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Santa Fe Crossing, 50 x 77, a new Woolley Fox pattern for 2008. Pattern layout adapted from two antique images.

I am so excited about this rug, Santa Fe Crossing. This is really a "Barb Carroll" rug. I have had so much fun choosing the wools and hooking it, I thought maybe some of you would like to follow along as the rug and I journey together. 

I first decided that I would like a "blackish dark" horse. I love all of the dark funny-looking tweeds, so I began my hunt through my stash for WONDERFUL wools that I would love to play with. I chose about 6 or 7 darkish wools and about 6 or 7 lightish wools.

(Click on images to enlarge.)

I hooked the mane first using a neat tweed that has some flecks of color to it. Decided I love that and would keep it only in the mane. 

The eye was next. I hooked the center using a neat red plaid, then one ring of one of my light wools, followed by one ring of a medium wool. The eye now became important without overtaking the horse. Very fun!

Next I started hooking the horse. That was great -- all of the darkish wools became my friends. And that is how I hooked them. Just sat down and played, visiting with "one friend and then another." As I was working on the horse I discovered a GREAT black/brown boucle which of course I had buried long ago, and knew it needed to be part of the horse body. So now my "circle of friends" was complete for the horse, and away I hooked. 

I have not decided yet if the light area on the back of the horse is staying. After I get the center finished I will be able to tell. Right now I like it because of some of the abnormalites of the old rugs, and this seems to fit in.

As I worked I figured out that the "lightish" wools would not work well into the body, soooooooo decided to use them for the hooves and the tail. That was absolutely a wonderful adventure into melting them together. All friends and all play so well together. I was sorry when I finished them; hopefully I will get to play with them again in the border. (No, I do not know yet what I am going to do in the border).

Now to decide the top part of the background behind the horse. I threw lots of wools around him and these funny greens just seemed to call to me. I started adding more wools to have a neat mix to play with in the background.

The trees - BIG FUN. I love the plaid, and then of course the berries needed to be red. So far the rug is "talking to me" and telling me what comes next. And then the wonderful soft plaid to fill in behind the branches and berries. 

The tree on the left is hooked with a very neat "spotted" wool. I wanted it to be a touch different from the others. Happy I am with the trees.

    Okay - so for a while the rug and Barb were not on the same page! I had a devil of a time trying to get the area under the horse right. Too busy, too bright, too dull and killed the horse! I hooked in and pulled out like a wacky woman. Actually still wasn't sure with this one (my fourth try!) that it would work. There are two wools, and as I get more and more in - I am much happier. I love the way it plays off the reds in the trees. The whole rug is still soft and much warmer. Fun when you get it right!