green with love

My sister, Mel, recently moved into her new apartment. I knew I wanted to make something special for her, so I decided to try a new craft.

Here's how it began:

Here's the finished product:

I've been itching to try a new rug making technique for years. This was a great excuse to try out locker hooking, an English craft dating back to the 1900s that used wool scraps and burlap. I gave it a more modern twist using t-shirts, with 12-13 shirts used for this project (some were quite small in size).

Words can not express how much fun I had making this rug. It was the perfect project, since it was very portable and easy to pick up or put down. I took it on our vacation to Canada and hooked in the car, on the beach, at the motel, and even in town. It took about three weeks to finish, though I probably could have completed it in two if I ignored The Man, Kersey (the puppy), and all my friends and family.

I don't think I've ever loved one of my finished projects as much as I love this one. Take good care of it, Mel (smile!).