A Monochromatic Punched Rug

In 1916 my mother, Mary Louise Goodridge, was seven years old when this photo was taken at a ballet recital; she is the girl shown in the middle of this rug. When I was in my 20s, my mother passed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. I lost my mother and our family home at the same time, but this charming photo came to me when we were packing up the house. I framed it right away and I have enjoyed it for more than forty years. In preparation for a class with Donna Hrkman, I pulled out the photo. Donna agreed to draw three of the girls as a pattern for the class. I am a Certified Oxford Punch Needle Rug Hooking Instructor and I continue to challenge myself to become a better teacher by learning new skills. Reproducing this photo in a monochrome color—eight shades of one color, combining #4-cut wool fabric and bulky rug yarn—was a real stretch