton. It's much heavier than the recommended Weaver's cloth, which seems impossible to buy over here. I used 6 strand embroidery threads and tapestry wools. It's much quicker than hooking, but if you want to incorporate fabric strips, they need to be cut much thinner and used with a larger punch needle. I've now got some Weaver's cloth from US so will experiment further!

Beyond hooking

As well as hooked rugs wool can be used for felted rugs - here's an article about an workshop set up in Iran, working with traditional felt makers to make rugs that appeal to Western customers - http://handeyemagazine.com

Chickens Galore

Designed and hooked by Jill Izzard

I made this little mat for a Chicken Project.

Deb and her friends from Woolwright's Rug Hooking Guild, Lancaster, USA, started this project and asked me if Hooked-in-London members would like to join in.

Some have already finished their 'chicken inspired pieces' and others are still working on them....watch this space....

My mat was hooked from old discarded T Shirts and Vests which I then dyed. The loops were then sheared to create a textured effect.

Jill

This little bag is titled "Cockscomb". It was made using various rug hooking techniques by my friend Clare Hutchinson. Clare joined in with our Chicken Project which was started by Deb Burcin from Woolwrights Rug Making Group in USA.

We have other 'Chicken Project rugs/mats/coasters to show which will be posted very soon.

Jill

Annie Sherburne's rugs and shop

... can be found on the first floor of the Oxo Tower shopping arcade. Look, amid the wool and other textile necessities, an exhibition of old rug-making tools! -At the door, a welcoming rug - and more inside -
Annie has exhibited at the "Origin" craft fair - the link leads to her "Cosmic Flowers".

A wonderful resource

If you don't know it already, have a look at The Textile Blog thetextileblog.blogspot.com- it's full of interesting information on all sorts of textiles, including rugs, like this one by Joseph Maria Olbrich, c1900 - More about these rugs is here.

"Road" rug

Although the original area isn't finished - and I'm still looking for cream wool to cut up and use - I've bitten the bullet and added more "roads" on two sides, so that it ends up a respectable size. Hopefully there'll be a bit of progress before the next meeting!

Hungry Fish Windy Day

Designed and hooked by Ruth Robinson

I seem to have a lot of sketches of fish with big heads and jaws.. not sure what that's about - but this was the result!

April Meeting

Hooked rugs, jewellery, book covers and .... a hand-made Corgi! We are soooo versatile!

'Hooked in London' Rug

Designed and hooked by Jill Izzard

Hi Folks At last my rug is finished, thanks to some wonderful weather which meant I was able to sit in my garden hooking today!
See you soon - Jill

My friend, Clare, has just finished this hooked rug using 100% wool.

The rug was made for the owners of 'Phoenix' a beautiful narrow boat.

I wanted to share this rug with you all - Jill

KATZE

This is a rug my friend Karin Martin is working on in Germany. Her inspiration was a photo of our cat, but she's given it a sort of classical Italian painting look with wonderful decorative borders!

Progress made so far....

Hi everyone - I expect you are all too busy 'hooking' to add any photos or messages to our Blog?



If this is the case then you can check out the progress I've made since our last meeting on my 'lettering project'. I am not finding it easy to create letters but fortunately I wanted a 'hooked effect' so its a great excuse to have lopsided lettering!

Today I spent the morning dyeing yet more stretchy fabric for this rug. Vests really are the best thing to hook through hessian. I did gain permission before I searched through His Lordship's Wardrobe!

Happy Hooking - Jill

What we were working on at the March meeting

Sari Silk Shaggy

Designed and hooked by Jill Izzard

Hi - Here is my Sari Silk Shaggy rug...almost completed. I just need to add the binding to the reverse side.
I enjoyed making this although it left a trail of debris all around the house! Fibres seem to stick to everything!
It's too heavy for me to carry to Saturday's meeting so here is a photo instead.
See you soon - Happy Hooking - Jill

In action

The next meeting is almost upon us and I haven't posted my photos from the previous meeting! Here's the big table at the start of the session, everyone working tidily -

A couple of hours later, it came to this -