June meeting of the Yarra Valley Rug Makers

Aaah, winter is on the way. The road to Warrandyte was wet and long from Loch, but a warm welcome awaited me when I got there. A cup of coffee later and a catchup with the girls and we were ready to get stuck into our rugs. Robyn's gorgeous Foxy Rug was coming along in leaps and bounds while Anne just kept plodding along on her lovely Santa Rug. I'm sure it will be finished for Christmas 2014...well she hopes so anyway.

Joy's beautiful Anne of Green Gables rug is stunning and almost finished, just a bit of sky to go. 

Chris continued on with her 'Blake' Rug, the fourth in her set of six rugs of her grandchildren. Two more to go after this

Next month will be a smaller group as Joy will be over in Ireland with her daughter living it up. However we will have the pleasure of enjoying the company of Miriam Miller and Jacqui Thompson from  Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers, in Milton, NSW.
Miriam is the author of Proggy and Hooky Rugs. This lovely book is an introduction to the old skills of rag rug making, particularly proggy and hooky rugs. It has instructions for rug making, pictures of different kinds of rugs you can make and lots of colour. There is a knitted rug pattern as well as ideas for quirky projects (such as a tea cosy and a hat) that you can make using the rag rug method. 
We hope to have lots of people come and join us to welcome Miriam and Jacqui to Loch in beautiful Sth Gippsland.  Till next time. :)

"Proggy and Hooky Rugs" by Miriam Miller

This book is an introduction to the old skills of rag rug making, particularly proggy and hooky rugs. It is a fun book, with instructions for rugs making, pictures of some of the different kinds of rugs you can make, and lots of colour. There is also a scone recipe and a knitted rug pattern, as well as ideas for quirky projects (such as a tea-cosy and a hat) that you can make using the rag rug method.
I hope it encourages you to try rug making and brings to you the pleasure of creating something interesting and beautiful from unwanted fabric.
Miriam Miller is a founding member of the Australian Rugmakers Guild, was President from 2008 until 2012 and now President Emeritus.
If you would like to contact Miriam about her book you can email her at  narrawillyfarm@shoal.net.au

Book Review: Gene Shepherd's 'Prepared To Dye'

I bought this recently and, in spite of my bull-at-a-gate attitude to everything, actually read it (most of it anyway). It is excellent! I had no understanding of the why's and wherefore's of dyeing fabric and have found it very, practically useful immediately. I did have a good section on dyeing in another book, a very old (and wonderful) book, however, Gene Shepherd's 'Prepared To Dye' goes into the middle of things and explains why as well as how.
An excellent book! I will be using methods found there this weekend, to reduce the colour intensity of previous efforts.