My finished Sea Turtle rug (5 pictures)

13 years ago

I finished the hooking today on the wall hanging for my expected grandchild. I haven't sewn on the binding yet, but I thought I'd take some pictures. The baby shower is tomorrow!

Here's the explanation for the way the design looks: My intention was to show the turtle under water. I began hooking the bottom with the darkest blues and greens, then did the next level with lighter values, the idea being that the water would gradually go from dark to light as we looked toward the surface from under the sea. The bright area at the top was supposed to be sunlight reflecting on a small area of the surface of the water. Well, I guess I didn't change colors gradually enough. The finished rug looks like the turtle is swimming on the surface of turbulent water, with the sky and sun above him. I'm not complaining....actually, I like it this way. However anyone wants to interpret it is just fine with me.

I dyed all the wool myself except for the lettering, which came from a pair of navy blue pants, and the bright colors of the turtle, which was purchased in small quantities ($1 per color) for this project. It's a small rug (18x24"), and it's hard to believe it actually took me 87 hours* to hook it. I guess I really am a slow hooker!

* It was easy to calculate because I had the TV on the whole time I hooked, streaming Law and Order SVU (because I know the voices and didn't have to look up very often). I went through 122 episodes! LOL

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Comments (32)

User
13 years ago
Very Pretty, you did a wonderful job on it.
suzieque
13 years ago
That is absolutely gorgeous - you're so talented. I'm very impressed that you dyed the wool, as well.
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wanda_va
13 years ago
It is magnificent!! You are so talented, and your grandbaby is very lucky. Thanks for sharing.
minnie_tx
13 years ago
Wonderful and I commend you on your perseverance to get it finished.. He is going to have many happy times looking at thatand he will grow up learning and loving sea turtles I bet
oldgardener_2009
13 years ago
I agree, it's magnificent!

What a lovely gift.
nicole__
13 years ago
It's a work of ART! LOVE IT!!!!
sleeperblues
13 years ago
That is truly a work of art, Susan.
glenda_al
13 years ago
An heirloom for sure!
socks
13 years ago
That is a masterpiece. Be sure to mark it with your name and date somewhere.
Georgysmom
13 years ago
Love all the colors and the sentiment surrounding the turtle. You did a great job. What a wonderful treasure.
susie53_gw
13 years ago
How cute.. This will be a treasure for your grandchild for a lifetime. I still have a doll blanket my Grandmother made for me for Christmas when I was 5 years old. I am 63 now..
Kathsgrdn
13 years ago
I really like it!
kacram
13 years ago
It is so beautiful!
ronf_gw
13 years ago
Beautiful!! You are so talented.

Ron
ntt_hou
13 years ago
Wow! That is so beautiful. I like the wordings too. You did very well.
ruthieg__tx
13 years ago
Very nice.....
lydia1959
13 years ago
Beautiful!!! You did a fantastic job!
bigfoot_liz
13 years ago
wow! that is really gorgeous! lucky grandchild! ~ liz
alisande
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you, everyone!! I appreciate all these nice comments. Susan (Socks), good idea. I meant to do just that, but might not have remembered without your reminder.
heather_on
13 years ago
WOW! I just love this rug! It looks like it would take much more than 87 hours to complete. Your grandchild is one very lucky child to have you as a grandmother.
zeetera
12 years ago
This is amazing. Love the concept too.
juellie1962
12 years ago
What a lucky grandchild!! That is beautiful; I LOVE the saying! :)
maire_cate
12 years ago
It's perfect - whether the turtle is swimming beneath the surface or above it looks grand. And I think the smaller size is more useful - it can be a rug on the floor, a wall hanging, or a pad on top of a chest.

Have your children seen it or have you been hooking it secretly as a surprise? I don't think you mentioned that. Will the binding be finished in time for the shower?

It will be a treasured keepsake from Granny's hand.
alisande
Original Author
12 years ago
I've been hooking it as a surprise. My DIL hasn't even glimpsed it, but my DS has been around a lot while I've been hooking, and yesterday (as I hooked the last of the loops) I noticed him looking at it. He only saw part of it from a distance--and upside down, at that. So I think he'll be surprised, too.

Thank you, everyone!
jae_tn2
12 years ago
truly beautiful. that's one craft i never tried although it was always "on my list"!
gemini40
12 years ago
What a beautiful job! Take some pictures at the shower when that gift is opened.Really is an heirloom piece.

June
FlamingO in AR
12 years ago
You do exquisite work, Susan, and the whole family is going to love this! It looks GREAT!
petaloid
12 years ago
I love it!!!
chisue
12 years ago
Susan -- It's *WONDERFUL*! Lucky Child -- maybe Baby will inherit some of Grandma's talents.

How's Father-to-Be feeling? Weeks before our DS's first child was due I got a real wail of an email from him and DIL, along the lines of, "WHAT have we gotten ourselves into? Will we be good parents?" (They are The Best Parents in the World, now with two children.)
kim_okla
12 years ago
That is amazing.
sjerin
12 years ago
What a lucky grandchild you have! That is truly a work of art and I can't believe how quickly you completed it. Well, to me anyway; probably not to you. I've forgotten, did you make the design yourself? This is certainly not like any hooked rug I've ever seen, more like a painting or detailed needlework. Congratulations on a beautiful job, Susan!
kathyg_in_mi
12 years ago
Great job!
Kathy G in MI

My finished Sea Turtle rug (5 pictures)

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My finished Sea Turtle rug (5 pictures)

Comments (32)

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