The Majestic but Elusive Moose

I love hooking subjects with a soul. Capturing even a hint of the spirit and personality of the subject is very gratifying. To create The Majestic but Elusive Moose, I chose different types of wool cloth along with some yarn. The colors and textures are meant to differentiate between the pelt of the moose and the landscape surrounding him, thus making him stand out. The colors and textures on the moose itself were chosen to create a semblance of movement.

I love how the moose turned out—especially the subtle hint of the surrounding environment reflecting on the moose’s body. I feel it adds a little more realism to the piece. I also love how the reflections in the water turned out for the same reason.

The sun is indirectly behind the moose’s antlers. It was challenging to capture the back of the left antler, which has the sun reflecting off it, and the front of the right antler, which is a little more shaded. There is a lot going on behind the antlers, so they had to stand out. I did some trial and error in coloring each side of the antlers. Once they were hooked, there was not enough differentiation between them, so I outlined them a little in a darker value where needed.

The Majestic but Elusive Moose, 28 ¾” x 27″, #3- and 4-cut wool and yarn on rug warp.
Designed and hooked by Jane F. Smith, Orléans, Ontario, 2024.

To finish the rug, I folded the edge forward and stitched it in place. I folded it again and stitched it in place. Then, I whipped the edge with a single strand of Cascade 220 yarn. With the rug not going on the floor, I thought this was the best choice. I did not see the need for a wide border with this rug.

Through the process of hooking this piece, I learned more about what goes into creating an original landscape background, taking into consideration depth, perspective, the direction of the light source, and how this may impact how reflections are portrayed.

Jane F. Smith
ORLÉANS, ONTARIO

Jane has been hooking rugs since 2018. She has a back ground in amateur photography. She is a member of the Ottawa Olde Forge Rug Hooking Guild. Her favorite subjects to hook are those with souls (animals and people). This is her second rug in Celebration.