Made in the Shade

For many rug hookers, using a #3-cut strip of wool for fine shading is an act of courage, even though the realism achieved with such detail is appealing. A few years ago, while considering what to teach in a one-day class for my local rug hooking group, I decided to explore floral studies—simple one-flower patterns taken from photographs of my own garden, using dip- and casserole-dyed wools and a technique I call “key indicators” to achieve the maximum realism possible. These would be hooked on ultrafine linen, which has 16 x 16 threads per square inch instead of the standard 14 x 14. Throated flowers—morning glories, daylilies, trumpet vines—seemed a good place to start.