(such a) Fickle Stitcher

Years ago, perhaps even before my sons were born, my FIL gave me a punchneedle kit for Christmas. I think he bought it at a kiosk in the mall. I was gracious, but not interested and put it away. I thought I had given it to my DSD, but she doesn’t remember it. Anyway . . .

When I went to The P is for Primitive (Canton) last fall for a rughooking class, I saw lots of cute little punchneedle items; also when I was in the stitching shops in Asheville (NC) there were lots of PN kits. So, it really wasn’t surprising that when we had a bit of our TVR education grant left over from Rhonda’s embellishment & Barbara’s crewel workshops, punchneedle was a choice that fit the bill — literally!

Last Saturday our EGA chapter got together at our regular meeting place, the Flowood library, not on our regular chapter meeting day and Rissa got us started, and once we all got going, she spent the afternoon giving us hints and technique tricks.  We all had a loverly day chatting and laughing and learning something new!

Tonight, I finished my “practice” piece. It was to have been only the three leaves on the blue background . . . but, . . . DH piped up with, “It’s poison ivy!” After he left the room, I decided I would add the white berries to make it so and surprise him.

I’ve placed an order with PunchneedleMarketplace.com for additional needles in all the other available sizes, and can’t wait to start another design.

Just goes to show, well, two things actually:

Everything old is new again and again.

Never dismiss a technique out of hand; you might just be missing out on a joyful experience.

On a lark, I returned to Jackson this weekend to attend a class on rughooking with Rissa & Lisa. We went to P is for Primitive in Canton, MS, and were taught the basics by one of the owners, Lisanne Miller. Lisanne is a lovely woman, and a joy with whom to take a class.

Tomorrow, I’ll post photos of my class piece, but this tonight I want to share some photos of something I found when we sorted through my mom’s things.  At the time, and since, I was not sure exactly what it was… now, I’m pretty sure I know now that it is punch hook for making rugs. I know that we have a laprobe (for cars before heaters) that she had hooked… want to locate that pronto!

The label which identifies the item is mostly torn away (but the Good Housekeeping Seal is intact).

The two pieces slide back and forth via the slot in the lower portion. The “needle” is mounted to the upper portion.

There is also a smaller width set of parts. (Those are, I guess, celluloid double-pointed knitting needles.)

Look closely at the left side of the box. My grandmother cut a notch so the unit fit the box.

I would love additional information about this punch, so please leave comments if you know more.  (A kind commenter sent me a PDF of an instruction sheet. I’ve uploaded it for all those who keep asking me for it… here.)

 ETA (9:54pm — when I need to be working on my mid-term!!):  this item is a “Tru-Gyde” shuttle hook, and was made by the Wilson Brothers, Springfield, MO. I found mention of an advertisement in the February 1949 issue of Better Homes & Gardens for a book–for 25 cents!–containing information about making the 20 rugs illustrated in the book. (Copies on eBay and used book stores are 100 times that! LOL)  Too bad our library microformat only goes back to 1960; I’d love to see it.