~*My Etsy Shop*~

Hello Dear Friends!  Did you know? 

Did you know that my Etsy Shop has been re~opened? 

Did you see that I have listed some of my older patterns in PDF form?  (Some were PDF before, but I had retired ALL of my patterns.)  They are OUT OF RETIREMENT!  At least some of them.

Yes, I know I had said they would no longer be available, but after receiving so many requests (thank you), I found a way to offer them in PDF ONLY.  I am not able to supply any paper patterns at this time.

CLICK HERE to go directly to my shop

My newest PDF is a pattern that was created for Wool Works Magazine last fall.  I'm able to now offer it now... in case you missed it.

~*Jubilant Jackson*~ has 2 finishes available... either a vibrant & friendly Art Doll or a sweet & useful Needle Keep.

I hope you pop over to my shop to take a look.  With any luck, more of the old and many new will be added!

Oh... and I have decided all of my PDF patterns will be ONLY $5 US!

Wishing you all warm smiles,

Betty

~*New News!~

Hello Dear Friends!

Have you received your new copy of Wool Works Magazine?  It is out!  ~*Willa Witch*~ is the pattern I created for this Fall Issue.  Isn't she cute?  I love making these needle punch dolls!

If you haven't subscribed yet, you will want to!  There are so many wonderful patterns and designers.

Wool Works Magazine

And in other news, after too long.... my Etsy Shoppe has been re-opened!  Some of my older, retired patterns are currently for sale in PDF version only.  With any luck, I will be able to offer more of the retired patterns in this format.

I also have plans to offer NEW needle punch patterns soon!!!  For now, all patterns will be in PDF only.  

For my cross stitch fans, I am sorry, but for now there won't be any new cross stitch patterns.  My eyes are not as strong as they use to be.  Even with bifocals and readers (YES!  I wear both at the same time sometimes!) and magnifiers it is just too uncomfortable.

~*primitivebettys*~ Etsy Shoppe

Wishing you all warm smiles,

Betty

~*FAT Hooking!*~

Hello Dear Friends!

This is NOT AT ALL what I should be working on, but it apparently is where my heart is at the moment!

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Judy Cripps' hook-in at her home.  While there, I wholeheartedly admired a rug of hers (all of her rugs really!) ~ finished and displayed in her kitchen.  I was delighted to see she had it drawn up and offered as a pattern.  It had to come home with me!  I listened carefully as she gave me a few tips for hooking it up.

It is sweet and simple!  It is also the largest rug I have EVER hooked (29 by 36)... and with the FATTEST STRIPS too!

 Pattern title is HAND TORN SHEEP Rustic Rugs ©Judy Cripps

These wool strips are roughly and inch wide!!!

Not wanting to measure with a ruler... and, of course, not having a wool cutter that would cut a strip this wide... I am using my thumb as a reference and guide.  (never mind my lack of a manicure, please!)

The strips for this rug are suppose to be ripped anyway... so this is working perfectly!

Judy told me to plan for 7x the wool for the motifs.  She advised to lay the wool, folded on the areas to be hooked.  I have a large stash of wool, but not in large dyed pieces all the same.  So, like most of my finishes, it is going to be scrappy... and just the way I love it!

I'm using my FAT, primitive hook opening up a large space to pull each fat, wooly worm through... and I am leaving lots of space between rows... trying very hard to not 'pack' as I hook.  Obviously, the 'packing' continues to be a challenge though.  

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Packing? or Rug Hooking?*~

Hello Dear Friends!

Yesterday, I purchased a small rug kit from Judy Cripps of Rustic Rugs.  My mind was focused on 'packing'... or rather, the opposite of it.

I've been told before that your loops in rug hooking should be "kissing, not hugging".  Hmmm... I think mine are sometimes really smooching and very snug.  'Snug as a bug in a rug?' maybe?  Seeing open spaces of linen on the back is okay.  I'm wondering, how does a hooker keep from pulling loops too tight and not crowding.  I'm not sure.  It is a challenge.

I hooked this little kit up last night.  While hooking, my goal was to leave it loose ~ don't pack.  Maybe my goal was reached... or maybe just a little.

I haven't ever taken a rug hooking class.  My hooking began about 2005.  I searched online and have met many wonderful rug hookers who are always happy to share their knowledge.  Have I learned?  I don't know.  There is surely much more to learn.  And much better hooking to achieve.

Here is my finished rug/mat... made last night.  The background has a little silver thread in it.  The result when hooking with it creates a starry~night...

Here are a few pictures from of the back...

Packed?

Here are the backs from some of my older hooked pieces...

This last one is probably one of my very first hooked pieces...

Good?  Bad?  Right?  Wrong?  I will continue to learn and try to do it right... but love the end result regardless!

Oh, and the Primitive Betty rug on the top of all, that one wasn't made by me.  It was made by my good friend, Ginger Jackson.  I love that one the best of all!

My latest little mat fit just perfect in the base spot on my wall!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~* Heart a Snow Day!*~

Hello Dear Friends!

We had a brief, blistering cold, storm roll through last night (actually there have been several over the past few days).  Everything seems to have shut down.  The roads to my work were too rough to bear ~ so I have a Snow Day!

That being the case... I am working on some simple needle punch projects.

I started by tracing a heart onto the Weaver's Cloth.  I then traced the rounds of a few wooden spools to make random circles.

Then, I grabbed random threads from my spiderweb-mess of loose, leftover, threads and began punching.

I shared the above photo on Instragram… and was pleasantly asked if it would be a pattern offering.  Yikes!  What pattern?

The answer is... nope.  Instead, I will do what I can to share it with you here on my blog.  *wink*

 I'm not finished punching the other doodles on my fabric yet.  So, I put the cloth, frame and all, on my printer and hit print.

Then I went to the light box to transfer it to plain paper...

waalaa…

The heart is about 5 1/4 inches across at the widest part.  I didn't trim the scans ~ so it is a bit  messy.  You may print the photos as large or small as you wish... if you wish.  

By the way, the background floss is interesting.  I'm sorry, I cannot remember for sure if I dyed this floss of if my dear friend, Ginger Jackson of Prairie Moon Primitives (formerly Primitives by the Light of the Moon) did it.  The threads have been piling up in my stash for several years now.

This is DMC thread dyed with tan Rit Dye.  Here is the post on Ginger's blog to show how it is done... CLICK HERE.  Ginger doesn't post on this blog much anymore, but she has a wealth of information available ~ patterns and tutorials.  You should give her a visit.

Ok... I'm heading back to my space heater and punch needle.  Enjoy!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Happy New Year*~

Hello Prim Friends!  Yes, it has been a long time (yet again).  With a new year comes new goals! I'm starting off with a little something to share with you...

a freebie doodle!  (and if you read all the way to the end... a 2nd freebie too!)  I have a goal to have lots of finishes this year.  There isn't a set number, but I want to makes lots and lots of finishes!!!  I hope you do too!

~*Happy Valentines to Ewe*~

©primitivebettys 2019

My sweet husband gave me a tablet for Christmas.  He is urging me (and cheering me!) to get back into the swing of creating MORE!!

Learning how to use the tablet for drawing doodles is a bit of a challenge.  Patience and focus needed!  But, I already have one finish!

It is a very simple doodle... or simple scribble...

(a great big a positive sigh...)

I gathered my basket of tangled DMC threads and my Cameo Ultra Punch (medium needle only!)… and punched away.

I made the pattern just about 5 by 7 inches on my print... and straightened the edges (hence the uneven black border around the finished punch piece.

Cut off the excess Weaver's Cloth to about 1/2 inch around.  Then put face down on a small bit of wool for the backing.

Stitch as close the punches as possible leaving about a 2 inch opening.  (I use my sewing machine.)

Snip the tips of the corners off to reduce bulk and then turn right sides out.

I will often times save my leftover bits of wool from rug hooking.  It makes a great pillow stuffing for these small pieces.

I filled the pillow, but not too tight or over-stuffed.

Sew the opening closed.  For added goodness, I trimmed the seam with a thick noodle scrap.  Using a blanket stitch and more black embroidery floss, I stitched all around to hold the wool noodle in place.

My first finish of 2019!!

 

~*Eggs Five Cents*~

©primitivebettys 2019

As always, enjoy the doodles!  I love to see finishes, so please show me!

Wishing you all warm smiles and a great New Year!

… Betty