Eileen Folk - Needlework Designs for Miniature Projects: 64 Charts for Counted Cross-Stitch and Needlepoint

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A rug will add warmth and charm to any miniature setting, and it is an excellent place to begin planning your decorating schemeboth color- and style-wise. Featured here are five rugs sure to fit in with many different decorating styles. Work each rug on size 18 needlepoint canvas, working the design in continental stitch and the background in basketweave stitch. Use a single ply of Persian wool or six strands of embroidery floss. Refer to pages 89 for complete needlepoint instructions.

Fringing a Rug: Trim away excess canvas, leaving three rows of unworked mesh around the edge of the design. Apply diluted glue sparingly to the edges and allow to dry thoroughly; this will prevent the canvas from fraying. Work the fringe over the three rows of unworked canvas in each mesh all around following Diagram 12 . Use a small latch hook and 11 length of yarn. Insert latch hook from bottom to top through innermost mesh of canvas and position length of yarn across hook. Draw yarn through mesh leaving tails on top of canvas. Insert tails through loop. Draw loop tight. Trim edges of fringe evenly when finished.

DIAGRAM 12

Binding a Rug: Trim away excess canvas, leaving two rows of unworked mesh around the straight edges of the design. If the rug is curved or circular, leave three rows around the edge to prevent fraying. Apply glue same as when fringing a rug. Work the binding over the two or three rows of unworked canvas in each mesh all around following Diagram 13 ; use two strands of wool in needle for a raised effect. Do not make knots; end by running excess yarn beneath stitches on back of work.

DIAGRAM 13

Lining a Rug: To give a professional, finished appearance to your miniature rug, line the back with lightweight fabric in a matching color. Cut the fabric to the same size as the finished rug (minus fringe); press the raw edges of the fabric to the wrong side, depending upon how the edge is finished, and sew to the wrong side of the rug with matching sewing thread and a needle; make tiny overcast stitches.

Hooked Rug : The appearance of a hooked rug can be simulated by stitching the entire design on the canvas using French knots. This is a good way to achieve an old-fashioned or antique appearance.

FLORAL HEARTH RUG ( inside front cover )

A EAGLE HEARTH RUG ( inside back cover )

Work the eagle and olive branches first. Before working the background, straight-stitch the talons using two strands of pale gold embroidery floss. Bind the edges of the rug with navy blue.

FLORAL AREA RUG

Bind the long edges and fringe the short edges of the rug with white.

NURSERY RUG ( back cover )

Outline tail and work whiskers in backstitch using two strands of dark brown floss. Work grass in straight stitch using two strands of dark green floss. Work background in white. Fringe the edges of the rug with white.

TREE-OF-LIFE CARPET ( front cover )

For ease in execution, work the geometric border first, then the design. Work the background last. Traditional rugs of this type can also be worked with ivory or brown backgrounds, depending upon the color scheme of your dollhouse. Bind the long edges of the carpet with the background color; fringe the short edges of the carpet with 1 lengths of ecru. Charts for the lower half of the carpet are on pages 1617.

TREE-OF-LIFE CARPET ( front cover )

For ease in execution, work the geometric border first, then the design. Work the background last. Traditional rugs of this type can also be worked with ivory or brown backgrounds, depending upon the color scheme of your dollhouse. Bind the long edges of the carpet with the background color; fringe the short edges of the carpet with 1 lengths of ecru. Charts for the upper half of the carpet are on pages 1415.