Hooking a Plaid

Large plaids are a bonus for rug hooking.  Plaids such as our Algonquin Gold, Muskoka Moss and Red Canoe offer three different looks in one piece of wool.  I hooked this little mat to demonstrate the variety of values and color I got from just these three wools.  After cutting, I separated the light and dark strips and hooked them in a painterly style to create light and shadows in the leaves.  To create a spotty effect, the different values can be randomly hooked into your pattern.   I have always coveted multi use wools such as plaids and stripes which was the inspiration for my first line of wool.

7 thoughts on “Hooking a Plaid”

  1. I just ordered the wool mentioned above. Also, I’m a newbie to rug hooking and want to know how to wash the wool. Is it the same way you wash a wool sweater? Woolite? Thanks.

    1. Hi Elizabeth. Thanks for your order. Im sending you wool that has been washed and is ready to go. For future reference…wash wool in regular cycle with warm water and detergent. Woolite is fine. I use regular detergent. Dry in dryer. I find that if you are washing only a few pieces of wool, its best to throw it in with your towels.

  2. Hi Martina, I actually have plaids and tartans in reds/green/black, Green/red/black and some blue/black these are mostly 100% wool skirts – I have wondering how to use these in a design – I am a novice hooker and enjoy hooking.

    1. Hi Gail. The blue black would be wonderful as a background or border. Use it mixed with other similar dark colors for more variation if needed. Anywhere you would require a black or dark…even outlines, roofs etc. The green/red/black can be used in pictorials. Perhaps houses or trees? Both of these lend an interesting effect in geometrics or hit and miss rugs. Nothing goes to waste. You can also overdye it and use it in backgrounds. Welcome to our world of rug hooking!

  3. Hi Martina,
    Is it possible to hook using wool tartan material? I find that it is shredding as I try to hook. Is it because it is woven? What size cut should I use?

    1. Yes. It may be shredding because it is a light weight fabric. You need to look for wool that is about 12-14 ounces which is a flannel weight. Not coat weight. Then you will have another issue. If a wool is worsted, you will have the same problem. If you want to use it then use a #8 cut which is 1/4″ wide.

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