18x8" Judy Jewett's version (hooked and adapted by Judy) of Diana O'Brien's prototype for a Welcome Mat design. 2020. This was done in a 6-cut with wool from her stash.

Group Project:  Welcome!
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​deadline is an as-yet undetermined time in 2021

NOTE:  You do not have to be a member of ATHA or of our chapter to participate.  You can even invite your friends!  Photo of a few samples--scroll down this page.
The idea is that we will all begin with the same pattern, but can choose to hook it any way/style/method/color.

​Here are examples of Welcome Mats that have been hooked thus far:

18x8". Adapted and hooked by Kathleen Harwood from a Diana O'Brien prototype. Completed in 2020. She says: "I literally went to the blue scrap bag & pulled out a handful—somehow they always seem to work together. And then just forged ahead with one of my usual geometric doodlings."

Approximately 18x12". Here's an oval version of the Welcome Mat (one of the possible patterns), designed and hooked by Phyllis Lawrence from the Diana O'Brien prototype design. 2020. Phyllis says: "[This is a portrait of} Jim and I... [metaphorically au naturel] welcoming you in humor into our homestead!...There is always some symbolism...birds that can sing and fly with their nest (we built our homestead ourselves- like a nest...stick by stick!) bearing three eggs for the three children I gave birth to. And then, I saw these little rubber feet (hands too--I suppose finger puppets) in a bin for a few cents each while visiting my Seattle son...and couldn't resist--they crack me up and I am a total sucker for such silliness!"

18"x24" (Larger than the prototype) Adapted and hooked by Lynda Faye from Diana O'Brien's prototype design. 2020. This is an example of how someone has expanded the original idea. Lynda says: "My welcome mat was created as a statement to welcome all, using the gay pride flag as the motif and the colorful border with circles to represent so many of us in different configurations yet bound together as a whole. The lettering is black and white beading repeating the black and white of the border." She used a #4 cut.

18x8", Adapted by D. Ryder from Diana O'Brien's prototype. Completed in 2020. She says: "Note that this Welcome Mat was PUNCHED with hand-dyed fingering weight yarns using an Ultra-Punch needle. I sewed some wonderful patterned wooden buttons on it after it was done."

18x8". Adapted and hooked by Christina Sackett from Diana O'Brien's design prototype, completed late in 2019.

The rug above comes with a sweet story.  Chris tells us she did it in an 8-cut right after she got the pattern from Diana O'Brien at our Shelburne Hook-In during the autumn of 2019, and finished it almost immediately.  She used wool from Diana's studio/shop.  She adds:  "I then  gave the finished welcome mat to my daughter Jane for her entry, and she placed it on a cute blue bench the girls put their mittens and hats on, etc near the door.  It is a bit tattered now, but they like it."

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18x8", adapted by D. Ryder from Diana O'Brien's prototype; 2020. She says: I had been looking at and worshipping the famous Gees Bend quilt designs when I hooked this mat, and my design reflects that. #8 cut wool."

Each of these was designed & hooked by Diana O'Brien. To give an idea of size: The rectangular versions at the bottom are only 8x18 INCHES. This is a quick, easy project.

So...where is YOUR version of this Welcome Mat?  
See below for how to participate.
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Instructions for Participation

• Note the compact size.  The rectangular mats are only 18” by 8”.  Think “slightly larger than a car’s license plate.”  (The oval versions are approximately 18” x 12”)   We’re asking you to hook one of these small Projects—they will work up so fast that you could finish one in an afternoon.  (Some may choose to make more than one). 
• You may tailor/adapt your version to any color or design, change the font to one you prefer, even change the size, within certain limits.  (Diana O'Brien will be selling the patterns above—you can then make your own changes if desired)
• If you wish, you may choose to enlarge your Project to any size up to two feet by three feet. However, 
  • keep your finished piece to any size between 2’x3’ (largest allowed) and 18”x 8” (smallest allowed).  Remember, just doing that basic small sized pattern, as is, is fine.
• Let your imagination run wild.  Add a floral or geometric or any other design; alter your font to gothic or ultra-modern; pick the dullest or wildest colors you wish; or put the basic design in the center and add a huge border (any size up to but not larger than two feet by three feet when completed) of pictures or words—or both.  Make it a scrappy rug to use up your extra worms, or make it very formal.  It’s up to you.
• Ruglets can be traditionally hooked, or punched, hooked and punched in combination, or even mixed media.

• So choose one (or more!) of the patterns and then feel free to alter it to suit your fancy. 
• Completed projects will eventually be displayed at an in-person hook-in (once we can meet in person), so you have time to finish.  Pieces will also be photographed and there will be a write-up about the Project for ATHA magazine.

 
 Patterns are available on Monks Cloth, Linen, or Rug Warp. 
Email Diana O’Brien at [email protected] to arrange to get yours, and join us.