I wondered how you designed the pattern. I'm curious to see how the smaller elements like the fish show up- I guess that's why you outline them. Mickey looks great and I really like the little red dots in the background, it gives it an added dimension.

That is beautiful, I wish I had a creative streak.

That looks great so far Susan!
I'd love to see it when you've completed it too.

Thanks, guys. I was thinking of doing the fish in different colors, but then I came across a piece of old wool in a "fishy" color and decided to use that color to hook them, but outline them in different colors. That's the plan, anyway......I don't have a lot of color confidence.

The other part of the plan is to do the fish's border in a mottled blue hooked in a wavy pattern to suggest water, and then do the band between Mickey and the fish in hit-or-miss strips using all the colors of the fish plus some dull greens to tie it all together. We shall see......

That is going to be so nice. Thank you for posting the pictures. Hope to see more when it is finished.

Sue

How talented you are!!

Shirley

wow!!! you are super-talented. I think what you have done is beautiful and what a memorial of Mickey. Good job. Would love to see pictures of some of your other work.
Dee in Michigan

Very nice!!! A sweet memorial for Mickey too!

Fabulous, you are super-talented! I love how that one fish crosses over the border, that adds so much extra interest, Susan! Love the red fleck, can't wait to see more. I'd like to see all of the set.

Susan, you are so talented ( and patient ). That is a very nice piece of handiwork and a very nice way to honor the memory of Mickey.

I like it Alisande. I like the idea of the wavy blue too!

I'm totally impressed!

Thanks for all your kind comments! I didn't think I had pictures of the other chair mats, but I do--except for one that disappeared some time ago. I didn't design these; they were butter-mold patterns that I bought. They were the first hooking I ever did. I made them many years ago, when my kids were little.

{{gwi:604751}}

I love all of them. How does one learn to do that? Is it hard to learn? Is it an expensive hobby? Can't wait to see the completed "Mickey" one.
Veta

They are all so very pretty & inspiring, too. I would really like to take up rug hooking, but I'm up to my ears in quilting. Not enough hours in the day!

Thanks for sharing!

Oh, gorgeous! I like Mickey's best, though. What are you thinking of doing for the last one? I suggest a sun and moon one!

Oh wow - those are beautiful. I love them all, but I
think my very favorite is the bottom one - the lavender and
grey tulips?

What kind of hook did you use?. This is such fine work

Minnie, I'm using a Joan Moshimer medium hook. Her hooks look like this:

My wool strips are 1/8" (actually 5/32"), which is considered to be pretty narrow. Many hookers use these for shading flowers, or other realistic work. My designs are more primitive, but worked with narrow stips. One of these days I'll try using the 1/4" strips that most people use for primitive rugs. I have a larger hook to accommodate the wider strips.

How does one learn to do that? Is it hard to learn? Is it an expensive hobby?

I learned from reading books and subscribing to a rug hooking newsletter years ago. As a child, I watched my dad's cousin Peggy hook on a huge frame in Massachusetts. I was interested, but didn't try it until I was in my 30s and had inherited her rug hooking supplies. I still use her strip cutter and some of her wool. The pink strips in Mickey's photo above are part of Peggy's stash.

I think it's easy to learn. It should be even easier today because beginners can go to rug hooking websites--and even find rug hooking demonstrations on YouTube.

Trust me, I would never undertake an expensive hobby! Like anything else, it can become expensive depending on what you buy. Lots of rug hookers buy new wool fabric, some of it hand-dyed. That can get pricey. I use only used woolen clothing from thrift shops, plus some of Peggy's. This is fine with me, as I love the hunt. Also, dyeing wool can be fun.

I was lucky to have inherited Peggy's strip cutter......to buy a new one today would cost $175. They come with one cutter head, which cuts one width strips. Extra cutter heads for cutting different widths cost $15 apiece.

You definitely need a frame. Peggy worked on large rugs, so she used a big frame that stood on the floor. My pieces are smaller. I've used an oval hoop floor frame, and I've used an Erica Wilson "fanny frame." These days I mostly hook on a homemade wooden lap frame that I bought for $10 from the man who made them. Most hookers I know online use commercial lap frames that run anywhere from $90 all the way up to the Snapdragon frames at $395. My guess is that more of them use the Puritan frame, which is around $150.

So the initial outlay might be a bit high, but it's like buying a digital camera: All the expense is up front.

I would love to join a real life hooking group, but I still don't know any rug hookers. I'm thinking of giving a hooking demonstration at the library.....maybe I can create some people to hook with. :-)

Thanks for all the info. I just might take it on I'm tired of crochet and want to do something else for a bit. I think I mentioned somewhere else That I did my first hooking when I was around 12. Our Chicago playground system offered it as an affter school activity. We learned to draw on burlap and cut our own strips I then showed Mom and we both made a couple no where near the quality of yours. I still have my hook which is one of the larger ones

I think there are some orgs or clubs online.

Flamingo, I meant to add that I just might use your suggestion! I hadn't thought about the design for #6, but I like your idea (of course!).

After writing my last post, I called the library . . . I'm now scheduled to do a rug hooking demonstration on March 12. Should be fun.

In reference to clubm's post

I'd sum Alisande up in one word... talented (and in many different areas!)

Stunning work. Be very proud of yourself.

Trin

Ohmygosh Alisande. You do beautiful work! What a delight to see - thanks for posting pictures :)

Very nice to see A Work In Progress. You are very talented. But we knew that already.

I think I might look into this further. Thanks for answering all my questions.
Veta