"SHEEP OVER" 2026
Millersburg Hotel
Norita Blue gave us a lot of suggestions for hooking backgrounds. She showed a number of rugs and how each one coordinated the hooking pattern with the style and theme of the rug. She uses a marker to draw the letter C or S and then hooks around that letter in her backgrounds. Other background options include using wavy lines, wiggles, slightly varied horizontal lines, half circles or contour lines.
Jennifer Grahovac shared quite a bit of information about wool binding. She gave us good suggestions with the cut wool piece to connect the strips with a 45 angle and then trim. Also, make sure to dry fit so no seam is at the corners. She had a rug ready to finish and showed how to “smush” the wool fabric right to the front loops and stitch from one loop to the next, so no linen background shows. She also had an example of sewing the wool binding to the edge using a blanket stitch.
Katie Allman talked about taking care of our tools. Cleaning your frame’s gripper strips can make a big difference! They become clogged with fuzz and strands of wool that inhibits the ability to keep your linen taunt. To clean, Katie recommends using a simple cat brush that is constructed of mere wire. Brushes that have wire with protectors or plastic tips will work but the plain wire is preferred. Use a wiping motion and make certain you clean with the grain of the gripper. It is best to clean your strip away from the wood frame if you have that style. Slip the gripper strip out and away from the wood.​
Cleaning your cutter heads is also important. The easiest way to clean these blades is with a tooth flosser. Lint collects in the rings that can keep it from cutting all the way through the fabric.
Deb Tomsheck showed wool binding as a rug finish. Cut your wool strips 2 ½” wide that compliment your pattern or wool that is the same as in your pattern. Trim the foundation to about 1”. Fold your wool strips that have been sewn together with a 45 angle under ¼” and stitch right into the loops on the front. She uses a ladder stitch to pull the heavy thread tight. Connect the 2 raw edges when you meet at the finish with another 45 angle and stitch that by hand. Turn the wool strip under, leaving ¼-1/2” depending on your preference. When the strip is completed, hand stitch the back down and don’t forget your label! Deb showed some rugs that have a rounded corner treatment and some with a miter corner treatment.
Linda Powell showed yarn whipping for the binding. She demonstrated a yarn corner and how to precisely turn and then sew the corner so you have a clean and sharp point. She also showed us how to use 2 and even 3 yarn bindings of different colors. The double whipped edge was explained by sewing the cording against the hooked edge of your project using the basic whipped edge. Then roll the backing up to the cording and whip stitch this roll in place. This makes 2 rolls. You can use the same color yarn or select 2 different colors. Make sure to use the darker shade on the outside, as this anchors your rug. Whip the inside edge first. Then finish your rug by whipping the outer edge.
Triple Yarn Binding in various colors
Fun Favors For All
