“MYSTERY” tool – Do you know what it’s called?
Last week Robin from Donnybrook, brought an unfinished rug that had been given to her by a friend, for “show and tell” in Wanneroo.
There was a hand-written note in the bottom of the bag with a very rough sketch of the tool and a brief description of how it was used; I have re-done (shown above)
This rug was started back in the 1950’s by the friend’s grandmother. Included in the bag given to Robin was a “Rumplestiltskin” rugmaking tool (tufter). After looking at the unfinished rug it was obvious this tool had not been used because only rows of machine stitching showed on the back – the Rumplestiltskin would have poked the woolen yarn through the hessian backing.
It looked like “chenille” to me – a google search turned up many examples of chenille rugs, mostly on quilting websites, but these were strips of fabric stitched to the backing; I couldn’t find anything showing rows of looped yarn?
Rhonda, one of the senior members of our group, told me she remembers her mother using a similar tool in the 1930-40’s to make rugs like this and that there was a small blade clipped at one end of the metal strip and once the machine stitching had been done, it was used to sliced through the loops on the side away from the stitching.
We’re going to record this rug along with other rugs, finished or not, in a registry on this website and would appreciate images and information anyone can send us of Australian rugs.
Other news from the South-West is that interest in rug hooking is starting to spread – Robin said :-
“A rugmaker from nearby Boyup Brook called in to get a locker hooking kit a week ago – she came back yesterday to get another. She had finished the first one as a lovely table mat locker hooked showing a cow on a hill. It was going in the Boyup Brook Show as the theme this year was cattle. After that she plans to use it as a floor mat in the backseat of her car! The extra kit she collected was for a naval friend who did tapestry. He saw her doing locker hooking and wanted to have a go. I am intrigued to know how he gets on.”
Speaking of tools……….. in Queensland :
The Sunshine Coast Rugmakers Group is having a lovely time using the Fraser cutter given to their group by the Narrawilly Proggers. The group at Narrawilly received the cutter along with other rug making supplies when a rughooker from Sydney gifted her stash to them because she was giving up the craft due to ill health. At Narrawilly they already had 2 cutters, so forwarded the Fraser to the Queensland group.
Judi Tompkins the group leader said ……
“We had a great visit today with Kim, a Home Ec teacher from Gympie (150kn north of me) who found our rug group on the net through my website http://www.rugcraftingaustralia.com.au/ She brought with her Ellen her friend who was visiting from Philadelphia in the USA. Ellen is doing her McGown Rughooking Guild training and was blown away by our approach – casual, bright colours and few rules!”
New South Wales:
The Narrawilly Proggers from New South Wales recently entered rugs in the local Show. I’m sure you will see more about this event in the newsletter Miriam Miller will be emailing to Guild Members this April.
While in Victoria
the Yarra Valley Rug Hooking Group has just registered to represent the Guild at the Stitches & Craft Show in Melbourne in October. For more information about the Fair see the Current Calendar page on this website.
The members of this group travel far to meet each month so share their “works in progress” on their blog. http://victorianrugmakers.blogspot.com.au/ There are some very talented artists and rughookers in this group.
Anne’s Christmas rug is now finished ready for Christmas 2015 – next project is the pear chair pad.
Chris has a 5 ft x 7 ft floor rug by Rittermere Designs (Canada) called ‘Tehran’ on her frame which is progressing nicely and for something more portable she has taken to punchneedle embroidery
In South Australia:
The new meeting place for the Strath Matters is working out nicely. You can now find them in the Supper Room of the Town Hall on High Street, Strathalbyn, on the first and third Friday of the month.
