Harem has been a staple pattern in the shop for 14 years. It might be a bit of an oldy, but it's still a goodie, as popular today as when it was first introduced. A timeless design is one that appeals to the masses, isn't dated or trendy. Being rug hookers who drool over and covet wool, a sheep design is like crack to an addict, a;ways sought after and ageless.
The lambs tongue border is the perfect framing for a family of sheep and the army green background overdyed on several textures and solids feels like grazing grass. I decided to leave the faces blank for a bigger statement, at first trying to get in the details of eyes and mouth in the small space but they came off looking angry and had to go.
Each sheep is a different plaid or herringbone, mixing up the those colours for the heads, ears and legs. I hooked this version about a decade ago, and it has gathered a lot of attention hanging in the shop. I’ve been asked to sell it many times but I don’t part easy with my pieces, and they serve the shop better by inspiring clients to buy the pattern or order a kit. Someday the rug will be on the floor in my home, that’s the plan anyway and in the meantime it hangs for my enjoyment when I walk into the pattern room. This family portrait of sheep always evokes the memory of my wonderful father-in-law, one of the loviest men I have ever met.
What’s not to love about sheep? They are of course, responsible for our addiction to wool and for that we are truly thankful! I’ve seen Harem hooked in many different colours and sometimes the rug hooker makes fun little changes like puts socks on all the sheep or perhaps adds a sky with grass and flowers. I love hearing about the little changes rug hookers have made to personalize the design, making the sheep their family, one had two of them hooked like twins, some wore hats. The possibilities are endless.
This rug design was inspired from a cute “Little” story told by my father-in-law, James (Jim) Little. He and my mother-in-law were part of a group of friends made up of six couples, airline pilots and their wives who socialized together. After they all retired and the years went by, one by one the men all passed away until only Jim remained. When the group went out for dinner, he merrily referred to the six women as his harem, thence the ram and six sheep. Jim is now gone as well, he died a couple of years ago and the only one still standing from the group is my mother-in-law, Wynn, who is now 98 and blazing a trail to 100.
Harem 18 ½” x 36” http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/signature-designs.html
The lambs tongue border is the perfect framing for a family of sheep and the army green background overdyed on several textures and solids feels like grazing grass. I decided to leave the faces blank for a bigger statement, at first trying to get in the details of eyes and mouth in the small space but they came off looking angry and had to go.
Each sheep is a different plaid or herringbone, mixing up the those colours for the heads, ears and legs. I hooked this version about a decade ago, and it has gathered a lot of attention hanging in the shop. I’ve been asked to sell it many times but I don’t part easy with my pieces, and they serve the shop better by inspiring clients to buy the pattern or order a kit. Someday the rug will be on the floor in my home, that’s the plan anyway and in the meantime it hangs for my enjoyment when I walk into the pattern room. This family portrait of sheep always evokes the memory of my wonderful father-in-law, one of the loviest men I have ever met.
What’s not to love about sheep? They are of course, responsible for our addiction to wool and for that we are truly thankful! I’ve seen Harem hooked in many different colours and sometimes the rug hooker makes fun little changes like puts socks on all the sheep or perhaps adds a sky with grass and flowers. I love hearing about the little changes rug hookers have made to personalize the design, making the sheep their family, one had two of them hooked like twins, some wore hats. The possibilities are endless.
This rug design was inspired from a cute “Little” story told by my father-in-law, James (Jim) Little. He and my mother-in-law were part of a group of friends made up of six couples, airline pilots and their wives who socialized together. After they all retired and the years went by, one by one the men all passed away until only Jim remained. When the group went out for dinner, he merrily referred to the six women as his harem, thence the ram and six sheep. Jim is now gone as well, he died a couple of years ago and the only one still standing from the group is my mother-in-law, Wynn, who is now 98 and blazing a trail to 100.
Harem 18 ½” x 36” http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/signature-designs.html
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