Anyone else into rug making?

[pecwae]

I've been doing hooked and punch rugs for a few years. I like to draw my own designs and incorporate different materials and textures. I love rug making for its ease and the recycling aspect.:hi:

[troubleinwinter]

1. I do 'rug hooking' NOT latch hooking!!

These are all my own designs (ecxept the pommegranates).

These are three-dimensional (stuffed):







These are flat.

The little 'seeds' are wool knots







The 'apples' are wool knots.

[joneschick]

2. Beautiful work!

I've never tried that particualr craft, but I salute you! I especially like your sheep and the rabbit. :hi:

[pecwae]

3. That's what I do

just not as beautifully. Primitives are near and dear to my heart. I also use the punch or push type, not latch. You can get speed punchers, but they detract from the pleasure of the craft for me.

[troubleinwinter]

4. There are rug hooking groups on the 'net

Good ones, bad ones, big ones and small ones.

One of the most fun and entertaining (but not very big) is 'Independent Hookers'. Lots of laughs, some cussin', and LIBERAL politics!

(from their 'welcome' page...)

Independent Hookers is for rug hookers of any age, gender, or orientation who don't like rules, are sick of either being prim and proper or dealing with those who are; need a place where cursing is freely allowed; where art rugs, wacky rugs, and ALL types of rugs are celebrated (including traditional, if that's what YOU like); where it's okay to be bawdy, to rant and receive support, and where you can be authentically YOU. We disagree often and remain close friends; we protect each other fiercely.

You'll be happiest here if you are a member of either a liberal political party or religion or none at all; if you're way too silly for your age; if you wear your heart on your sleeve; if you don't care about staying on topic; and if committee meetings make you want to jump up and scream. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Independent_Hookers/

I don't even want to think about hooking right now!!! I have to give a short presentation in a coupla weeks to a Western History group of 100! Maybe I'll just tell em I'm a hooker and a stripper and leave it at that.

[pecwae]

5. Cursing freely allowed?

I'm there! Thanks, I didn't know about that group and some can be pretty straitlaced.

Best wishes on your presentation. You'll be great.:hi:

[troubleinwinter]

6. Cursing AND bawdiness!

[eridani]

12. Gee, how can you even stand to put the flat ones on the floor?

Way too cool to walk on, IMO.

[gizmonic]

7. the bunny rug is gorgeous!

I would totally buy that!



:thumbsup: :hi:

[troubleinwinter]

8. So take up rug hooking and make yer own!

Thanks so much! I used to design and sell hooking patterns (that "Backyard Bunny" was one), but I got tired of the 'business end' and turned it over to a nice woman. "Bunny" is still a favorite of mine.

[earth mom]

9. How about the business end?

I've thought about starting a small site selling rug hooking patterns, among other things. If you don't mind me asking, is it profitable? And do you have any tips? TIA! :hi:

[Carni]

10. I had no idea there were *hookers* here--My Mom is one

I don't hook but my Mother does and she's actually kind of a famous hooker lol

All kidding aside she does patterns and travels all over the country giving classes.

She also cannot stand bushit!

I love the 3D animals in the photos above.

[binkster]

11. I'm just getting started

and can use all the help/advice I can get. I've been buying wool second hand but am not sure about the washing process. Is there a special "soap" that you use? If so, where do you buy it. I also need advice on cutters. What do you use?

My mother hooked a beautiful rug from scraps (she liked to sew) when I was very young and I would like to continue the craft in her honor. She used a big frame that fit the whole canvas, but I know folks now use small frames. What do you use?

[Warpy]

13. I'm a weaver, not a hooker

but I use Synthropol to wash my wool after it's been scoured. I buy the stuff by the quart only because the local wool shop doesn't sell gallons.

Chemistry is very important when dealing with wool. Anything alkaline, which includes commercial soaps and detergents, will cause the scales on the fibers to open and cling to scales on other strands, felting the wool. This is especially problematic when the wool is undergoing temperature changes and/or agitation.

When I scour raw wool (outdoors, phew!), I use a combination of Palmolive liquid and, if the fleece is very, very oily, calcium carbonate. I'm very careful about bringing the fleece up to the boil very slowly so I don't shock it, and I generally get away with using an alkaline substance to break up the oils. I move the wool around as little as possible when I pour the oily water off and add fresh boiling water to let it sit in and fall to room temperature. It's a soggy, smelly business, but it works.

Vegetable fibres like linen and cotton dislike acid detergents as much as wool dislikes alkaline detergents. Acids weaken the fibres greatly.

As for cutting rags when I'm doing rag rugs, I use a commercial, electric cutter with a circular wheel, a straight edge, and cutting mat. There are hand cranked models with rotary cutters that can be used for making the narrow strips used in hooking, a search of "rag strip cutter" will probably turn them up.

[troubleinwinter]

14. Usually it's washed in the machine

with HOT water, COLD rinse & a bit of ordinary laundry detergent, like Tide.

"Wash wool in a machine with hot water??!!??". Yep, because we WANT the fabric to 'felt' and thicken. The felting keeps it from unraveling when cut into those narrow strips, and gives weight and resilience to the loops.

Depending on the thickness and tightness of the weave of the fabric I start with, I check the washer now & then. If it's pretty substantial and tight to begin with, maybe I give it just a short cycle. If it's thin or loose fabric, I might run it through TWO hot cycles, with a COLD rinse to shock it.

Warpy posts below that she is careful not to shock or felt her wool for spinning, but that is a whole different thing. Hookeres always want their fabric felted.

As for stripping machines, I found the ordinary old Frazier to be a great workhorse. It's what most have used for many years.

My favorite hook is a Miller pencil style. I've tried em all and to me it makes all the difference, but everybody has their favorites.