Thanksgiving Morning
Today is a great day to look back and give thanks for everything. In looking back, I thought to memorialize how the swugs got started.
Kid Curt
In January 2010, Curt wanted to start making something. He rummaged through his collection of craft skills and recalled rug making as early as when he 7 or 8 years old. We still own a latch hook rug project from Curt's preteens of the Zodiac. Curt expressed an interest in making rugs again.
Latch hook rugs are cool, but to me they look kind of sloppy. The design is buried under the long, loose yarns.
Rug Construction Types
We discussed the idea of Curt taking up rug making and cast about for other construction methods. We considered everything from braided rag rugs to Navajo vertical loom weaving. Both of us were drawn to rug punching. Rug punching was fairly speedy and the designs of the rugs were cleaner. We put rug punching at the top of the list.
Oxford Company
We researched rug punching on the Web. We looked at various sites. The site we like the most was the Oxford Company. The site was great! It had lots of photos, clear instructions, and a new tool. The founder, Amy Oxford, designed her own punch needle and sold them.
http://www.amyoxford.com/
We saw the punch needle tool offered on the site and other reputable online yarn stores, too. We also saw that Ms. Oxford wrote "The Bible" of Rug Punching. So, we purchased one of the needles and the book.
Setting Up Shop
We both read the "Punch Needle Rug Hooking" from stem to stern. The book included instructions on constructing a frame, what type of canvas to use, and all the punching techniques including an excellent instruction on fixing goofs. We bought the supplies and I made the frame, purchased the canvas, stretched the canvas, and transferred the first design. We were ready! Wait...what about the yarn?
Upcycled Yarns
I used eBay to research yarns. My word! Yarn was EXPENSIVE. Ms. Oxford estimates that a 4 ounce skein would cover about the size of your hand with fingers separated. <GULP>. My research had the average cost of a 4 ounce skein cost was about $9.00 / 4 ounce skein. <DOUBLE GULP>.
While searching for yarn, I noted that one enterprising eBay seller was selling 'upcycled' yarns. The seller unraveled pre-existing sweaters, wound the yarn into skeins, and sold the whole lot for a very reasonable price. I thought, "I could do that!"
I purchased a yarn winder and a couple of sweaters. That was a deep learning curve, I can tell you! I never really looked at the construction of a sweater. I didn't know what 'fully fashioned', 'chain stitch construction', or that some sweaters are serged! I eventually got the hang of selecting the appropriate sweaters.
Upcycled yarns are more economical that new yarns. I am able to purchase a used sweater at one of local thrift stores for under $5.00 each. A sweater typically yields about 10 4 ounces skeins. I think that comes out to $0.50 / 4 ounces skein. Now we're cooking with gas!
Coming Together
Our friend, Hedge, was the one who came up with the "swug" name. He squished the 2 words sweater and rug together. Clever guy!
So, with the knowledge gleaned from the Oxford book, the punch needle, and the upcycled yarns, we got off on a great footing!
We give happy thanks to all the generous people in our lives!
LJ
Our endeavors in the fiber arts including hand punched rugs made from upcycled yarns (aka swugs), silk painting, clothing manufaturing....
Visitors
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Rug 6 HIGH PRIESTESS On Sale on eBay!
It's official! The HIGH PRIESTESS is now on sale on eBay!. She already has 1 watcher and 2 views.
Click here: eBay Listing
Click here: eBay Listing
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Corona 2:Solar Eclipse Permission
Exciting News!
First some background...
A few years ago, my sister-in-law, Christine, took me to visit friends in Paducah, KY. While we were there, we went to the American Quilt Museum. That was the first time I saw the amazing quilt "Corona 2: Solar Eclipse" by Caryl Bryer Fallert. While I could not purchase the quilt, I did purchase the poster.
"Corona 2: Solar Eclipse" won the $10,000 Best of Show award at the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah, Kentucky in 1989. It was featured in a PBS show and named one of the most important quilts of the 20th century.
So, we thought the amazing quilt might make a great swug. I emailed Ms. Fallert yesterday ans she responded today. (Whew! that was fast!). Ms. Fallert graciousy gave her permission and it's terms.
We're so excited! Now comes the challenging part. It's got to be larger.....so I will design a new table frame...can't wait!
You can see the quilt here on Ms. Fallert's website:
http://www.bryerpatch.com/gallery/AQS_BestofShow.htm
First some background...
A few years ago, my sister-in-law, Christine, took me to visit friends in Paducah, KY. While we were there, we went to the American Quilt Museum. That was the first time I saw the amazing quilt "Corona 2: Solar Eclipse" by Caryl Bryer Fallert. While I could not purchase the quilt, I did purchase the poster.
"Corona 2: Solar Eclipse" won the $10,000 Best of Show award at the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah, Kentucky in 1989. It was featured in a PBS show and named one of the most important quilts of the 20th century.
So, we thought the amazing quilt might make a great swug. I emailed Ms. Fallert yesterday ans she responded today. (Whew! that was fast!). Ms. Fallert graciousy gave her permission and it's terms.
We're so excited! Now comes the challenging part. It's got to be larger.....so I will design a new table frame...can't wait!
You can see the quilt here on Ms. Fallert's website:
http://www.bryerpatch.com/gallery/AQS_BestofShow.htm
Friday, November 19, 2010
Rug 4 GREENMAN
Here is the GREENMAN rug that we entered in the New Mexico State Fair. It was our first time ever enter in the NMSF. We did not win. When we discussed why we did not win with one of the fiber arts judges / coordinators, we were informed that the crietria for the category "Rug, Traditional" included elements of traditional rug (i.e., American Colonial). Greenman did not have these elements, so we did not win. (The rug that did win was beautiful!)
We asked if the committee would please consider adding an additional catergory for next year. They will take it under advisement.
Greenman was made completely from upcycled sweaters. No new yarns were used. The sweaters were purchased from secondhand stores and thift shops (e.g., Goodwill). Some of the manufacturers for GREENMAN were:
We asked if the committee would please consider adding an additional catergory for next year. They will take it under advisement.
Greenman was made completely from upcycled sweaters. No new yarns were used. The sweaters were purchased from secondhand stores and thift shops (e.g., Goodwill). Some of the manufacturers for GREENMAN were:
- Blarney Woolen Mills
- Caribbean Joe
- J. Crew
- Mervyn’s
- Moda International
- Mossimo
- Woolrich
His design was taken from a stained glass pattern by Chantal Paré. I subsequently sent her a photo and she posted it on her website.
He measures about 32" in diameter.
HARVESTMAN Progress Chin Completed
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
HARVESTMAN Progress and HIGH PRIESTESS Completed!
Curt started the orange leaves:
I finished hemming, manipulation, clean up! Today I plan to list the HIGH PRIESTESS on eBay!!!!
I finished hemming, manipulation, clean up! Today I plan to list the HIGH PRIESTESS on eBay!!!!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
HARVESTMAN Prep and Begin Punching
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
HIGH PRIESTESS Completed and HARVESTMAN Begins
Curt completed punching the HIGH PRIESTESS last night. I removed her from the frame. She now needs to be pressed, trimmed, and hemmed.
These are the beginning steps for HARVESTMAN:
Hem the raw canvas (done)
Stretch the hammed canvas on the frame (done)
Create a transparency to project (done)
Transfer design to canvas (done)
My next step is to unravel the remaning 5 sweaters.
Curt should be able to start HARVESTMAN this evening!
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Cricket inspects the completed swug |
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Off the frame and on the floor unhemmed |
These are the beginning steps for HARVESTMAN:
Hem the raw canvas (done)
Stretch the hammed canvas on the frame (done)
Create a transparency to project (done)
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Printout on the left, transparency on the right |
Transfer design to canvas (done)
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Using the $5 projector |
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Lines transferred |
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Lines redrawn |
My next step is to unravel the remaning 5 sweaters.
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Sample cards of yarns selected for HARVESTMAN |
Curt should be able to start HARVESTMAN this evening!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Swug 7 HARVESTMAN Color Assignment
Sunday, November 7, 2010
106 Yarns
Yesterday, we pulled down all the unnumbered yarns we own from the back porch. We laid them all out, clipped samples, printed sample cards, and rebagged the yarns. This means we now have 106 different yarns from which to choose for future swugs.
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Bags of catalogued yarn waiting to be rehung under back porch |
Friday, November 5, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Column Boo-Boo and Swug 7 HARVESTMAN
I goofed! I forgot to remove the mltiple lines from the detail on the black column. So, Curt punched them in all night last night....and now we have to remove them and start over.
Curt believes he will finish the punching part by this Wed or Thurs eve. I already starting unwinding yarns for rug 7 "Harvestman". This is another design straight from Chantal Paré's free stained glass designs.
We discussed and decided that our old method punching all the outlines first is not efficient. On the "Harvestman" swug, we plan to start in the center or at 1 corner, and fill from there. This way Curt doesn't have to try to move pre-existing lines / yarn out of the way on 2 sides, just 1 side.
I shudder in misery at the thought of hemming another irregular border!
Too many lines on the black column
Fewer lines on the grey column
Curt believes he will finish the punching part by this Wed or Thurs eve. I already starting unwinding yarns for rug 7 "Harvestman". This is another design straight from Chantal Paré's free stained glass designs.
We discussed and decided that our old method punching all the outlines first is not efficient. On the "Harvestman" swug, we plan to start in the center or at 1 corner, and fill from there. This way Curt doesn't have to try to move pre-existing lines / yarn out of the way on 2 sides, just 1 side.
I shudder in misery at the thought of hemming another irregular border!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Shiny New Blog and 6th Swug
Good Morning, All! Today begins our blog for Thread Again. We are interested in making and selling fiber arts objects, with an eye on upcycling. We are currently pursuing several threads:
1. Making hand punched rugs from upcycled yarns
2. Selling clothing and other items on eBay
3. Sewing new items from antique (circa pre-1950) saris
We have been calling the upcycled hand punched rugs "swugs". This is a term coined by our friend, Hedge, to describe the rugs made from sweaters.
Today, we hope to complete our 6th swug "HIGH PRIESTESS" Her design was inspired by the High Priestess (card 2) from the Rider-Waite tarot desk. For more information about the card, click here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_High_Priestess
These photos were taken earlier in September:
1. Making hand punched rugs from upcycled yarns
2. Selling clothing and other items on eBay
3. Sewing new items from antique (circa pre-1950) saris
We have been calling the upcycled hand punched rugs "swugs". This is a term coined by our friend, Hedge, to describe the rugs made from sweaters.
Today, we hope to complete our 6th swug "HIGH PRIESTESS" Her design was inspired by the High Priestess (card 2) from the Rider-Waite tarot desk. For more information about the card, click here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_High_Priestess
These photos were taken earlier in September:
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