Dear Cathy, Your first little mat is wonderful!
I am so glad you have found joy in this, I totally loved it when I could do it
for hours on end. Now you are ready to move to the next step. For a second project, it may be best to choose one of a modest size rather than a huge one. Just as a knitter finds a comfortable rhythm after a time, so do rug hookers loosen up and achieve a more even style. So your first pieces absorb all of that change and by the time you start a large one, it will all look even, instead of part of it being too tight and possibly lumpy.
For a better hook, I believe the right one is a Hartman medium Size 5 mm.
For a better hook, I believe the right one is a Hartman medium Size 5 mm.
You might also order 2 yds of bleached linen rug
backing. It will be there ready when you are to draw a new rug. Since
you are an artist in your own right, You will soon be drawing your own rugs.
If you want to order one of my designs, look at Barb Carroll’s woolley fox website. A lot of time and wool and money go into a big one, hundreds of
hours and hundreds of dollar’s if you buy high quality hooking wool to blend
with your rummage wool Choose something you really like.
I know you are gathering rummage wool and plan to dye some. There is a big section in my book on easy dying. Do not use common household dye. Dying enough colors to give you a complete palette takes a
long time, but yields a ton of wool. You and Cindy can share. Use only
100% wool as blends do not take the dye right. When you are buying
rummage wool, any light to medium color is great. All of my reds are dyed
over tan or medium beige, which is easy wool to find.
Do not pass over gray wool because you don’t need any more gray! You can over dye gray or beige or light tan with blue to get nice greyed down blues. And also over gray, use green dye to get nice soft greens. You do not have to start with white wool, for anything but pastel yellows which I seldom need. Light yellow and light pink or any pastel wool can be over dyed to get richer colors suitable for the rugs I like.
Do not pass over gray wool because you don’t need any more gray! You can over dye gray or beige or light tan with blue to get nice greyed down blues. And also over gray, use green dye to get nice soft greens. You do not have to start with white wool, for anything but pastel yellows which I seldom need.
I look forward to seeing you start your second
project! Keep me posted. e
