A Right Dapper Fella ~

Here is my snowman from Saturday's class with Marlene Troyer of Perennial Blessings.  Isn't he fun?  Marlene had sewn the nose, hat, coat and body parts.  We just had to hook the face, stuff the body and sew him all together.  It still took many hours of work.  He is just about 2' tall.

 

He even has eyelashes :)

 

 

I just love the button detail we added.

 

 

Here is the pattern and information if you are interested.

 

 

 

I was also the lucky winner of her give away.  I guess I can no longer say I never win anything.

 

 

I am still not done putting my house back together.  Not even close :(  I have made many trips to the attic (a walk-up attic is both a blessing and a curse) but have not yet started on the big tree.  My living and dining room look like a train wreck.  I need to figure out where I put my "normal" stuff so I can retrieve it and redecorate.  This has not gone nearly as smoothly as I had hoped.  Oh, well.  Oh, hell.  It will get done eventually.

 

Good news for Cindy Lou Who.  Wednesday morning she will head to Columbus, about 2 1/2 hours south, for her surgery on Thursday.  It is time this girl feels better.  A stone that size has been developing for probably years.  Poor sweet baby.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren 

More on Yarn Sewing





Kathy Wright (not the same Kathy Wright who organizes Rug Week at Sauder Village) was our delightful teacher for my yarn sewing class.  Here are some examples of her work. 

 

 

Finished with binding like a hooked rug.

I lost my little note, but I believe the backing for our project was a linen burlap purchased from JoAnn Fabrics.  You can also use rug hooking linen, monks cloth or plain burlap.  The yarn used is 100% wool if possible, but you can also use a blend if it's a color you like.  She purchases much of her wool yarn from JoAnn's, too.  Does this mean that I am going to become a yarn hoarder, too?  I have many small pieces of primitive linen that are too small to fit on the hooking frame and this might be a good way to use some of them. 

 



You can read more about yarn sewing in the book "American Sewn Rugs: Their History with Exceptional Examples" by Jan Whitlock with Tracy Jamar.  They say, and I quote, "Yarn-sewn rugs fall into the earliest category of sewn rugs, 1790-1830, and are more closely related to needlework than floor coverings."  I believe there is also information in "American Hooked and Sewn Rugs: Folk Art Underfoot" by Joel and Kate Kopp, but for the life of me I cannot find my book :(      {These books do not give instruction, just talk about it and show examples.}

 

This is Kathy's sample, made in to a little pillow.

Close up.  Sorry this is sideways and I can't figure out why. 

 

Our kit ~

Starting out ~

 

And here's what little I got done.  I hooked his beak blue and will  probably go back and change it (reverse sewing...lol?).

 

I think yarn sewing can best be described as doing the satin stitch on a backing material.  Actually quite simple but it takes some time figuring out the length of the stitch and the tension.  I think Kathy's tension is much looser.  I'll have to work on that. 

 

Start from the top of the backing, insert the needle and leave a tail that will be covered. 

 

Come up very close to your tail.  (I moved the tail aside so you could see where I came up.)

 

 

Now you be doing a satin stitch.  Keep your stitches very close for good coverage.  This yarn is a little thicker than the blue of the bird and covers much better.

 

It's that simple though it will take some practice to feel confident doing it.  

 

 

If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to contact me or you can email Kathy.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Since the rains have once again passed us by, I need to head outside and do a little yard work before the day totally slips away.

 

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Yarn Sewing ~

 

I'd not heard of it before, but tomorrow I am heading about an hour east to take a yarn sewing class.  We will make a 5" x 10" mat.  The description of the class is as follows.  "Yarn sewing, a technique that predates rug hooking, can be used to make rugs, table mats, or wall hangings.  It does not require frames, hooks or cutting wool strips so it is a portable project."  Just what I need.  One more craft I don't have time for but it sounds like fun :)

 

Sunday is my favorite annual antique show in Milan, Ohio, the birthplace of Thomas Edison.  It is held on the square and there is no admission.  I hope I don't find too many things I can't live without . . . lol!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren