Rug Hooking – Learning the Process

Getting started…I started on February 24th, 2011 hooking a rug, which is a week later than the other participants. They started on February 17; however, the third Thursday of the Month is very busy for me as I am attending a Board meeting for the Canadian Community Economic Development Network (cCEDnet), Nordic Economic Development Corporation (RED Board) and co-chaired an Emerging Leaders (EL) conference call. EL is a standing committee of cCEDnet. To find out how you can be involved on an individual or organization basis, you can become a member of this National CED network by visiting http://www.ccednet-rcdec.ca/.

Impressed by the progression of my classmates work, I was a little nervous about getting started. I was given a kit, frame and some printed instructions. The design we are completing is one of Ms. Hilda Pilgrim of Roddickton-Bide Arm. Ms. Gaulton, our instructor got everyone started for the evening and spent a few minutes helping me get started. This included ensuring that the Scottish (loose-weave) burlap was placed snuggly on my frame, secured with tacks. Some of the material was pre-cut. This really eased the getting started process.

My first task was to transfer the flower design using transparent paper and a Sharpie marker. Next I completed the border with the brown pre-cut fabric. Getting started is always fun. I filled the border using green homespun wool. The flower was to be completed next. That material wasa pink hosary or stocking. It was quite difficult to work with, maybe just because it was more challenging than the wool. I had immediately felt the wool was the superior hooking material. I continued to progress.

The four coloured triangles were completed with 1/4 inch t-shirt material. I sarted with the orange and attempted to fill every hole, however the material was a bit larger and created pulled surface. Ms. Gaulton instructed me to skip lines, not filling every hole and to think about cutting my material a little bit smaller. She re-enforced the importance of cutting a tester piece to ensure a smoother hooking process.I completed the border and realized that I needed to cut many strips to fill the outside triangles. Using the cutting tool and mat, I sat cutting all sorts of colours and styles of material to complete the “hit or miss” part of the process.

my rug prior and waiting for Jeopardy to start. I did not let the lack of light stop me, nor would it  have in the past. I found my trusted camping lantern that goes by battery light, emitting quite the ray. I should have opted for the old oil lanterns that would have used seal oil, which sit on a table in the basement. It definitely would have taken me back to a different place in time.