Ideas for uplevelling your rug backgrounds
There can be a tendency, particularly when punching rugs I find, for rug makers to fill their backgrounds with a single yarn colour, almost as an afterthought. Of course, sometimes that’s what the design calls for - for instance in my Uncle Ernest’s Farm rug where I wanted the various motifs to take centre stage.
I feel that my strongest rugs are ones where I give the background some attention. In both my Folk Angel rug an my Mystic rug (section shown below), I create movement by using a lighter shade to follow the shape of my designs. The treatment is subtle, but powerful. I think these are, in fact, my best works.
If you’re looking to uplevel your punched and hooked rugs, I suggest not forgetting to design your backgrounds too. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
Switch your yarn
A simple solution to adding more interest in your backgrounds is to use a variegated yarn. I used The Oxford Company’s Violet Jane yarn for the background of my Tree of Life rug which helped break up the large neutral space.
StoryTeller Wool also offers variegated yarns. You can see the effect in Rebecca Martin’s rug here:
Create movement
Melina White of Seal Harbour Rug Co creates movement by using multiple colour values to outline shapes and create a sense of movement and direction.
Less negative space
In this hooked piece by By Connie Archer titled Sanctuary (Rabbit), she has filled the backround with circle motifs and blocks of colour that give a feeling of a flowers and plant life behind the rabbit. Her use of mixed fibres also create depth and dimension.
Fill with a shape
Trina McInnis has developed a signature background that makes her pieces instantly recognizable as hers. She fills many with circle motifs. A good reminder that your sky does not have to look like sky.
Use multiple techniques and fibres
Cheri Whiton has combined fibres and techniques wonderfully in this design. You could extend one idea, or use multiple, to fill a whole background.
Get scrappy
Rug hookers of yore used what they had to create rugs for their homes. Backgrounds were often hit and miss or made of different blocks of colour, which is a great way to use of all those random worms of wool and yarn you have been saving.
Hope those give you a few ideas for your next rug!
