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Lesson 1 "Rug Hooking Supplies & Their Uses" Welcome to the wonderful world of rug hooking. You may not feel like much of an artist just yet, but over the next few
days, we'll get you off on the right foot and soon you'll be creating things people will oooh and aaaaah over! :-) Rug hooking, just like any other hobby, has its own tools and terms. For example, I prefer to call it fiber art...rug
hooking is so limiting for what you're going to learn to do! You could easily overspend so in
this first lesson I'm going to tell you about the basic equipment and point out the benefits of having the right tools.
Tip If you're a rug hooking novice, you might enjoy starting with a yarn
kit. The kit comes complete with hook, yarn, pattern screen printed on burlap, English and French Instructions and a colored
picture for a guide. You can see some examples here:
Let's Review Rug Hooking Supplies
& Their Uses Cloth Cutting Machines:
Bliss Model A - Table Model with suction cups - 5 lb Benefits: Sits on any table plus easy to pack. Bonus: Try sitting this cutter on a small piece of rubberized rug backing, won't scratch the table and won't move. Fraser
Model 500-1 - Clamp on machine - 5 lb. Benefits: A strong heavy duty cutter. Bonus: A special cutter head is available for this model; the 2" cut for braiding or woven
rugs. To view one of the above cutters,
click link below: The Townsend Fabric Cutter Benefits: Ease of use and compact Bonus: Offers Multiple Cut - Cutter Cartridges in #6 or #8 Scissors
or Shears Yes the price is
right and that's how Grandma did it.
Benefits: Low cost and ease of travel Bonus: For wide cuts and primitives, scissors work great. It is also an inexpensive way to start your fiber art. To view : Information
on Cutter Heads Fraser Cutter Heads for Model
A and Model 500-1: 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 Fraser Special Cutter Heads
for Model 500-1 Equipped with rubber rings to help feed material No. 8 sp. cuts 2 strips 8/32" wide No. 9 sp. cuts 2 strips 3/8" wide No.10 sp. cuts 2 strips 1/2" wide No. 1 sp. cuts 1 strip 1/2" to 2" wide by adjusting cloth guide No. 8.5 sp. cuts 2 strips 10/32" wide (new) To view cutter heads:
http://www.linartdesigns.com/catalog/c32_p1.html Townsend Fabric Cutters Sizes includes #3. #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #8.5, #9, #10 New Multiple Cut - Cutter Cartridges - Cuts 8 strips at one time -Available in #6 or #8 Townsend Shear Magic Fabric Cutter - cuts
2 strips at one time -Available in 3/4", 1", 1 1/4" To view:
Please
Note: One regular cutter is included in the price of
the cloth cutting machine in all of the above types. How do you know what size cutter heads do you require?
That will depend on the type of work your're doing: fine shading 3 & 4, intermediate hooking,
5 & 6, and if you prefer primitive style, 7,8, and wide cut
would range from 8 and up. For Braiding I use Fraser Special Cutter Head No1. sp cuts 1/2" to 2". However
for Portraits, you would require #2, and 3. For a beginner and if unsure what direction you are going to take, I would suggest a #5. You can seeyour loops, hooks up fast,
and it is the middle range. Ok, now let's match your
hook with the width of the strip. Hook Descriptions by Frasers: Ball Handle Hooks No.2 hook for primitives No. 3 hook for use with strips cut on #4,5, or 6 cutter
head Straight Handle Hooks
No. 4 hook for use on medium strips 1/8" wide No. 6 hook for use on medium nor fine strips 3/32" to 1/8" wide No. 8 hook for use on fine strips cut 2/32" or 3/32" wide No.10 hook for use on fine strips cut 2/32" or 3/32" wide Pencil Type Hook Handle - handle 3 1/4" long No. 5 for medium for fine strips No. 7 for fine strips No. 9 for fine or very fine strips New Long Pencil Type Handle
- 4 3/4" long Available in sizes 2,3,4,6,8, & 10 To
view hooks: http://www.linartdesigns.com/catalog/c22_p2.html Everybody has their own preferences in hooks. Some
like them long like a pencil, some like them short, the majority of the primitive hookers prefer the ball handle hook. I like a bent hook but prefer a pencil hook when hooking with yarn. There's
no right or wrong answer, as long as you feel comfortable. I love to hear your feedback. Please mail in your thoughts and ideas on Lesson 1 to artsy@explornet.com P.S. I'm an avid fiber artist and would be happy
to answer any questions you might have. Just contact me at: |
