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How to hook rope with value swatches

4/15/2014

15 Comments

 
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HOOKED BY JANET DELO
Hooking rope may look daunting but it is as simple as counting one, two, three.  You can use either three values or six values depending how much detail you wish to see.  If using three values you will hook only one row of the darkest value for the shadow and then repeat the other two values until the area is filled in. In these two examples of our pattern Grand Banks Schooner, the above picture was hooked with a three value swatch and the below one is hooked with a six value. Both are equally effective and beautiful. 

Both projects were hooked using Ganache for the rope; a fabulous golden hue that gives an aged patina. This dye formula hasn't made it into any of our dye books so I'm sharing it with you today.

Ganache (Using Majic Carpet Dyes)

1/4   tsp Yellow
1/16  tsp Chocolate Brown
1/16  tsp Seal Brown

Use 1/2 cup replacement method for 6 Value swatches
For a 3 Value swatch, mix in 2 cups of boiling water, pour off 1/3 for the lightest value, 2/3 for the medium value and the 1 cup remaining for the darkest value. 


For 6 Values, this recipe makes around 7-8 sets of 3" x 11" size pieces, so you would have to alter the formula by dividing it in half for 4 sets and again for 2 sets. 
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HOOKED BY ANNE HOLMES
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The rope drawing shouldn't be perfectly uniform.  You want it to be irregular for more realistic appeal. For the sample below, I am using a 6 value swatch cut in a #5 strip. 
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The first thing you will assess is where you want your light source to come from.  One side of the rope will be the shadow side.  Usually the darker side will be the outer edge of the rope but it would depend on your design and what elements are in it.  For example if you are hooking something with a sun, then your shadow on the rope would be at the farthest point away. 

The values run from dark to light, #6 value being the darkest.  The first line hooked is the 6th value and runs along the inside bottom of the curve of the rope.  It starts under the rope segment before it and all the way to the bottom where it joins with the next segment in the line.

Now hook the 5th in the same way. When hooking the 4th value don't take it directly to the bottom, stop short a few loops which will allow the lighter values #3, #2 and #1 to be on the outside of the curve and act as the highlight. 
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Here is a template to use by right clicking to save to your computer and then print off and blow up to the size needed, then repeat the pattern to cover the area. 
15 Comments
Debbie
4/15/2014 04:01:50 am

Thank you so much for this information! I've never hooked rope, but now I will, someday. Thanks also for the formula - it's a great color that I can see many uses for.

Reply
Joni Black
4/15/2014 04:36:29 am

thank you for sharing! looks really interesting..

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Della
4/15/2014 06:19:57 am

That's it? All this time struggling? Sigh thanks so much for this great visual!

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Marye
4/15/2014 06:20:39 am

Thank you so very much.

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Sunny
4/15/2014 06:21:13 am

I love rope borders, but had no idea how to hook them. This is a perfect demonstration! Thank you,

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Maggie
4/15/2014 06:21:36 am

Thank you for posting! This is good to know.

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Susan
4/15/2014 06:57:50 am

Yes it always looked so difficult and now it doesn't!

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Fran
4/15/2014 06:58:15 am

I've always wanted to hook a rope....this one is great..thanks!

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Starr
4/15/2014 09:29:47 am

Oh my! Thanks so much for the pictures of how to make the rope so realistic. Can't wait to try this idea!!

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margot janes
4/15/2014 08:24:09 pm

Wow, tons of helpful info, thanks!

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Bev Sheppard
8/10/2015 08:27:28 am

Just what I need - hooking a mat as a graduation gift for my g'daughter of her horses and need a rope border. Thanks for sharing and for clear instructions with photos.

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Beverley Sheppard
9/12/2015 09:15:04 pm

I used the dye formula and template in the border of a 2' X 3' mat and am pleased with the results. I'll use rope in another project with your tutorial. Thanks so much for the simple instructions and especially photos.

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Maria Danckaert
4/28/2016 12:51:45 pm

I wanted to do a rope border on a portrait of my grandson and a friend told me about your instructions. They look easy to follow and I'm looking forward to doing it. My one question is how much wool for the 3 value swatch?

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Kathy Peters
4/5/2018 05:21:17 pm

Hi Christine...I bought the Marine’s Compass from you and started it this week in a class. I also have wool from you to do a three value rope...and thank you for detailed instructions for hooking! If I were to dye myself using the formula above for 3 and 6 value, how much wool do you use? Probably a dumb question but the brain is slow tonight.
Thank you!

Kathy Peters

Reply
Heather L
7/3/2022 09:46:35 am

Thank you!! I have been trying dyes, hooking, pulling out hooking again and just haven't been able to get "the look". Someone from my group smartly suggested looking at your website. Thanks again.

Reply



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