xst over a very open mesh

You started the wheels turning. When a local shop went out of business several years ago, I bought a piece of mesh large enough for a rug, a latch hook tool and several packages of threads.

I like the idea of a rag/scrap rug. I'm at a loss how to work with a really big piece of mesh. I'm not sure if I can even reach the center without folding a side.

Any and all advice would be appreciated.

The 1940s were an age of austerity in the UK. My grandmother made several fire-side rugs using old hessian sacks and old clothes cut into strips.

I did a needlepoint rug - what I used was a put together wood frame I could clip in my stand that was half the width required. That way I only moved the work once for each span.

The unworked canvas I laid on my lap,rolled up. So I worked from one end towards myself, if you can follow that.

I didn't make the frame too large for the working area, figured it would not be able to be supported by the stand, I have a stand that was a local copy of a Lowry. I made the frame from four pieces of light wooden trim about 2 inches wide.

Years ago, I worked on a latch-hooked rug, and I recall that I worked away from me, either rolling up the completed work in my lap, or with it on a table, with the completed work hanging down in from of me, rolling it when it hit the floor, similar to what you would do with a long piece of knitting on a knitting machine. I just found it easier to use the latch hook with it going through the mesh and away from the completed stitched; didn't catch on the already-hooked yarn and fray it. I guess it really is personal preference.

-- Carey in MA

Anne , i am glad i have given you a creative idea ,, My canvas is rather big , and i found that [like others here suggested , rolling up the sides i don`t work with are best , and i cut two length of elastic and bind the rolled `pipe so it does open while i work .. i rolled it under the work and put the rolled part on the table thus the working space is open towards me . Of course the more i work i will have a `full mesh` to roll , which i intend to roll with a piece of cotton [ secure on it with safety pins , so that no cloth or ribbon gets dirty.

If you are into working on mesh , see if you can find the wonderful booklet Scrap Needlework , from the `Fabric Crafts` series , Eaglemoss publications 1997 . It is really an eye opener as to what one can on a big mesh ..

Ps i used some Shoe Laces yesterday ,, just the thing to work with ,,, i also tried beads , i first put them on a very strong embroidery thread than i put then in a `hole` , and embroidered around this hole with blanket stich which covered the canvass , this was my trial for making eyes in my intended work ,,, Since i realy try out new ideas i cut out a piece of the cnavas to use as Trial part ,,,, mirjam

Rolling up instead of folding should've been a no-brainer but it wasn't

If it gets too large you need to work in sections. Years ago my aunt in England did a wonderful Persian type carpet, 9 x 6. She did it in

4 pieces, cut all the wool herself, did a traditional pattern and took about 9 years to do it.

She followed tradition and when friends or animals died in that period, shifted the pattern one out. She worked her initials into the pattern, you need to know where to look.

She sent it off to Liberty's to be stitched together, she didn't feel she could attempt it herself. They loved it and asked if she would like to sell it and offered 400 Guineas, a great deal of money back then, maybe early 60s.

She said no, she had made it for herself. Back it came, beautifully stitched and she put it down on the stone floor in front of the fire where she intended it to go. Labradors, puppies, the odd chicken, assorted cats and kittens all relaxed on it. She just said, 'well I made it to use' lol

I made mine, much less ambitious about 4 ft by 2 1/2 to a personal design done for me by Anna Pearson. She worked it out when I did a weekend course there. Unfortunately although it is finished, I don't much care for it, had really forgotten about it. Think I will take it out and put it down by the window in here and let the cat sun herself on it. She will appreciate it.