Witches Boot

Started my next Witches Boot design yesterday. What a fun design. Already found a couple of design flaws and corrected them. Love the colors of the Valdani 3 strand floss. Still undecided whether I like punching with the 3 strands. Thought I would try the smaller tip for the cameo ultra punch but had a hard time getting the threader into the hole so went back to the medium tip.

 

 I would really like to know if anyone has tried using the Perle Cotton size 12 for needle punch. In the description they mention that it can be used for needle punch. But there are so many different kinds of needle punches on the market. So think I will be investing is a few skeins to see if it will work for my purposes.

Onto the Next

The newest punch needle witches boot design is just begging to be drawn up today. One more draft to get the design just right and then I can transfer it to the weavers cloth. Can't wait to get punching on this with the new Valdani Floss. I will be creating these Witches Boot designs into patterns. Hope to do this over the summer months. Also hope to create my Jack O lanterns into a pattern as well. This will be soft sculpture. 

How to Bind a Hooked Rug from Ginger

Here is the link to a wonderful tutorial.

Gives great photos for using twill tape in binding your rug.

Thanks Ginger for this great tutorial.

Binding a rug

Valdani floss

Just got my shipment of Valdani floss. My first thought was wow those balls are small. The box that they came in is about 4" by 4" and there are 12 balls in it. The balls are maybe about 1". 

If you read the whole add it does say the dimensions of the box.

4.2 x 3.6 x 1.2 inches

There are 29 yards in these small 1" balls. 

I am telling you I LOVE the colors right off the bat.  

Hope to use these soon to test out this size of Three strand floss.

Think I will also try to pearl cotton size 12.

Has anyone tried the pearl cotton for needlepunch? 
I would love to hear about how it worked and with what needle you use. I use a cameo ultra punch. Usually use the medium tip. 

Valdani Floss

The colors of Valdani Floss have intrigued me for a long time. I usually use 6 strands of floss for my needle punch projects. The skeleton needle punch project I am working on has caused me some issues. The 6 strands of floss sometimes wants to hang up in my medium tip for the cameo punch needle I use. This frustration along with the long standing desire to try Valdani floss  prompted me to go ahead and order the 3 strand floss. I also like the idea that there are lots of yards on the ball cone. I love some of the creations I have seen from using this 3 strand floss. I have found that in rug hooking a #5 count will give me much greater detail then the normal primitive cut of #8 or #6 that I usually use. So I am expecting to have the same happen with needle punch. I am trying to find the perfect colors and floss for my witches boot series of needle punch patterns. I may try the 6 strand Valdani but will see how I like the 3 strand first. 

Often we wonder what people are talking about when they mention # cuts in rug hooking

Here is a chart that explains the cutter head sizes for rug hooking.
No. 2 cuts 6 strips 2/32" wide
No. 3 cuts 6 strips 3/32" wide
No. 4 cuts 4 strips 4/32" wide
No. 5 cuts 3 strips 5/32" wide
No. 6 cuts 3 strips 6/32" wide
No. 7 cuts 2 strips 7/32" wide
No. 8 cuts 2 strips 8/32" wide

Betty's Suggestions for fillers

 Betty always has great articles here is another one. 

This one suggests things to fill your 

 Your pinkeeps, your pillows, your dolls... your crafty goodies?

Thanks Betty

Fillers

Colorado

It looks like we may get our wish to be in Colorado for the summer months. We love to be on our property for the summer months. Watching all the wildlife and just soaking up the quiet. Plus the added bonus of seeing family!!!! Our new job here in Texas should allow us to take the summer off of working. Time for creating over the last year has been very limited due to all of our fun adventures working. Last summer we were working outside of Yellowstone park not far from West Yellowstone. So we played in the park on our two days off a week. Working in distribution for Christmas Trees in Arizona is how we spent the fall and Christmas seasons. This is a very busy season as it starts with the selling of pumpkins for Halloween.

The job we are at now might provide some time for creating once we get all settled in. It is a 24/7 job and we are trying to work out our schedule to cover the hours. We are gate keepers for one of the drill sights in Texas. I have mixed feelings about this but alas we need to work. I also have mixed feeling about selling Christmas trees. But again I need the work and I am glad for it.  

If you are in Colorado and would like to touch bases with me this summer contact me. 

I would be happy to teach dimensional rug hooking.

 Also would like to hook up with fellow rug hookers never Pueblo or Canyon City. Our property is not far from the little town of Westcliffe.

 !