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Super Mario Land latch hook rug

Video game craft projects made with MISC supplies...
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the_antithesis
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Super Mario Land latch hook rug

Post by the_antithesis »

Hello. New chap here. I recently completed the following project.

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Original.

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Completed rug with a twelve inch ruler beside to to show scale.

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Close up of detail.

(Sorry for the photo quality but the camera on the 3DS is terrible)

I started this project because I'd decided that I like the look of old video games, mostly pre-1983, with their bright colors, simple shapes and stark black background. I found a latch hook rug disappointing because the appeal of pixel art is the clean, precise shapes and latch hook rugs are not either. I wound up doing a Gameboy screen because the resolution is the smallest. Gameboy had smaller resolution than an Atari 2600. Also, having only four colors would be easier, even though they were all green. My original idea was to recreate a Pac-Man screen shot but that would be a massive rug that would be twice as tall and slightly wider than this one and the canvas I purchased would not be wide enough. But the manufacturer does sell the canvas in ten yard rolls. But I wanted to finish a simpler project before making that kind of investment.

I did learn a thing or two about latch hook ruggery, though. Such as how you shouldn't hook to the twisted strands of the mesh, like I did in that rug, or that if you don't finish the rug by folding over the edges and hooking through two layers, you will need binding and if you buy stitch on binding instead of iron-on binding, you will have no one to blame but yourself. Actually, you can finish the edges other ways that will put a nice boarder around the rug, which I wish I had done. That image needs a boarder.

I've been thinking of doing string art instead in future projects. I could build a case around the art that mimics the arcade cabinet and using lights to illuminate it. But I'll have to experiment with that a bit before I decide. And I also have quite a bit of leftover canvas and yarn to get rid of, so I may have to tackle another project just to tidy up.

I'm thinking of this one.

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I think title screens may work better in rug form and Yars' Revenge is favorite. Incidentally, the Gameboy Color had the same resolution as the original, only not in black & white or green and darker green as the case may be. Should I finish it, I may keep that one. I don't think I want to keep the Mario one and may see if it goes of Ebay.

So, this is what I've been doing in my spare time for the last two months.

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blackmageheart
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Re: Super Mario Land latch hook rug

Post by blackmageheart »

What a badass rug. I so want to get into latch hooking, just to make badass rugs like this (but not like this, if you get what I mean :grin: )
the_antithesis wrote:I think title screens may work better in rug form
I can think of quite a few title screens that I'd turn into rugs :D

If you do go ahead with Yars' Revenge, please post pics as you go - I'd love to see the process!
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katdun
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Re: Super Mario Land latch hook rug

Post by katdun »

Yay, someone else that latch hooks! Love it! I actually did a Pacman rug for last year's big swap (pic is here: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5173&start=580#p47240 ). It took quite a bit of work to get the pattern squashed down to a reasonable size, but it's do-able. I still have that pattern if you're interested. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with next! :wiz
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Truut
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Re: Super Mario Land latch hook rug

Post by Truut »

That. Is awesome! I'd be too afraid to walk on it :P
WIPs:
Super Mario World Map: 25ish %?
Super Mario Mini Maps: Yoshi= restart. . .oy

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the_antithesis
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Re: Super Mario Land latch hook rug

Post by the_antithesis »

Truut wrote:That. Is awesome! I'd be too afraid to walk on it :P
It's quite luxurious because I used 5 mesh canvas. I didn't know they made 5 mesh, but I saw it in the store and figured the smaller grid would allow for greater detail. (Latch hook rugs are usually 3.75 mesh. The number refers to the number of squares per inch) So it's a very tight fit, but a standard hook work alright. Main problem I had was the hook would snag the yarn and unravel a strand I'd need to twist back up again. But that could be just that I'm way out of practice as I really hadn't latch hooked since around 1980. My mother had gotten a rug kit and I helped a bit. I did do a small kit to get into the swing of things which I'd made into a pillow. I don't have pics of that and have already given that away, but it wasn't video game related.

My sister was impressed with my stitching until I pointed out that latch rook rugs have a grid and that's why the stitches are so evenly spaced.

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Truut
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Re: Super Mario Land latch hook rug

Post by Truut »

the_antithesis wrote: My sister was impressed with my stitching until I pointed out that latch rook rugs have a grid and that's why the stitches are so evenly spaced.
shhhh you gave away the secret. just kidding.
the_antithesis wrote: But that could be just that I'm way out of practice as I really hadn't latch hooked since around 1980.
luckily crafts are like bike riding. yeah, you forget how to speed down the road without holding on to the handlebars, but you remember the gist of it. on the rare occasion I knit something I always have to look up a video on finishing.

i remember my mom doing several latch kits when she was going through chemo (one of a kitten is still unfinished. somewhere.) and I would always wonder how on earth she got the yarn to stay on the mat. I got as far as sticking the hook through a square and looking bemused. I was four at the time though. . .that is awesome that the cloth comes in different counts. I take it the hooks come in different sizes as well?

as for the string art you are interested in doing; is there any subject in particular you have in mind to tackle?
WIPs:
Super Mario World Map: 25ish %?
Super Mario Mini Maps: Yoshi= restart. . .oy

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the_antithesis
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Re: Super Mario Land latch hook rug

Post by the_antithesis »

Truut wrote:. . .that is awesome that the cloth comes in different counts. I take it the hooks come in different sizes as well?
There may be variation by manufacturer, but there isn't a hook secifically designed for 5 mesh or anything like that. I used a standard hook and it worked fine.
as for the string art you are interested in doing; is there any subject in particular you have in mind to tackle?
Nothing in particular.

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Actually, I have several weird ideas concerning string art and old video games. I'd like to experiment a bit to see if they're worth pursuing. I was thinking of using black light, but then the colors would be off. So then I found out about side glow fiber optics and EL wire, which is close to just making an electronic screen. Which seems neat, but kind of takes away the low tech aspect of making crafts.

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CraftySasha
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Re: Super Mario Land latch hook rug

Post by CraftySasha »

I love seeing more latch hook! I made a huge Mario one, myself, too.

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3692&hilit=latch+hook

I like the game boy grey look of this one. I think it's neat. I love the fluffiness of latch hook projects. I don't think I would ever be able to use them as an actual rug, though. I wouldn't want to mess up all that awesome work!
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starrley
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Re: Super Mario Land latch hook rug

Post by starrley »

I really love your Super Mario Land rug. Is there any way that you could get a better pic of it? I'd love to post it on the main blog! :)
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wilson1980
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Re: Super Mario Land latch hook rug

Post by wilson1980 »

Looks awesome....keep up the good work.
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