Pumpkin Pillow

Finished this pillow shortly after Christmas, and although it is decidedly a fall subject, it fits very well in our den.

This pillow was begun in Julie Smith's class. We were challenged to take a fall cutout and design a pattern around it. I drew the pattern with the idea that it would be a rug, but it when is was completely hooked, it screamed pillow.

So, voila!

Rug Hooking Class

I am fortunate indeed to take class with Julie Smith twice a month. Our winter session began last Tuesday, and the topic of the class was "a rug a month." Her challenge to us was to hook a 10" square a month (over the course of a year) and try to relate the rugs to a certain theme. Could be color, subject, etc. The ideas flew around the room. One hooker is going to hook a "quilt square" rug each month. Julie talked about doing an abstract piece each month and assembling them together on a black fabric background to form a single piece of art.

I came home and started thinking about what I wanted to do. Here are some of my ideas:

• word art
• bird eggs
• birds
• hearts
• milagros
• book title art

I finally settled on some less detailed aboriginal animals that I've been wanting to do. I have wool that will suit these small rugs nicely. First up, a kangaroo!

What ideas can you come up with?

Finished projects

Here are two recently finished knitting projects. I've made many, many pairs of socks through the years, but rarely make a pair for myself. These, I'm keeping!

They were knit on size 2, double-pointed needles using a yarn from Opal.

This scarf was made using a domino style of knitting. The yarn (which I love) is Quasar by Berrocco. Promptly went to the local yarn shop and got some more in another colorway.

The wind is howling here, and knitting and rug hooking is on the agenda for today. Stay warm.