So Many Pretty Colours

I'm really excited how this rug is coming along.  I've been trying to pull of few loops each day just to keep the momentum going.  As Annette (from my Rug Hooking Talk Show) would say, "just grab a cup of coffee and hook a bit a day".   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtnbaZTB5AdoQPwBQ9ENx2g

I'm a big fan of Annette's.  I've spent many hours hooking and listening to her talk about her work.  I find it relaxing and inspirational.  

So this rug is coming together and I just need to finish that orange circle on the right and then it will be time to add the background.  I was thinking about adding one more circle in pink but I'm not sure yet.  The background is a creamy yellow blend.  I need to dye some more before I start hooking it.  I want to make sure I have enough this time before I start in to it. 

This is my second rug I've worked on and it's been the most fun with all the colours.  I haven't finished off the cat rug yet.  I need to work on the binding but my goal is to have it done by Christmas.  (since I started it last Christmas).  I think my next post will look at the binding that I've chosen and how it has turned out.

Thanks for reading!
Enjoy your wool!

Falling Back Into A Routine

It's been a busier than busy summer and I'm expecting a busier than busy Fall, but I'm getting back into routine.  This summer I was able to spend some time hooking.  The circle rug is coming along nicely.  Most of the colour circles are complete and I'm working towards beginning the background.  I'll post a few pictures later. 

In August I decided to check off an item on my bucket list.  Socks.  I've always wanted to try my hand at knitting socks.  So I got on Amazon.ca and started ordering the things I would need.  When I ordered the needles, wool and book, I didn't realize at the time that they would be coming from different locations.  So I spent 3-4 weeks waiting while one piece came at a time.  First the needles, good.  Then one ball of wool, good.  Finally the book!  I was so happy that day to open the book and finally see what I was going to be making!  Until I read that you needed TWO balls of wool.  Sigh.  So off to Michaels, I had enough waiting.  Nara picked out the colour I would use.  I only have a few rows done at this point, but I'm already loving them!

Lemons and Limes

I LOVE yellow!!!

I was planning on a light yellow but got a bright sunshine yellow instead.  After the monster snow storm we just got (56cm) I can use a little sunshine in my life.  With that vibrant yellow, I over dyed it with hunter green to get a nice lime green.   

I'm working on a new rug and plan to use tertiary colours.  I love the blend of these colours together and I hope they work well.

I have a lovely teal already started.  It was a gift from a special new friend.  I was eager to start a project with it and it has become my center colour.   In the bowl I have some purple/indigos.  I got one of these colours from my Heaven to Betsy remnant  order and the others are recycled wool that I dyed.
I'm looking forward to getting home tonight and getting back to work on this rug.  It has been very rewarding already.

On with the new

Finished my first rug design this weekend.  Of course there is still binding to do, but fortunately I can use the excuse that I don't have the supplies to finish it so I'll have to move onto the next one!  I loved this rug to begin with, but as I started working I liked it less and less.  The wool I had wasn't the quality I would like to work with and the design of the cat just didn't feel right.  I do like how the leaves turned out and overall I'm happy with the experience.  But I'm glad to move on.

After talking with Annette about my uninspired attitude, she suggested that I focus on one thing.  Either COLOUR or DESIGN.  That might help me get a better feeling of what I'm doing.  Maybe I'll be able to figure out what "I LIKE".  I love working with COLOUR, so I chose a simple geometric design.  It was inspired by some rugs I saw with flowers in a mason jar.  I loved the round simple flowers.  I thought, why not bigger.  And I will give me a chance to play with some colours.

Sorry...I'm not a great photographer.
Anyway, I love the circles and I added the centers for guides.  I plan on making each circle a colour with different values.  I have wool in the pot right now to dye.  I'm hoping to make the background a lemon yellow (one of my favorite colours). 
oh... and I know... painter's tape?  really?  It was really late at night and I couldn't get the sewing machine out.  I'll fix it later!!
I'll post some pics of my last rug later on, but its nice to be excited about this piece!
Happy Hooking!
Janice

Working from home

It's a terrible day outside.   The east coast is being hit by a nasty nor' easter.  The schools and day cares are closed and most of the city is shutting down.   My little family is home, safe and warm by the fire.  

My job allows me to work from home when the weather is bad.   As long as the power holds on, I should be working.  But I find it very hard to concentrate when there are so many great projects to be working on.  I have some wool that is crying to be cut!!!   My hooking bowl of wool is empty and it's been a sad thing.  I've decided that I will work a few hours, but once I can't see the neighbours house, I'm done.  

For now, a couple projects I finished the last few days:  

I finished a cute little hat on the weekend for my daughter.   She's been waiting for a hat with a pom pom.   This is a patten I found in the small stack of old patterns I received from my mother.  

I tried my hand at slippers.   Fail.  They turned out large and odd looking.  I tried felting them, but they didn't full as well as I would like.  

Oh well.  They're a gift for my sister-in-law.   I'll have to try again.  

Time to get back to work....... I can still hear the wool calling.  

My Ray of sunshine

I've been feeling under the weather the last few days.  It never fails, you know.  You always get the cold on a weekend you have big plans to stay home and get things done.   I did get a couple projects finished but I'll post those later.

I have yet to try making socks (a goal for my #15in2015) There is a lady in my church choir who makes beautiful socks and I asked her if she would make me some.  Today she brought me a pair.  I'm so pleased with them!    

She called them her Ray Socks.   She has made socks for her husband for years.  This pair is made from the small remnants that were left from all of his socks.  Ray is a wonderful man that is a joy to be around.   So these socks brought a smile to my face and hold a special place in my heart.  

I went straight home after church and curled up with everything I needed to relax.  Including my new socks.  Feeling better already. 

A quick and handsome scarf

Last night I finished off a quick scarf.  This was meant as a gift for my mother-in-laws birthday.  I'm a week late but she will still enjoy it.   I love this pattern and I think I might make a second.

I found the pattern on Ravelry but I don't remember what it was called.   But it's such a simple pattern that I just wrote it down.  4 simple rows and then repeat.  

Row 1 : P1, K1

Row 2 : P1, K2, P1

Row 3 : K2, P2

Row 4 : K1, P2, K1

I started with 16 stitches. 

I used a set of needles from my tickle trunk of inherited needles.   I'll have to post about those sometime.   Anyway, this was a 10 mm set.   Loved working with them!!!

I got the wool for a great price at Michaels.   It's was on for $4.99 (reg. $9.99).  It's a Lion Brand Yarn,  Wool-Ease, Quick and Thick.  I love that it's not just acrylic but has 20% wool as well.   I look forward to working with it again!

Wool Dryer Balls

I thought I would share something fun today.   I have a lot of leftover wool from different projects and find it difficult to use up those little balls.  I also inherited many left overs from my mom and her knitting days.  Many of these leftovers are brittle and old.  Pretty much unusable.   I've found a great use for them!  

Wool dryer balls!   6 to 10 balls in the dryer help reduse drying time by adding bulk to the load and absorbing water. 

I took some of the really old wool and wrapped it in some of the newer left overs.  Wash in hot water, dry on high once and they are ready to use.  A great use for unwanted wool!

A simple but pretty stitch

I've been working on a scarf this week.  Originally meant for myself, my 6 year old has claimed it.   Explains why I rarely have my own homemade things.  It will probably end up being to big for her anyway.

I used some yarn I bought at Michael's last year.  It's the first time I've crocheted with two yarn at the same time.  Love how thick and soft it feels but it is a little stiff.  I'm sure it will relax. It's done with a double crochet stitch all over.  

Glad to finish it up quickly.  I have some other projects I need to finish and others I would like to start!

Happy Little Snowman

I'm excited to start this blog.  I'm not sure I have anything exciting to share, but I do have lots to share.

In November of last year I began my rug hooking journey with a class in Fredericton.   I made this cute little snowman and I have been, as you would say, hooked ever since.   I have been buying up wool from our local Frenchy's and ordering things online.  I'm looking forward to sharing how my rugs come along.