“Each day when I awake I know I have one more day to make a difference in someone's life"...... James Mann (Author)
To sew the rug binding on the back of a round chair pad or mat first measure the amount needed in a colour that matches your creation....well if you're the matchy, matchy type otherwise black is fine!
Work from the outside edge first and place the binding up against the edge of the yarn whipping to hide most of the backing. Stitch it on with a needle by catching a bit of the chair pad beneath the binding with what is referred to as a running stitch.
Once the outer edge is all stitched on, tack the inside down to the chair pad using a hemming stitch. The rug binding will be rippled like ribbon candy because of the round shape, leaving excess bulk on the inside as it is smaller than the outer diameter. So every two inches or so you will need to overlap the binding by making a pleat for it to stay flush with the rug. You can stream press the pleats flat or sitting on the chair pad does the trick.
I'm puzzled why some people shy away from round rugs or chair pads because they are very simple to whip and bind in that they don't have corners to slow you down. This fact actually makes them easier to finish than ones with corners. I do know when I first started rug hooking round rugs were frowned upon and from experience designing, oval and round patterns sell the least. People tell me in the shop that they've been told to stay away from round rugs so there's a boycott afoot. Poor little round rugs, sadly passed over for their square cousins.
I've hooked round pieces and quite frankly feel they are much easier so I don't understand why finishing is viewed as such a problem. As long as you use cording to whip the piece it will lie flat and have a spectacular edge. If you don't use cording there will be rippling as you struggle to manipulate the burlap edge into a round shape. That cording gives you a hard core to whip against making it a perfect edge.
I have a theory as to why round rugs get a bad rap. If a negative opinion is what a person hears, they shy away from tasks perceived as difficult, never giving them a chance. A beginner would never know they were doing something perceived as hard and would probably do amazing things, but once we're told something is difficult, we shut down and never try. So give round rugs a chance. They fit so beautifully in any space, not having to be oriented to look straight! If you have trouble come by and see me and I'll help you out. I'm a rebel, round rug rooter!
To be fair, as far as hooking round rugs go, they can pose a problem if you pack your loops too tightly or hook in continuous round rows. Starting in the center of a round rug and working your way out pushes the fibers of the backing outwardly so this reduces the chance of buckling. Hooking from the outside in works in reverse, pushing the fibers toward the center and will undoubtedly cause buckling. People who pack each row can run the risk of creating a nipple effect as the center of the rug takes on a cone shaped, bump in the middle. This needs immediate attention. Slack off hooking too tightly by skipping rows, maybe hook two and then skip one or depending on the width of strip be the judge....but just skip! Then stream press the area to force it flat before continuing to hook the border.
I've hooked round pieces and quite frankly feel they are much easier so I don't understand why finishing is viewed as such a problem. As long as you use cording to whip the piece it will lie flat and have a spectacular edge. If you don't use cording there will be rippling as you struggle to manipulate the burlap edge into a round shape. That cording gives you a hard core to whip against making it a perfect edge.
I have a theory as to why round rugs get a bad rap. If a negative opinion is what a person hears, they shy away from tasks perceived as difficult, never giving them a chance. A beginner would never know they were doing something perceived as hard and would probably do amazing things, but once we're told something is difficult, we shut down and never try. So give round rugs a chance. They fit so beautifully in any space, not having to be oriented to look straight! If you have trouble come by and see me and I'll help you out. I'm a rebel, round rug rooter!
To be fair, as far as hooking round rugs go, they can pose a problem if you pack your loops too tightly or hook in continuous round rows. Starting in the center of a round rug and working your way out pushes the fibers of the backing outwardly so this reduces the chance of buckling. Hooking from the outside in works in reverse, pushing the fibers toward the center and will undoubtedly cause buckling. People who pack each row can run the risk of creating a nipple effect as the center of the rug takes on a cone shaped, bump in the middle. This needs immediate attention. Slack off hooking too tightly by skipping rows, maybe hook two and then skip one or depending on the width of strip be the judge....but just skip! Then stream press the area to force it flat before continuing to hook the border.
Geckos chasing each tails. Hooked by yours truly.
P.S. I just need a moment to rant. Thank-you to the person who allowed their dog to lift its leg and pee all over the sheep outside my shop door. I'm sure the person responsible doesn't read my blog or anything for that matter, not because of disinterest just lack of ability, so this isn't directed to them, although I would love a chance to chat! I just want to clear the knot in my gut....tap off the aggravation of having to wash the sheep, yet again!
Who in their right mind would allow such a thing? Urine in the heat dries like sticky wax and you might ask how do I know this? Because several people have allowed it to happen in the past. Do we live in such a world of care nothing that we'd allow a dog to pee or defecate on someone's personal property, no not the grass, but someone's possessions? The #2 problem happened more times then I like to recall and then gets walked through my shop as people step in it unknowingly...so much for a bylaw that dictates picking up after their pet. I don't blame the dog, the poor guys are dragged around and left to do their master's bidding......but come on pet owners, there's grass to the right and grass to the left...pick a better spot! A woman once allowed her dog to lift its leg right on my shop step, it careened across the top and almost hit my door, soaking all the wood in its path. A lovely golden stream, I watched it happen and the shock of it paralyzed me ineffective. By the time I came to grips with what happened they were down the street.
So it pisses me off, pardon the pun....really....enough already with the golden showers on my sheep. It's not like they're dressed in slutty leather and look like they want it. They have Nova Scotia Tartan scarves for goodness sake, have a little respect for our province! Ah....feel better now.....
Who in their right mind would allow such a thing? Urine in the heat dries like sticky wax and you might ask how do I know this? Because several people have allowed it to happen in the past. Do we live in such a world of care nothing that we'd allow a dog to pee or defecate on someone's personal property, no not the grass, but someone's possessions? The #2 problem happened more times then I like to recall and then gets walked through my shop as people step in it unknowingly...so much for a bylaw that dictates picking up after their pet. I don't blame the dog, the poor guys are dragged around and left to do their master's bidding......but come on pet owners, there's grass to the right and grass to the left...pick a better spot! A woman once allowed her dog to lift its leg right on my shop step, it careened across the top and almost hit my door, soaking all the wood in its path. A lovely golden stream, I watched it happen and the shock of it paralyzed me ineffective. By the time I came to grips with what happened they were down the street.
So it pisses me off, pardon the pun....really....enough already with the golden showers on my sheep. It's not like they're dressed in slutty leather and look like they want it. They have Nova Scotia Tartan scarves for goodness sake, have a little respect for our province! Ah....feel better now.....
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