For this month’s Rug of the Month, Ania has decided to showcase a recent favorite project of hers. The pattern is called “Jack in the Green,” and it was designed by Lora Irish. Ania completed it in #4 and #6 strip wool, #4 strip velvet, and half inch torn silk strips. The dimensions are 16.5″ x 18″.
Take a look below to see an image of the completed project, and read on to learn about Ania’s approach to finishing the project.
Why did you decide to take on this project?
I’ve always loved this pattern! I call it the “Green Man.” I think it’s interesting how broad the interpretations of this pattern are from other rug hookers. Everyone approaches it very differently. Before I saw this pattern, I’d seen images of the Green Man throughout my life, in books, paintings, and illustrations.
Why did you decide to use materials besides wool?
This is the first time I’ve used velvet and silk fabrics. I really liked that about this project. I used them primarily in the face. This project was part of a class at Teacher’s Workshop, and the teacher had unusual materials available for us to use. It was a wonderful opportunity to play around with something new.
How did you color plan this project?
I knew my Green Man would be green. I used three 8-value swatches that I had dyed about eight years ago. They were the very first 8-value swatches I had ever dyed, and those are the greens in the leaves and face. I also used left over wool from old projects, mainly in the veins, and a little bit in the leaves. These left-over strips of wool were mainly colors you wouldn’t expect in leaves – lavenders and golds.
I chose red for the background because it’s the complement of green. The other thing I wanted to do was continue utilizing leaves in the background. If you look closely there are outlines of Oak leaves in the background radiating outward to continue the pattern from the face. I went out and collected actual Oak leaves, and I traced them to continue the pattern.
I used left-over noodles from other projects I had hooked in red to outline the new leaves I added. Then I filled in each leaf with two different red spot dyed wool. I whipped the rug with a spot dyed whipping yarn, to tie in with the background.
A note about color planning with different fabrics: when you hook with velvet, the color looks lighter in the pattern than in the flat fabric. So that is something to keep in mind when you try velvet in rug hooking.
What was the biggest challenge you encountered with this project?
It was important to be able to triangulate where each of my three green swatches would show up in the leaves. I didn’t want the colors to look too lopsided. I also added touches of red in the gaps of the leaves, to try to make it look less thick. Sort of like the sky showing through when the wind blowing through your hair!
Is there anything else of interest about this project?
I always tell people to touch his nose for good luck – it’s made of velvet and so it’s incredibly soft!
I really like him. This is one I’m proud of.
If you have any questions on this project, feel free to leave them in the comments below!
My Mother's a Hooker 