Tribal Foxes Rug – introduction

When I’m scouting around the internet looking for inspiration and vendors, I often find random bits that I wasn’t looking for but like to save for later. One such item was a vintage needlepoint rug I found from Wil Shepherd. This particular one is large at 12.5″ square, more suited to playscale than 1:12 scale. I love the colors and the red critters marching along the edges. Given their color and dog-like shape, I’m going to call them foxes.

He had two other rugs listed. There was a maroon and tan one, and I recognized it as the “Holbein” rug from the booklet Miniature Needlepoint Rugs for Dollhouses by Susan McBaine (might have to stitch this one, too). The other was the same as the modern Navajo rug from the same booklet.

Of course, the one I liked most of the three was not in this booklet or any of the others I thought to look through. I was not to be thwarted, so I charted it myself. If anyone does recognize it, I would love to be able to give credit to the designer.

I’ll work in my usual 32 count on Jobelan, which should give me a rug just under 5″ square when finished.  Perfect for 1:12 scale. I’m thinking full cross-stitch this time around, so it will be a good amount of hours for this one. My fabric piece measured 9″ square, a bit too small for my hoop, so I sewed strips of scrap cotton to the edges.

I have my colors chosen – nice and simple.

While I was drawn to the colors of the original, I wanted a bit more contrast and less yellow in my version. Below is how it looks at 23 hours of work. I am stitching full cross stitch with single thread over 32 count Jobelan.

Once I reached the inner border, I decided to redesign the center. I had never been sold on the busy pattern of tiny crosses and dots in the border, and I liked the foxes so much I added four more in the middle.

I reproduced the dark border and added detailing that mimicked the dashes in the outer border to frame the foxes.

Categories: Needlework - French knot rugs, Watson Mill
December 28, 2015 | 0 comments