It is just a week until I leave for Kenya and the sunbird trivet is close to done. This will be an example of the kind of hooking we can achieve. I wanted to know how many pairs of nylons were needed for the background because I hope to make up kits for starting out. We can feature some of the amazing birds and plants of the area. This is just a small trivet, 10″ x 8.5″, and I have used two pairs of hose for the background, every part, top, waistband and legs. There are several advantages of hooking with nylons: the vibrant colours, the light weight for packing and travel and the washability of the final product.
The trivet is terrific, with great colours. Good idea to suggest your students can work with the birds and plants around them and they’ll be creating something useful, too. I will look forward to seeing the pieces that your students produce. I’m just getting back to a project with nylons (after a couple of years’ delay!), so your piece is providing me with some inspiration, as well.
jill in Ontario
Thanks, Jill. Great to hear from you. I am hoping to get a second trivet done, or at least well on its way before I leave next week. I’m really enjoying working with the nylons. I cut the strips a little on the wide side and I like the texture it gives.
I also posted the pictures of the sunbird on Face Book and it is wonderful to hear the comments from the people I know in Matangwe. Face Book seems to be their preferred way of communicating. They get it on their phones of course.
Anyway–thanks again. I’ll be posting from Matangwe soon.
Love your bird. What kind of nylons do you use? Pantyhose or individual stockings? I know you dye them but what were they to start–skin tone? White? Another color? Were they thin see through or thick opaques? Were they new or do you find them used? I love the effect you have achieved and was curious about the materials used.
Thanks,
Karen
Hi Karen,
Thanks for your positive comments about the sunbird. I really enjoyed hooking it and hope it inspires the rug hookers in Kenya.
The nylons are white panty hose. I bought them new from another hooker years ago. They are a variety, see through, opaque, shiny, flat. That is how you get such variation when you dye. Each part of the panty hose takes the dye differently.
When I get home from Kenya, I am going to search out more hose and will let you know what I come up with.
Christine
Haven’t spoken for a long time but I wanted to wish you safe travels. Hope to be in touch when you return
Cheers my friend
Shelley
Hi Shelley
So great to hear from you again. It’s been a long time. And thank you for your good wishes.
I hope that I can connect my ipad to Safaricom in Kenya as I did last year and stay in touch while I am away.
G and I are planning for Hooked in the Mountains next October. Maybe you will be there?
c