I think I've lost whatever skill I had with creating titles for posts. Rugs and jam don't usually go together, but this week, rugs and jam are what I've been busy working on. I finally finished my flowerpot rug. I have to thank Pat at
Hook, Hand and Heart for giving me some advice on steaming and dealing with major lumpiness. I emailed her in a panic because the rug was seriously rippled. I was near despair...you know, when you realize that the hobby you love may not be the best choice for you because you hook tight enough to choke the life out of each strip of wool. Anyway, to the rescue comes Pat, who forwards pictures to her friend Doris, and together they encourage me to steam the living daylights out of the thing. I decide to actually do a bit of reverse hooking in some of the bulgier spots. Between the reverse hooking and steaming...success. But when I say steaming, I mean spraying sections with a fine mist and wetting the towels pretty well. And lo and behold...the rug lies flat! You'll have to ask Pat to forward the lumpy picture, because I surely will not post it here!
I will bind it with a tan binding tape and then finish that off with a slightly darker brown wool yarn.
My other endeavor this week included my first try at jam making. Well, actually not my first. I tried to make strawberry jam years ago, without the use of pectin. You know, the kind you have to boil forever and try to see if it will sheet off the spoon. Well, the kids were little and together we picked all the berries at the berry farm, carted them home, and Mom decided to boil jam. And boil it. And boil it. Well, you know where this is going, don't you? Yes, I discovered jam jerky! It wasn't a good thing.
I like pectin though! Only boil for a minute and then pour into the pretty glass jars!
They even set correctly! I used the blackberries I picked from the yard. I hope they taste as great as they look! I could get into this canning thing. We have a pick your own peach farm nearby and I think I might go get some next week and try peaches!
I am working on another little rug piece that I got as a kit on Craig's List. It's almost finished and I'll post a picture when it's done. I also had the good fortune to win a giveaway prize from Sharon at
Moosecraft USA.
I was so happy to win! I love the book. It's perfect to curl up with and dream about hooking!
I'd like to welcome all the wonderful new followers I've collected over the past couple of weeks. It's been booming! I'm nearing that 100 follower mark and can feel my first giveaway brewing! Stay tuned.
