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“Sitting on the Dock” is a wonderful pattern based on the artwork of Cindy Lindgren. It evokes memories of summer—whether time spent at the lake, relaxing in a favorite Adirondack chair (now available in a rainbow of colors), or enjoying moments with family and friends. It feels like a postcard from one summer to another.
“Sitting on the Dock” can be easily personalized, as you can see—from the color of the water to the trees (fall colors can be used for a late-summer or early-autumn feel), and, of course, the Adirondack chair itself. The chair is no longer limited to red or white; it can be blue, lime green, yellow, or any color you choose.
There are several important elements to consider when bringing this piece to life.
The Adirondack Chair—The chair should not be a single solid color. Notice that the seat includes a darker line between the slats of a lighter color to create dimension. The back of the chair is darker, with the spaces between the slats revealing the water behind it.
The Deck/Pier—The deck or pier should be worked in two values: a medium caramel brown for the main surface and a darker caramel brown in between. These two tones are a must, though the deck or pier can also be interpreted in weathered grays, dark greens, or tans. Texture works especially well here.
The Water—Whether you choose dyed wool, textured wool, or a combination of both, the water should be worked in at least two tones. The pattern provides a helpful guide and creates a sense of calm, like early morning or evening.
The Tree Line—You can choose the season when hooking the tree line. For spring or summer, combine a variety of greens in both textures and dyed wools, hooking them in puzzle pieces. For early autumn, incorporate reds, oranges, and golds for a vibrant effect.
The Sky and Clouds—A mix of textures with touches of dyed wool will create a calm sky that does not overpower the rest of the rug. The sky should not compete with the chair. The sky and clouds are best hooked in puzzle pieces or in a “higgledy-piggledy” manner.
The Pine Bough—Some makers choose to omit the pine bough, but it helps frame the chair and adds a sense of place. It is also an enjoyable element to hook using your favorite pine green.
At 18 × 14 inches, “Sitting on the Dock” is an ideal size for pillows—perfect for an Adirondack chair, a lake home, or even display in a tobacco basket. It is also an easy project to take on summer outings.
“Sitting on the Dock” has an Arts and Crafts sensibility and avoids overly fussy detail. In this way, the pattern invites customization—allowing you to incorporate your own memories, create a meaningful gift, or simply enjoy it as part of everyday life.
Below are the different ways our wonderful community has hooked this pattern:
Sitting on the Dock, 18” x 14”, #4, #5 and #6 cut, hand-dyed wool on linen. Design adapted by Lisanne Miller and hooked by Mary Alenstein, Briarcliff Manor, New York. Photo by Mary Alenstein.
Mary chose fall for her season and a bright red Adirondack chair with wonderful red accents. The water is a deep blue to match her pine boughs with a nice fall sky.
Sitting on the Dock, 18” x 14”, #5 and #6 cut, hand-dyed wool, textures, and yarn on linen. Design adapted by Lisanne Miller and hooked by Barbara Ward, Peabody, Massachusetts. Photo by Barbara Ward.
Barbara chose summer for her season and the traditional white Adirondack chair. White is the hardest color to hook the chair in and Barbara decided to do the highlights in yarn. Her summer sky and water really accent the Adirondack chair.
Sitting on the Dock, 18” x 14”, #5 and #6 cut, hand-dyed wool and textures on linen. Design adapted by Lisanne Miller and hooked by AJ Kemon, White River Junction, Vermont. Photo by AJ Kemon.
Sitting on the Dock, 18” x 14”, #5 and #6 cut, hand-dyed wool and textures on linen. Design adapted by Lisanne Miller and hooked by AJ Kemon, White River Junction, Vermont. Photo by AJ Kemon.
In the first picture, AJ hooked the red Adirondack chair first. A beautiful summer say on the dock with brilliant blue water that reflects the sky. The green tree line gives hints of summer ending and the pine boughs a great corner accent.
In the second picture, AJ hooked the blue Adirondack chair second. With the blue Adirondack chair, the water, mountains and sky transitioned to a blue green for the water, dark green blue for the tree line and a wonderful sky either signaling the end or beginning of a wonderful day.
AJ made both the patterns into marvelous pillows. The size is perfect for that.
Sitting on the Dock, 18” x 14”, #5 and #6 cut, hand-dyed wools and textures on linen. Design adapted by Lisanne Miller and hooked by Patty Cassidy, Sandusky, Ohio. Photo by Patty Cassidy.
Patty was the first person to hook Sitting on the Deck in a wonderful red Adirondack chair. The season is summer with beautiful water, sky, and tree line. Patty’s deck/pier utilizes two textures to create dimension. She worked through all the little nuisances of this pattern expertly.
Sitting on the Dock, 18” x 14”, #14 Oxford Punch yarn on linen. Design adapted by Lisanne Miller and hooked by Cindy Hamilton, Vernon, Connecticut. Photo by Cindy Hamilton.
Cindy decided to Oxford Punch her pattern with yarn and a #14 punch for a lower loop to make an excellent pillow. Cindy chose fall as her season as her tree line depicts and was able to get a lot of detail in the Adirondack using the Oxford Punch and the thinner yarn.
Because Cindy chose to punch the pattern, her image is reversed which is fun to see.
Sitting on the Dock, 18” x 14”, #6 cut, hand-dyed wools, and textures on linen. Design adapted by Lisanne Miller and hooked by Betsy Sarver, Norwood, North Carolina. Photo by Betsy Sarver.
Betsy lives on a lake and drew her inspiration for this pillow from her daily views. She chose a warm, summer day, and utilized dyed wool for the highlights in the Adirondack chair and texture for the chair.
Sitting on the Dock, 18” x 14”, #4 and #6 cut, hand-dyed wools, and textures on linen. Design adapted by Lisanne Miller and hooked by Paula Taraszkiewicz, Irvine, California. Photo by Paula Taraszkiewicz.
Paula chose to do a teal blue chair which looks great on the dark deck/pier and then balanced the water and sky to be reflective of each other in lighter values. It is a sunny and warm day on the dock!
Have you hooked Sitting on the Dock? Share photos of your creation on the We Like Rug Hooking Facebook page!