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Thirsty Bandit was hooked as an assigned teaching piece for the North Central Teachers Workshop. I had a year to research and hook the rug with the intention of presenting and teaching it at the following year’s Teachers Workshop. I loved creating a teaching plan on the raccoon and, in the end, found that this piece really could have been taught as a multiday class incorporating lessons in landscape, water, sky, and even fish.
I decided that I really wanted to use textured wools for the raccoon. Other materials used in the rug included hand-dyed wools and hand-dyed wool yarn.
I especially love the story taking place between the fish and the raccoon. I added the fish to the piece because I felt there was more to the story. I also love the bright pops of color in the flowers, which give the viewer some focal interest, since most of the rug is hooked in darker values to depict the nighttime forest in which the nocturnal raccoon would roam.
The piece isn’t large, but it truly involved a lot of challenges. I knew I wanted to bring the raccoon to life, and I love utilizing textures in animals. So, after pulling 13 different textured wools for the raccoon, I set to work bringing him to life. Then came the fun of seeking out the perfect wool for the tree bark. It is hooked higher to add dimension and realism. Next, I incorporated proddy techniques to create the leaves and then tacked them down exactly where I wanted them. In addition, the bright yarns used in the flower were dyed by my friend Rebecca Martin and really add some visual pop. The appropriate use of light and dark values really became important so that details weren’t lost.
This piece was professionally framed by a local framer I use for my rugs. Ultimately, this project taught me how to maximize interest and realism in a small piece. I am happy with the outcome.
From the Judges:
The fur is perfection. The cut wool leaves make for a more interesting piece, as do the details on the flowers. Charming from top to bottom.
Thirsty Bandit, 18″ x 14″, #3- to 5-cut wool and wool yarn on linen. Designed by Pearl K. McGown and Jane McGown Flynn and hooked by Mary McGrath, Mukwonago, Wisconsin, 2023.
Mary McGrath
MUKWONAGO, WISCONSIN
Mary began rug hooking in 2002 as a primitive rug hooker. Over the years, she developed an affection for the fine cuts, which allowed her to achieve realism in her pieces. She loves all “things and subjects” rug hooking, but has a special place in her heart for animal-themed rugs. She is a rug-hooking instructor and is humbled to say that she has had numerous rugs accepted into Celebration and selected as “People’s Choice” at shows.