Give a Gift
I love the meditative pulling of loops and the fact that you can correct anything you are not happy with in rug hooking simply by pulling out a strip. I really enjoy adding unexpected elements or materials to a project and live by the mantra of “a pattern is only a suggestion”—even if I’m the one who drew the original.
For George Jr., I wanted to use up my collected wool strips in the multicolored turtle. When I found the dyed velvets that complemented these colors, I decided that they would add textural interest to the coral and the kelp.
As the centerpiece of the project, the turtle ended up being my favorite element, even though I struggled with all the tiny sections and staying true to the original mosaic. In the end, I loved the expression on his face and the way he appears to be looking at the nautilus.
The background that I had planned took a 180-degree turn after a teacher (Ingrid Hieronimus) strongly suggested that I needed to abandon a tropical palette and go dark to make the turtle “pop.” That change, and the decision to break up the background into rays and large chunks, really helped highlight the other, more detailed elements.
After I had finished hooking, I rolled the rug warp backing forward over cotton cording and then basted it in place before whipping with heathered gray yarn. Finally, I applied a rod pocket to the upper edge of the back for hanging.
In making this rug, I learned that I really enjoy designing my own patterns. Even though the turtle was an adaptation, the background and other elements came directly from my imagination. The additional sea life was added as I went along to lessen the expanse of background and bring the turtle’s colors to other areas of the project.
From the Judges:
Vibrant colors that evoke the underwater environment. The attention to detail in the technical mosaic turtle and the use of velvet add to the bubbling underwater scene. This rug captures the tranquility, fractured light, and richness of sea life.
George Jr., 30” x 30 ½”, #2- to 6-cut overdyed, spot-dyed, and as-is wool and hand-cut ½” casserole-dyed stretch velvet on rug warp. Adapted, designed, and hooked by Janice E. Mathis, Canton, Connecticut, 2023.
Janice E. Mathis
CANTON, CONNECTICUT
Janice is a Canadian-born dual citizen who was introduced to rug hooking through a free, four-night class held at her local library. She was “hooked” and has been for more than a dozen years. Those gracious ladies invited her to join their weekly group, and through their extraordinary, combined expertise, she has been exposed to almost all possible cuts, styles, and techniques. She loves the meditative quality of pulling loops and appreciates the ease of correcting mistakes as she progresses through a new work. Having gone from strictly adhering to commercial patterns to adapting them in some way and, now, to drawing her own compositions, she hopes to further expand her use of techniques and materials.