Well, yesterday, while I was working hard in the yard, just about the last few minutes of my work, I himed when I should have hawed and pulled a wing muscle in my back! OUCH! Getting old is just no fun sometimes. Well, I finished up and didn’t think a whole lot of it, until later in the evening when everything stiffed up on me! A hot shower and some motrin did the trick and in the morning I was feeling a little more chipper. So when the mail came and in it was the wool rag rug kit I ordered off of Ebay, to say the least, I was eager for something to do that didn’t include digging and weeding for a bit!

I just love some of these primative looking wool rag rugs that I’ve seen throughout the years. And though I have done my share of latch hooking, the wool strip rag rugs were also so, well different to me and more intriquing. But looking around online and such, the kits were always SO expensive, like $50 to $100 just to get the basics started. But I found this little starter kit with a pattern on burlap with a hooking tool, and instructions and all the cut strips you need to make a little 8″ x 8″ sampler of sorts. It was reasonable, $25 and I thought it would be a good way to give it a try without gearing up and spending a small fortune.

Well, the instructions were not bad, but they were just lacking a bit in detailed information to really get going. I didn’t have a hoop or frame to keep it tight on, and I considered just waiting until tomorrow when I could get to a craft store and pick one up. I have a few in my stash in the storage unit but it just seems a little easier to grab a basic one at the craft store. (Storage units can swallow you WHOLE! Not to mention drag you kicking and screaming down memory lane and when you’re all done, you have to bring home a whole wagon load of stuff, wasted $5 in gas and a whole afternoon! HA HA)

I had a little picture frame and I gave that a try, trying to stretch it over and staple to the wood, but my stapler did not have the guts to get it into the wood well, and so that was kind of a struggle. Since the piece is not huge, I just resorted to doing it without and it didn’t take too long to get the hang of it. I will admit, I dialed up YouTube.com and did watch a few videos online! I tell you, Youtube and the gang of helpful strangers that are passionate about their crafts and hobbies… they all deserve some special spot in heaven! It’s delightful to watch first hand, instantly how to turn a nice corner or how to keep your stitches nice and even!

Well, I had finished my goals for the day and had the evening free, so I dialed up Netflix to watch a couple episodes of McLeod’s Daughters (WAY addictive homesteading/ranching soap opera from Australia… highly recommended…) and in no time flat I was hooking along like a fumbling beginner but still, making some inroads! I can’t wait to get a little frame or hoop that really works better! I’m going to go and dig up some lillies from a friend’s overloaded beds tomorrow morning and will stop to get a hoop. I promise to go lightly on the old back… I’ll bring my sharpest little garden digger and a big old bucket. Still pondering where to pop these little lillies, but I’ll figure out a spot, maybe around the kitty garden.

In the meanwhile? I’m thinking that this rug hooking in my new knitting for the spring and summer! I’m kind of funny about my crafts… I’m not much of a warm weather knitter or crochet freak. That is definately winter crafting for me. I like sewing and fiber stuff for the warmer months, so this has been a fun little diversion and something that I’ve been dying to try out! Can’t wait to do up a banjo rug!

Don’t laugh, you know I will! And chickens too! Sunflowers, banjos, chickens and gardens. I feel a super unique design coming together sooooooon!