Evening star., 1942-09-23

'it has become fascinating pastime
for spare hours. A group of towns
people have become interested in
starting rugs of their own and we
get together once month and
hook" our rugs and exchange ideas.
This, too, is good thing for war
time spare hours, even when one has
to walk to the meetings. for not only
the soldiers but the stay-at-homes
need morale building.
'I have been nearly two years at
work on my rug but it is now lovely
thing and growing larger every
month. I hook strips of burlap 40
inches wide by 7 feet long (burlap
potato bags may be washed, evened
off and sewn together to form the
strips and when each strip is done
I sew it to the previously completed
strip, or rather hook it onto the
strip by means of yarn and burlap
curved needle. The large strips are
heavy and sewn while fiat on the
floor, when piecing them together.
"All that is needed is strong rug
hook (not a rug needle). These are
about Is cents in the art department
of almost any store. For materials,
since wool has become scarce, I have
used rayon, cotton, silk and part
wool materials. I often say that I
can use anything but hats and shoes
and even turban hats can be of use.
Strips are torn about q inch wide,
depending on weight of material, and
then hooked through the burlap, all |
edges being finished on the top side.
I clip my material after pulling it
through, as this gives it soft ap-
pearance. I use every color in the
rainbow and hook these indiscrim-
inately as they all blend into one
perfect whole. With this hit or
miss pattern, one doesn't have to
watch any design in putting the
strips together later. I featured as
nearly as possible blues and rose
colors and used every article imag-
Unable from heaviest canvas, cut very
finely, to the thinnest chiffon, cut
very wide to give body. I tried to
pull thin material, like stockings,
in with bit of woolen material to
give it strength. Draperies and old
torn curtains, of ruff1ed type, are
fine, as these can be dyed any color
and look grand in the rug.
my rug is now 9 by 8 feet and
growing rapidly. I have been able
lately to nearly complete long
strip in one month of work. The
beauty of this sort of work is that
no sewing together of material Is
needed and the oldest and most
Insignificant articles of clothing,
overalls, aprons, old dresses or sheets,
even the orange-colored string bags
onions are purchased in can be used
with beautiful results. drop the
string bags into boiling water and
boil white goods with this for few
minutes, getting beautiful apricot
dye Ingenuity can accomplish much
II one is anxious enough to achieve
a lovely finished product from spare
time industry, and especially if one
has the wish to save every scrap
of material that can be salvaged.
I have used, estimating conserv-
atively, 20 trunks full of material
which would otherwise have been
burned OF thrown into trash
barrel. My husband says he is
ashamed CT the predatory look in my
eyes when I see bright scarf or
cloth thrown out somewhere as I
pass by neighbor's house.
II am sorry that this communica-
ton is so long, but I wish that every
one could understand what BEAU
tiful floor covering could be made
with the scraps of old material now
thrown cut. When my rug is COM
pleted it will be at least Is by 18
feet and nearly cover the floor.
I know it will be as pretty as any I
could have bought for over 500.
Not only that, but it will be an
heirloom to pass on to my daughter,
and it has been fun.
Very truly yours,
PEARL w. BRADFORD"
"P. ST have spent less than 81
to date on dyes, burlap and rug
hooks, which have worn out. I had
purchased burlap before it was un-
available, but now use potato sacks.
I estimate that my finished rug will
cost less than $40. and look like
an American Oriental"