Well a week or so ago I purchased a punch needle, just the Clover one, using a coupon at AC Moore, but I'm crossing a line. I never wanted to do the punch needle thing but I haven't been able to convert Carriage House Samplings punch needle Mermaid stocking to cross stitch and my attempt at embroidering it sucked, major, big time sucked, so I got a punch needle. That's as far as I have gotten in the process but it's that first step that leads us down the wrong path.
I've also become obsessed with the idea of hooking rugs. It's all Lori's fault. I wander her blog, check out her rug patterns, click on links to other blogs and well, got lured in. I managed to score three 100% wool skirts at the thrift store yesterday for $1.50 each. Since wool off the bolt at JoAnn's is around $25 a yard I consider those skirts a serious deal. Now I'm researching wool cutters(expensive) although I found a much less expensive one but no where ever seems to have them in stock, it's kind of a rotary cutter deal, but designed for cutting wool strips, that will probably be what I end up purchasing as wool cutters are running $100+ on ebay. Not in the budget by any stretch of the imagination. I'm pretty sure our ancestors didn't have a wool cutter just for making rugs so I can adapt.
I also need to research the whole wool dyeing thing, as I will buy wool clothing and then overdye it the colors I need. Of course I didn't expect to find the wool I did yesterday, I mean this is Florida after all. I stopped in on a whim and I got lucky. I didn't even check out the men's clothing, there might have been some wool pants that I could take apart but $4.50 was about all I could spare yesterday so that was good, I stayed within my budget such that it is.
The ladies at the thrift store were ooooohhhhing and ahhhhing over what pretty skirts I was buying. I started to tell them I was going to dye them and cut them in to strips and turn them into rugs but somehow I determined that they wouldn't "get it" and it might be best to just nod and play like I was one of "them". Yes, they are pretty. These skirts sure will be warm during the next cold snap.
Another current addiction, Detritus bags from Vikki Clayton. I've ordered a few over the last couple of months and am using some of the silks to stitch an ornament right now. I love her silks. I recently tried another brand of silk thread and well it shreds like nobody's business. I am unimpressed and don't see what all the hoopla is about. Yes, I use shorter lengths but honestly for the price per skein it really shouldn't shred like that, in my humble opinion but what do I know?
I am also enjoying Vikki Clayton's linens. I've got a couple of pieces and have been real happy with the 40ct light coffee. At $11 a fat 1/4 it's budget friendly.
So that's where my brain has been the last week or so. Obsessing over rug hooking, buying a punch needle(I still can't believe I did that), trying 40ct linen for the first time and surprised that I can actually see the holes without the aid of magnifying glasses. Yay!
9 comments:
Oh my goodness - I feel your pain. I've been obsessed with making a rug since I saw Mel's blog (wooley-thoughts) and now I just have to have one. But I'm going to try to hold off until all the dust settles from Christmas on the charge cards before I go on this venture.
Wow... great find at the thrift shop Melissa. YGG We're going to figure out a way to get into rug hooking without it costing us a small fortune.
I have a local rug hooking shop. So far I have resisted. But was a close call.
I love your idea of over-dyeing the skirts. I don't know of a cheap & easy way to cut the strips - but I'll keep a look out for you.
I tried rug hooking some years ago. Unfortunately the pattern was too complicated and I was so unhappy with how it was coming out so it is a UFO. I should have stuck to a simple design, something primitive. I got my supplies from my teacher. She dyed all the wool herself and then cut the strips for me. Wish it wasn't all so expensive!
I'm impressed! I can't see 32 ct anymore without the aid of reading glasses. Ugh!
I don't know the quality of the punch needle, but I took a class and ended up buying a $20 needle, if you're going to do it, it's worth the better needle. The instructor gave us the reasons...which I can't remember now. But anyway, if you want to borrow mine, let me know. I haven't used it in 2 years! And as far as the silks go, have you tried the Carrie's new silks??? I've seen them, they look awesome and I think at least one person I know has used them and likes them.
I, too, want to hook wool rugs one day. In the past 2 years I've taken up knitting, quilting, and stitching. I say go for it! :)
Please put warnings on your posts to tell me not to read them when you delve into rug hooking and punch needle!! ACK! Two things I really want to do. So far I am the same with you with purchasing a punch needle and that's it. Oh wait, Kieran bought me a hoop in the US. The hooking, though--no supplies here and perhaps that's a good thing.
Okay, I'm off to find a paper bag to breathe into...
Yahoo! I'm glad you found some wool! I just found out there is a rug hooking instructor in the town where DD goes to college, I'm going to try to arrange a class.
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