Sheep Rug Progress ~ and my little Suzy

Hi Folks ~

please keep my little kitty, Suzy in your prayers?

she's been having trouble breathing and very lethargic lately, so I brought her to our vet this morning.

She is dehydrated, and will have to have bloodwork done once she is rehydrated enough.

most of my readers know how much I love my animals, and my friends and family know for sure how much little Suzy has been in my heart for almost 16 yrs.

so if you would be so kind

as to send up a thought or two for a little fur-person

 I would be so appreciative :)

 

and onto the rug progress ~

here is what I drew out after sketching a few others:

 

 

 

1863 SHEEP ~ drawn onto grid-transfer paper

I want to keep this rug very muted,
so I dug through old wools in my basket(s) and found these suit me....

 

 

 



old skirts, shirts, some boucle wool from Rebecca...

Oh! I wanted to show you this humongous basket that I tote around with me...
(I had to repair the handle with wire & homespun)

 

 



Hannah used to play in this basket when she was little :)

so I pulled a few loops of the 'whites' fon the sheep....

the darker wool loops will become it's facial features, hooves and shadows:

 

 



a couple of loops pulled last night.

Some of you emailed to ask about the little hook I've been using lately...

I have been using a Hartman primitive hook for years & years...but, my almost 50 year old, overworked hands get so sore from the heaviness of that hook, that I thought I'd try something new.

 

 

This is a little white Miller hook that is has fast-become my very favorite!

 



little Miller hook ~ so light to use!

I am generally a very 'high' hooker...my loops are pulled very high ~ but I have been hooking alot 'lower' with this little hook...it helps me to keep my loops more even, too.

 

 



getting started....

 

I hand-cut my strips using Fiskar spring-loaded scissors, so my strips aren't perfect ~
usually I cut them about 1/2" wide to hook with my Hartman hook, but using this Miller hook
I have been cutting them about 1/4" instead.

 

I love how handcut strips make a rug look old...plus, I just don't like lugging that cutter around!

hooking the sheep's tail ~ un-even strip widths and a little lower loop height (for me!)

This is what the "business end" of my Miller hook looks like
for those that might not be familiar with them:

 

 



like a little shoe-button hook.

I picked up a couple of these hooks for the shop, and will be placing a shop order with Nancy (Miller)
for more...she has a nice selection of wood handled hooks, pencil & pear shaped.

 

Well, my friends ~ thank you for keeping us in your thoughts today,

and for visiting with us.

 

I'll keep you posted on the rug progress and Suzy's progress too!

(and another apology to my sweet friend Jane
for my having to cancel last minute, but Thank You for understanding!)

 

Lori from

Notforgotten Farm