beard5 ([info]beard5) wrote,
@ 2008-04-15 22:26:00
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Current mood: awake
Current music:"Deadliest Catch"
Entry tags:craft, rugs

An update on the new rug...and it's an experiment with using my camera and trying to figure out GIMP to modify images. (so far, trying to fiddle with 'level's' and 'histogram' have been an utter bust)



If the sun is out tomorrow, I've got some jewelry to photograph.

For those that are interested, punch hooking is a marvelous way to make one of a kind rugs, and use up those yarn scraps that seem to accumulate everywhere. I use basic acrylic knitting yarns for this one. I think it's easier to run through the washer and dryer, there's no danger of felting with acrylic. It does pill a little, but a beard or sweater trimmer takes care of that nicely.

The technique is simple enough once you've done a few. Depending on your backing it can be really fast, or just fairly fast. I've done rugs on burlap, and that moves very quickly, but I find that burlap just isn't as rugged as I'd like, and can tear out before it's finished. So, this one is on cotton monks cloth. It's rugged, holds the yarn loops nicely, but it can be rough on the wrists and takes a bit longer.

If you're interested in it for yourself, Halcyon Yarns has the tools and supplies. I use the Oxford Plain punch needle for my work.

Have fun with whatever you're creating today.




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[info]albreda
2008-04-16 12:31 pm UTC (link)
My issue has been with getting the right width yarn/wool to punch with - everything I've tried seems to come out less dense than I want, and the thick stuff has been too expensive. Using acrylic would at least be cheaper!

BTW - LOVE the design - where did your inspiration come from?

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[info]beard5
2008-04-16 02:47 pm UTC (link)
Hope this helps---
The yarn I'm using is for size 7 knitting needles and I have to punch it a lot closer then I do for wool and thicker weight yarns. I mean a *LOT* closer together. It makes for a marvelously dense feeling underfoot though. On the subject of yarn, you might want to try using chenille yarns, they do compress a lot with wear, but a run through the washer and dryer will nicely fluff them up again. And...if you punch it dense enough (almost too dense) it's a really nice effect. It bulges up, and looks like one's favorite teddy bear.

I think I got the inspiration for the design from a quilting program, basically I cut out paper, like one would for snowflakes, and then scatter, and repeat the shapes across the background.

This one is a little different then my other flower rugs (have one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom) in that I outlined all the flowers in the same range of yellow-golds. I think I like the efect, but I'm not sure I'll repeat the experiment.

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