Encompassing Designs
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Kits
    • Patterns >
      • Christine Little >
        • Signature Designs
        • New Designs
        • Seasonal Designs
      • Deborah Sweet
      • Susan Leslie
      • Patricia Perry
      • William Morris
    • Supplies >
      • Backings
      • Frames
      • Hooks
      • Books
      • Extra
    • Wool >
      • Abrashed
      • Custom Dyeing
      • Dyed Bundles
      • Dyed Curly Mohair
      • Dyed Spots
      • Dyed Values
      • Dyed Yarn
      • Jacquard Dice Dyes
      • Natural & Colours
      • Plaids & Textures
      • Dye Books & Swatches
  • Ordering
  • Blog
  • Workshops
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us

Old Rugs Never Die, They Just Fade Away.....

2/18/2015

13 Comments

 
Picture
How sad to spend time making a rug and not have it withstand the test of time.  You expect antique rugs to bear witness to the rages of temperatures, dirt and wear but a rug that hasn’t seen its first decade, not so much.

Of course I didn’t know what sunlight exposure would do to a rug, without experience to learn from, it didn’t even cross my mind when I hung it in the shop window.  I have noticed red houses and red cars have a tendency to fade faster than other colours.   With the exception of course of Santa Claus’s clothing; still gloriously red after all these years!

Other colours also fade to varying degrees.  Yellow, not a strong colour fades but is less detected as it turns to a creamy white.   All color absorbs wide spectrum or light from the Sun. The red color fades faster due to the red color components absorbing the blue ray, which in fact has a higher energy so that makes the red color molecules change (degrade) from time.

Blue has a shorter wave length, therefore higher energy. If you look at a rainbow's color spectrum, red is the complete opposite from blue or violet. From that, we can see that red will be the first "victim" among other visible color.

Red pigment molecules are larger. So, as a layer of large rocks will let through more light than a layer of sand, a layer of red pigment molecules end up having a lot more space between them and that's why it can take so many layers of paint to achieve full coverage.

Red can be a trickster when dyeing wool.  No amount of mordent will afford complete confidence with permanent colour.   I have a beautiful Persian carpet in my living room and every time it gets wet, either from Christmas tree water or a squirt from a pup, the paper towel is pink after absorbing the moisture.  The wool we dye at the shop seems much better as far as colour fast goes.  I’ve experimented earlier on when the question popped up.  We spin dry together all the dyed wools of the day and they come out clean, but then of course, we aren’t washing with soap, just spinning it dry.  Every new home maker suffers the horror of a red sock in a washing machine full of whites. 

So keep your beautiful rugs away from the sun or suffer the same consequence.  I was sick when I first noticed it.  I’d hung it in the window at the shop and left it there for a month, my windows face the north side so it get very little sunlight.  Other rugs have hung there without any repercussions but they didn’t have red in them. 

I tried to be clever and doctor the loss by painting more dye with a sponge applicator on top of the faded red but it only muddied it down further.  My mistake was that I should have applied straight red dye, not mix the formula that I had originally used over the dull red. I wasn’t starting with a base of white or natural so it just got darker and duller. 

The option of pulling it out and rehooking the apples, maybe green this time, a Granny Smith look, is a thought but I have so little time to do the new rugs that inspire me, I hate to take a step back.  And besides there has to be a bushel of apples there, a lot of hooking! 

Some say they like the antique look, but they’re my friends and tell you things to make you feel better.  Maybe I should keep this rug around to remind me of a lesson learned.  I’m a loon, always feeling sorry for inanimate objects; it’s such a sad little rug now.    I suppose, no rug is worthless, it can always be used as a good example of what not to do. 


Picture
The reddish spot dyed wool I used for the leaf veins has also faded.  All the colours have faded in varying degrees but the apples tool the biggest hit and the yellow of the pineapple second but I can live with that as they are not that bright in real life, nor do they have the lustrous polished skin of an apple.  The apples feel bruised when I look at them.  Poor little Mackintoshes! 

And yes, I know I haven't sewn on rug binding yet...shame on me! 
Picture
13 Comments
Marye
2/18/2015 08:38:04 am

Yes, I learned that the hard way too. Unfortunately my first self designed, self hooked rug sat in the Sun for years til I Came to! The back side is bright, the front side dull and faded and only 15 years old. Live and learn!

Reply
Janet
2/18/2015 08:38:41 am

Good commentary on color-I enjoyed the article a lot

Reply
Phoebe
2/18/2015 08:39:19 am

Thanks for the info.

Reply
Robin Stewart
2/18/2015 10:46:32 am

It is still beautiful, Christine! Honestly, I wouldn't have known it faded if you hadn't said so!

Reply
Cathy Lowe
2/18/2015 11:41:13 am

"THEY JUST FADE." I totally understand your frustration in fading issues, etc. I however, (fulfilling only personal gratification) have been there many times and look at the changes to be just as beautiful as the first creation. Loved them them. used and enjoyed them == as they were mine. Love them still.Oh! Change. And don't we all. Change brings beauty or is that age? Some things never change, like the day I first met you- was that yesterday? Fun
National Wine Day Feburary 18th. what color is in your glass. Embrace the life you have, you may never get another.

Reply
Betsy Boltik
2/18/2015 02:45:02 pm

One month, would never have thought that fast. I still like that mellow look. Remember we are all mellowing, only hopefully not in a month. Just start calling it your VINTAGE apple rug.

Reply
Marolyn
2/18/2015 09:00:49 pm

Very interesting I repair a few old rugs and hard to match colors. I can hear the history talk to me I also hook different things and recycle as much as I can Happy Hooking

Reply
Ziva
2/18/2015 09:01:28 pm

Gorgeous nevertheless! Would be proud to have it in my home.

Reply
Korleen Somerville
2/19/2015 12:12:56 am

i would like to order this mat. Please advise.

Reply
Christine
2/19/2015 01:40:22 am

This pattern is called Over The Door Welcome. You can order it by phoning the shop on our toll free line 1-855-624-0370 or send a request for a paypal invoice by clicking this link: http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/contact-us.html
The pattern is 35 1/2" x 20" and on linen is $63.38

Reply
Sunlight Fine Rug Care CT link
11/2/2018 10:53:08 pm

Definitely my friend has an area rug which is almost thirteen years old, he has taken great care of it as it still looks not new but better than my other area rugs.

Reply
Andrea Matthews
8/1/2021 08:57:46 pm

Any new ideas on recoloring a faded hooked (wool) rug? I see websites for recoloring Persian rugs and one You tube video using an airbrush. I once recolored a needlework with Sharpies, but it was much smaller than a rug. Thank you

Reply
Christine
8/2/2021 12:53:04 pm

No, I've not heard of any other process. It is what it is.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Christine Little has been ranked #5​ out of the 60 top rug hooking bloggers by Rug Hooking Magazine!

    Picture
    Picture
    Max Anderson, Australia, recipient of my Nova Scotia Treasures rug.  An award of excellence for promoting Canada through his writing.  
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2023
    July 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Picture
    Picture
    Gift Certificates are available for that special rug hooker in your life!  Any denomination, no expiry date! 

    Picture

    Categories
    (Click on the categories for past blogs)

    All
    Announcements
    Beginner Class
    Christmas
    Colour Planning
    Contests
    Copyright
    Coupon
    Customer Rugs
    Cutter Servicing
    Dyeing
    Equipment
    Featured Hooker
    Giveaway Draw
    Guest Blogger
    Guest Blogger
    Health & Fitness
    Home & Heart
    Hooked Rugs
    Hooking Groups
    Hook In Talk
    Initially Yours
    Jibber Jabber
    Just A Bit Of Fun!
    Life's Experiences
    Life's Experiences
    New Design
    New Ideas
    Pattern Of The Week
    Patterns Hooked
    Pets
    Rants
    Recipes
    Rememberingfbe7326ff7
    Rug Schools
    Show & Tell
    Show-tell
    The Rant
    Tips Technique
    Tips Techniquef0cd117ab4
    Visitors
    Workshops

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture





















    Picture
    We have a pot to "Fiz" in!

Shop Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 
Saturdays 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
We are closed during ice and snow storms
​so please call ahead.  If school is cancelled we probably are as well.  

Toll Free: 1-855-624-0370
Local: 1-902-624-0370​
encompassingdesigns@gmail.com

498 Main Street
P.O. Box 437
Mahone Bay, N.S.
Canada B0J 2E0

​Follow us and keep up to date
on our specials, new products
​and events!
Picture
Picture
Picture


Home
Shop
Ordering
Blog
Our Story
Workshops

Contact Us




​​​© Copyright 2023 Encompassing Designs. Website by SKYSAIL