Paisley Blossoms Printable Pattern

Paisley Blossoms, 24″ diameter, #8-cut wool on linen. Designed by Kristine Wilkinson/Woolsocks & Hollyhocks, Princeton, Minnesota, and hooked by Prudence Hutchinson, Northfield, Minnesota, 2012.

Spring is here, and spring inspires me. So I designed a rug with something everyone can experience, no matter where you live. Although the crabapple is the only apple native to North America, apple trees now grow in every state thanks to Johnny Appleseed. I put a twist into the rug, using paisley designs for the leaves. Enjoy the simple beauty of the pink blossoms of spring as you hook Paisley Blossoms.

Materials:

• Printable PDF pattern
• 32″ x 32″ foundation backing (linen or monk’s cloth)
• Red Dot transfer paper
• Permanent marker
• 21/2 yds. natural rug binding tape

WOOL

• Light pink dyed (Blossom petals): 1/4 yard
• Dark pink dyed (Blossom petals): 1/4 yard
• Pink plaid dyed (Blossom outline/paisley center): 1/4 yard
• Yellow checkered (Blossom center/paisley outline): 1/8 yard
• Blue textured (Blossom center): 1/16 yard
• Green dyed (Paisley outline): 3/16 yard
• Green plaid (Paisley center): 3/16 yard
• Yellow/green (Paisley center line): 1/8 yard
• Light textured (Background): 1 1/8 yard

Transfer the Pattern

Enlarge the pattern design to 24″ in diameter. The foundation material should measure 32″ by 32″. Serge or zigzag the edges of the foundation material to prevent fraying. Find the center of the material by folding it in fourths, and put a pencil mark on the center point. Position the center pencil mark over the center of the paper pattern. You can use a light box, Red Dot transfer paper, or a window to transfer the pattern onto the foundation material using a permanent marker.

Finish Before You Start

It is important to take the time to sew the binding tape on before you begin hooking. This step will save time and help maintain the shape of a perfectly round rug. Place the binding tape along the outer edge of the circle. You can hand sew or use a sewing machine with a straight stitch. Make sure to place the needle close to the edge of the binding tape and to the outside edge of the design circle.

Your first row of hooking will be right next to the binding tape. When you are done hooking the rug, you will simply fold the tape to the back side and hand stitch for a beautiful finished hooked rug.

Begin Hooking with the Background

Paisley Blossoms was hooked with a #8 cut, unless noted differently. Hook a row of the background wool around the edge of the rug so the side of each loop is up against the binding tape. After you have hooked all the way around the circumference of the circle, hook a few more rows of the background around the inner edge. This will help maintain the round shape.

Blossoms

First, hook the ring around the blossom center with the yellow checkered wool. Second, fill in the blossom center using the blue textured wool. Next, outline each blossom petal with the pink plaid wool. Then hook a row of the dark pink dyed wool around the inner edge of each petal. Hook a row of the light pink dyed wool, and add another row of the dark pink. Finally, fill in the center of each blossom with the light pink wool.

Center Paisley Designs

Outline the center paisley designs with the green dyed wool. The inner row is hooked with a #6 strip of yellow/green wool. Fill in the middle of the center paisley designs with green plaid wool.

Paisley Design

Outline the paisley in green dyed wool. Hook the next row with yellow checkered wool. Hook one row of yellow/green wool for the curved line in the middle section of the paisley. Next, fill in the lower portion of the paisley with the pink plaid wool. Finally, hook the upper part of the paisley with green plaid wool.

Background

After hooking each blossom and paisley, it is a good idea to echo each motif with a few rows of the background wool. Hook the remaining background, and your rug is ready to be finished.

Finish What You Started

The first step in finishing is to zigzag about 1/2″ around the edge of your rug. Cut off the excess foundation backing. The next step in finishing is to steam your rug. Place a bath towel on your ironing board, and place your rug, hooked side down, on the towel. Set a wet hand towel over the surface of your rug, and place your iron over the center of the rug. Continue this process over the entire rug surface, making sure to lift the iron each time instead of moving it back and forth. Turn the rug over, and steam the top of the rug in the same manner. It is best to let it dry flat for 24 hours, as wool can retain 30 percent moisture and still feel dry to the touch. Once it is dry, fold the binding tape to the back side and blind stitch the tape to the back of the rug.

Enjoy the springtime sweetness and simplicity of your Paisley Blossoms rug!