Sprite Stitch Board!

What time is it? NEW CRAFT TIME!



This is a 20x30" rug! It's supposed to look like the shield Link carries in the art for Zelda: Link to the Past and is super plush, like a thick shag carpet. It was made with an old, traditional technique called "rug punching" or "rug hooking"... and I think I might be the first to have this here? Well! It's similar to latch-hook and was developed in New England in the early 19th century as a way to use leftover scraps of yarn/fabric and was the poor woman's alternative to a machine-made carpet.

It's very easy, though a bit time-consuming. You just punch a long strip of fabric or yarn though a stretched piece of cotton or burlap... make a loop on the other side, punch another hole... and another... and another... If you want to learn how, go here: http://www.amyoxford.com/faq.html I also have the chart I made for this, if anyone is interested in using it for another pixel-craft.

I remember seeing this on Deviant Art. It's so awesome!!!!

This looks fantastic I had been thinking of taking up latch hook but this style looks great. How sturdy are the loops? Do they catch and pull easily?

It's so thick that they don't catch easily... but YES, if you pull one they aaaaaall start pulling out.

Ideally you use a cotton backing, then when you're done punching loops you iron it so it shrinks? And locks your stitches in place, but I didn't have too much success with this. The commercial way to do it is to seal the back with latex paint... and you can actually BUY latex, non-skid rug backing paint... stuff? at most craft stores, but it kind of stinks like ammonia when it's wet and because it was February and too cold to do this outside.... I tried fusible interfacing, but that also wasn't too successful... in the endI just used a lot of hot glue to seal the back.

So yes! If you can find a way to seal your back well, this is SO much faster than latch-hooking and you don't have a bajillion cut yarn edges which fray everywhere.

BunnieBard wrote:It's so thick that they don't catch easily... but YES, if you pull one they aaaaaall start pulling out.

Ideally you use a cotton backing, then when you're done punching loops you iron it so it shrinks? And locks your stitches in place, but I didn't have too much success with this. The commercial way to do it is to seal the back with latex paint... and you can actually BUY latex, non-skid rug backing paint... stuff? at most craft stores, but it kind of stinks like ammonia when it's wet and because it was February and too cold to do this outside.... I tried fusible interfacing, but that also wasn't too successful... in the endI just used a lot of hot glue to seal the back.

So yes! If you can find a way to seal your back well, this is SO much faster than latch-hooking and you don't have a bajillion cut yarn edges which fray everywhere.

I love the rug! I really want to make one myself someday!

I was reading the part about the back, but I don't really get it.. I was wondering if you have a picture of the back?