Tag Archives: yarn

January 12, 2014 · 3:03 am

What do I do with my Scraps?

Hi!  I have a lot of fabric! And I really mean A LOT! So what do I do with my fabric scraps? I LOCKER HOOK my scraps into functional and awesome things that I can use or give as gifts 🙂  I also crochet with my scraps (that’s another subject).

What in the world is LOCKER HOOKING, you say?

It is a long forgotten art, an “old rug hooking technique” thought to have originated in England in the early 1900’s.  There’s very little documented history about it. Locker hooking uses a locker hook, which looks like a 6.5 inch long steel metal crochet hook with a LARGE needle ‘eye’ on the other end (to thread the yarn through).  Also used, is latch hook rug canvas, yarn, and fabric strips (or thick yarn or wool roving).

A locker hook

Locker Hook

Inserting Locker Hook into Square

Inserting Locker Hook into First Square

The locker hook needle ‘eye’ is threaded with yarn and from the top of the canvas the hook is pushed through a square (with one hand), and from below the canvas a fabric strip is wrapped around the hook part (with other hand) and pulled back up through the same square to the top of the canvas again, making a fabric loop.  Keeping the loop on your locker hook, you continue to pull up fabric loops until you have about 10 loops on the locker hook.  Then...the locker hook and yarn are pulled through ALL the loops, thus  “locking the loops in place”.…. And that is it!

 What do you use the scraps for, you say? 

Well, you can locker hook all kinds of awesome things like rugs, wall hangings, blankets, clothing, baskets, bags & purses, pillows, lots of home decor, personal accessories, and much more!  Anything your imagination can dream of!  In 1999, I wrote and self-published a book entitled, Locker Hooking With Fabric Strips, which has tons of examples and ideas, along with teaching you how to locker hook.  Right now I’m updating the book and one of my 2014 goals is to get it out there as an ebook THIS YEAR!

Locker Hooking With Fabric Strips Book

Locker Hooking With Fabric Strips Book

Where are my scraps, you say? 

Let me show you a few out of the book that are very easy to do, have instructions, and you can do them too!

Locker Hooked Patchwork Quilt Block Rug

Locker Hooked Patchwork Quilt Block Rug

Locker Hooked Frame

Locker Hooked Frame

Locker Hooked Rag Rug

Locker Hooked Rag Rug

More locker hooking to come 🙂  In the mean time, available is my Beginning Locker Hooking Kit with an instructional booklet, canvas, steel locker hook, steel tapestry needle, and “Mug Rug” Pattern.  All you need is the yarn and fabric!  Oh, and you can purchase just the book if you want 🙂  For more information and shopping go to my website www.lockerhooking.com  🙂

♥ Donna

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April 3, 2013 · 4:17 am

Finally Friday Paint & Stitch

Hi!  We just recently wrapped up our Finally Friday Paint & Stitch Get-togethers!  Jake and I have been hosting these gatherings all winter long and now will take a summer break and come back in October.  Every month, on the 2nd & 4th Friday evenings, people from the community who share common painting & stitching interests gathered at the Arctic Rose Gallery & Art Center, downtown 5th Ave, Anchorage, Alaska.  It’s a beautiful Art Gallery and so cozy in the back where we meet.  Thank you Jana for letting us get together there!  So Jake’s (Kurt) the painter and I”m the stitcher.

Our First Gathering

Our First Gathering

It’s been a lot of hard work but soooo much fun and rewarding!  Almost every gathering we’ve had different people come and join us along with a small core group that formed.  We also have a potluck and that has been really nice because we start at 6pm and many come straight from work and we all share our goodies together while unwinding from the hectic week.  We all share our talents too and I’ve learned so much and made friends.

Jan Instructing

I saw painters who started as beginners become experienced and awesome painters!  I saw crocheters who began to knit!  I saw friendships develop and blossom!  I’ve known some of the people for a long time but got to know them better.  The buzz was always “what are we going to bring to eat and work on this week?”  I saw the excitement each time we all came together, excited to share and learn.  I have a hard time around people (I fake it pretty good) but everyone made each other comfortable and was accepting of each other.   Even though we were all different ages, we were like one big family!  It was so wonderful to experience that! I love each one of them.

11-23-2012 Beautiful Paintings   Joni and BlueHands

We even shared things that we made, like I bought a beautiful pair of earrings from Cathe!  And Nicole brought handmade felted soap!  Jan and Joni bought some of Jake’s paintings and Angie showed her cute crocheted baby onesie & hat sets along with her Angry Bird hats she sold at Christmas.  We all watched Sarah work on her darling crocheted mushroom until she completed it.  Funny, I never did really complete anything because I always got side tracked looking at everyone else’s projects:)

Angie and Nija Turtles                Sarah

The last Friday the stitchers convinced me to show them how to locker hook and before I knew it I had a FULL class!  I honestly wasn’t prepared for a class….thought it was just going to be a demo!  But everyone, having stitching experience whether it was knitting, crochet, tatting, felting, weaving, embroidery, jewelry, sewing, and etc. all caught on fast.  It was a great class and I am so proud of them:)

locker hooking gathering

I know we are going to miss our Friday gatherings but it always seems that when spring & summer come we all are out doing other things.  In Alaska we take advantage of the good weather!  But we will all come together again in October and share more projects, fun, food, laughter, and friendships.   Hope everyone has a great summer and Jake and I can’t wait to see you in October!

Jake Painting

♥Donna

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August 23, 2010 · 11:57 pm

Christmas In August

Hi!  Did you know Alaskans celebrate Christmas in July?  JoAnn Fabrics always has a big fabric sale on their Christmas fabric in July and a furniture store gives great prices at their “Christmas in July” sale.  I get flyers through the mail and I see advertisements on the TV.  I never have really understood why?  But the craft stores now have Halloween and Christmas items on their shelves (already!).  When I was in retail business I remember I’d have to start thinking about what I’m going to buy for the store for next Christmas, like right after THAT Christmas (or earlier).  Company reps would come up that winter or early spring to take Christmas orders and if you didn’t have orders in by summer, you were sunk.  I’m glad to be out of that life!

So……….I’m celebrating Christmas in August because  I recently posted some of my “Big Holiday Stockings” on my Etsy shop.  It felt weird taking photos outside and no snow yet, but it was so much FUN! I put a few tree branches in the tops of the stockings and hung them from a tree (a great suggestion from a friend & locker hooker).   I will be making more big stockings and I’ll get some photos in the snow.  We get snow in October and sometimes in September.

It all started when I drew one of my daughter’s names for a Christmas gift.  She had recently moved into a new apartment and I wanted to make her something special.  So I crocheted her own stocking with lots of colors and pretty yarns.  I even crocheted beads into the toe.  I had so much fun making it and used up some of my yarn remnants!  Jake was thrilled saying, “don’t stop now, what a great way to get rid of ALL your yarn!!”  OK, I do have way too much yarn, way too much!

Here are some of my Big Holiday Stockings!  I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas!  Thanks!

Donna

One of my "holiday stockings"

Fun with fun fur

Christmas stocking

Had fun with some novelty yarn

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August 1, 2010 · 5:34 am

A Warm Welcome!!

I want to welcome you to my new blog!

My name is Donna Jacobson, an author, teacher, crocheter, and avid crafter from Anchorage, Alaska.  In 1999, I started my business called Alaska Locker Hooking Etc., when I wrote and self-published the first locker hooking book written on fabric entitled, “Locker Hooking With Fabric Strips”.

I know you’re thinking, “WHAT in the world is locker hooking??”

Well, it’s an old rug hooking technique that started around the early 1900’s in Great Britain.  Using fabric strips (or thick yarn or roving), latch hook canvas, a locker hook (which is a 6.5″ long crochet hook and the other end has a large needle ‘eye’), and strong yarn (which is threaded through the ‘eye”), you can make beautiful and sturdy rugs, wall hangings, clothing, belts, blankets, pet beds, lots of kitchen items, frames, purses, baskets, and tons of home decor and accessories.  Things that you can actually use and wear!  It’s really easy, quick, inexpensive, portable, and just plain fun!

A locker hook

A steel locker hook used in "locker hooking"

It’s really great for those who love fabric and yarn and a great way to use up those scraps!

No….it’s not latch hooking.  It’s just different!

I have soooo much to share with you!

Donna

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