I’m sure a few of you have heard me express angst about hooking with yarn. I tried it a few years ago but found it frustrating. I work so fast the hook would snag the fuzz on the previous hooked rows and pull out the entire strip. Or I would pierce the strands of the two ply, get snagged and either pull it all out or struggle to untangle it. All this slowed me down, caused a bit of cursing and unwillingness to try again.
But now I’ve changed my mind. That being my prerogative as a woman, I’m also pleased that my brain is still flexible enough to form new opinions and teach this aging dog new tricks.
I’ve been hooking a series of 6” x 6” mug rugs to make an all-inclusive kit for the summer tourists. These will include a frame, instructions, hook, pattern, yarn and scissors, all at a great price. All ages will be able to hook while traveling in the car or evenings in the hotel room. Variety being the spice of life, I have eight designs hoping to capture the interests of diverse tastes. I’ve hooked four already with half as many to go, but they work up quickly and will be completed by the end of the week. There’s a sail boat, a kitty, an owl, a bee, a sheep, a ladybug, sunflower and a hit and miss. A good cross section to hopefully appeal to the beginner’s eye.
I entered into this project with a groan. The word crap cropped up on the first one. I admit I struggled, snagging the yarn and all I could think was, OMG seven more to go, but half way through, a rhythm set in and I noticed I was no longer frustrated because I wasn’t splitting or snagging the previously hooked bits: all it took was some practice with this different medium. I do hold my hook a on a slightly different angle, but so slight it still feels natural. I do like the look of it too; a fine cut has always been my favourite. In a fantasy world I would hook everything in #3 wool strips but with the shop, time doesn’t allow that luxury anymore and I have to stick to #5 to #7 to complete projects as quickly as possible.
Hooking with yarn has benefits. There is little or no wool dust, a major plus, and there is no need to buy a cutting machine! The downside is the lack of mottled yarns. Unless you dye you’re stuck hooking with flat colour, there is little movement or depth that can be achieved with mottled wools. And, an even bigger regret, yarn doesn’t come in plaid! Wouldn’t that just be perfect if it were possible!
For this project I’m trying to use all factory dyed Brigg’s & Little yarn but their colour range is limited and I’ve had to supplement a bit with hand-dyed for the look I want to achieve. But all in all they will be easy kits to assemble, not labour intensive so the cost can be kept down for the beginner.
So if anyone else out there is also on the fence about yarn, I would suggest giving it another chance, put in some practice to find your rhythm. Now I’m hooking as fast as I do with wool fabric and I must say, I do like the look coming off my frame. I’ll admit I was pleasantly surprised, maybe I'm not as rigid as I thought.....maybe that stick up the nether region has a bit of flex to it after all.....who’d of thunk?
But now I’ve changed my mind. That being my prerogative as a woman, I’m also pleased that my brain is still flexible enough to form new opinions and teach this aging dog new tricks.
I’ve been hooking a series of 6” x 6” mug rugs to make an all-inclusive kit for the summer tourists. These will include a frame, instructions, hook, pattern, yarn and scissors, all at a great price. All ages will be able to hook while traveling in the car or evenings in the hotel room. Variety being the spice of life, I have eight designs hoping to capture the interests of diverse tastes. I’ve hooked four already with half as many to go, but they work up quickly and will be completed by the end of the week. There’s a sail boat, a kitty, an owl, a bee, a sheep, a ladybug, sunflower and a hit and miss. A good cross section to hopefully appeal to the beginner’s eye.
I entered into this project with a groan. The word crap cropped up on the first one. I admit I struggled, snagging the yarn and all I could think was, OMG seven more to go, but half way through, a rhythm set in and I noticed I was no longer frustrated because I wasn’t splitting or snagging the previously hooked bits: all it took was some practice with this different medium. I do hold my hook a on a slightly different angle, but so slight it still feels natural. I do like the look of it too; a fine cut has always been my favourite. In a fantasy world I would hook everything in #3 wool strips but with the shop, time doesn’t allow that luxury anymore and I have to stick to #5 to #7 to complete projects as quickly as possible.
Hooking with yarn has benefits. There is little or no wool dust, a major plus, and there is no need to buy a cutting machine! The downside is the lack of mottled yarns. Unless you dye you’re stuck hooking with flat colour, there is little movement or depth that can be achieved with mottled wools. And, an even bigger regret, yarn doesn’t come in plaid! Wouldn’t that just be perfect if it were possible!
For this project I’m trying to use all factory dyed Brigg’s & Little yarn but their colour range is limited and I’ve had to supplement a bit with hand-dyed for the look I want to achieve. But all in all they will be easy kits to assemble, not labour intensive so the cost can be kept down for the beginner.
So if anyone else out there is also on the fence about yarn, I would suggest giving it another chance, put in some practice to find your rhythm. Now I’m hooking as fast as I do with wool fabric and I must say, I do like the look coming off my frame. I’ll admit I was pleasantly surprised, maybe I'm not as rigid as I thought.....maybe that stick up the nether region has a bit of flex to it after all.....who’d of thunk?
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