2014
My very patient 12-year old nephew asked me to make him a rug several years ago. He was going through a dolphin phase at the time, and we found a rug with a dolphin border that he liked, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend hundreds of hours on a rug that would almost certainly be packed away when he inevitably grew out of it. I spent months combing through patterns looking for a design that would make him happy now and for years to come...without success. Separately, I ordered an out-of-print embroidery book. The bookstore included a gratis copy of a needlework pamphlet that included a needlework pattern for a reproduction of a 12th Dynasty Chinese rug. I did some more looking for needlework rug patterns and found a collection of patterns in the same style from about 70 years ago. I combined the patterns to create my own design of stylized Chinese dragons with historic border designs from Asian and Mediterranean cultures. This was my first attempt at creating a pattern by merging design elements. It was also my first attempt at calculating yarn needs based on a design only. So far so good on that...
This past weekend I finished the colored design elements for Andrew's rug (Step 7). I'm thrilled with the result (and looking forward to the patterns in the borders becoming clearer with the addition of the tan background fill)!
Now I'm stitching furiously in a mad (?) attempt to finish the fill (Step 8) and binding (Step 9) by his birthday in November. Cross your fingers for me!
2013
Thanks to the Rosarios4 yarn sampler and a true color lamp, I was able to find a matching color for the yarn I ran out of half way through stitching this rug! All that remains is Step 9 - Finish the Edges.
2012
It's a good thing Cassie doesn't Google yet, because this rug is a gift for her birthday in April. Cassie grew up rugging with me. Since she was a toddler, she would sit on my lap and help me stitch. At three years old, she knew exactly what tension is and could tell when she pulled a stitch too tight. I was thrilled when, as a six year old, she asked me to make her a rug. She'll get this rug and a matching set of unstitched wall hangings for her 8th birthday. Only need to hem and attach the fringe (Step 9 - Finish the Edges and Step 10 - Attach the Fringe).
2011
My very patient 12-year old nephew asked me to make him a rug several years ago. He was going through a dolphin phase at the time, and we found a rug with a dolphin border that he liked, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend hundreds of hours on a rug that would almost certainly be packed away when he inevitably grew out of it. I spent months combing through patterns looking for a design that would make him happy now and for years to come...without success. Separately, I ordered an out-of-print embroidery book. The bookstore included a gratis copy of a needlework pamphlet that included a needlework pattern for a reproduction of a 12th Dynasty Chinese rug. I did some more looking for needlework rug patterns and found a collection of patterns in the same style from about 70 years ago. I combined the patterns to create my own design of stylized Chinese dragons with historic border designs from Asian and Mediterranean cultures. This was my first attempt at creating a pattern by merging design elements. It was also my first attempt at calculating yarn needs based on a design only. So far so good on that...
This past weekend I finished the colored design elements for Andrew's rug (Step 7). I'm thrilled with the result (and looking forward to the patterns in the borders becoming clearer with the addition of the tan background fill)!
Now I'm stitching furiously in a mad (?) attempt to finish the fill (Step 8) and binding (Step 9) by his birthday in November. Cross your fingers for me!
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| Chinese Dragons Medallion tapete - 6' x 8' - pattern adapted from multiple sources by Rebekah Richards; materials from Rosarios4 |
2013
Thanks to the Rosarios4 yarn sampler and a true color lamp, I was able to find a matching color for the yarn I ran out of half way through stitching this rug! All that remains is Step 9 - Finish the Edges.
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| Tapete Rosetas (5'x7') - Pattern by Serranofil, materials from Serranofil and Rosarios4 |
2012
It's a good thing Cassie doesn't Google yet, because this rug is a gift for her birthday in April. Cassie grew up rugging with me. Since she was a toddler, she would sit on my lap and help me stitch. At three years old, she knew exactly what tension is and could tell when she pulled a stitch too tight. I was thrilled when, as a six year old, she asked me to make her a rug. She'll get this rug and a matching set of unstitched wall hangings for her 8th birthday. Only need to hem and attach the fringe (Step 9 - Finish the Edges and Step 10 - Attach the Fringe).
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| Cassie's Birthday Tapete (4' x 5'6') - Pattern and materials from Rosarios4 |
2011
I started working this rug, a 3'x5' Coimbra pattern, in February 2011. It is small enough to pack into a carrying case and work from modified lap desk (see Tools) and fits perfectly in my carry-on suitcase. It has travelled the country with me this year.
I had a minor hiccup on this rug - I ran out of the tan yarn that was supposed to be used for the small stars in the border. Fortunately, I had just enough yarn of a similar but darker color used elsewhere in the rug, so I substituted with that color rather than re-ordering yarn and paying an astronomical shipping fee for a $4 skein of yarn.
I had a minor hiccup on this rug - I ran out of the tan yarn that was supposed to be used for the small stars in the border. Fortunately, I had just enough yarn of a similar but darker color used elsewhere in the rug, so I substituted with that color rather than re-ordering yarn and paying an astronomical shipping fee for a $4 skein of yarn.
This photo, taken in September of 2011, shows the rug ready for Step 9 - Finish the Edges and Step 10 - Attach the Fringe (although I have to admit I'm undecided about the fringe).
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| Tapete Coimbras - Pattern and materials from Serranofil |
