(Bluenose Hooked Rugs pattern, circa 1920, John E. Garrett, Ltd., New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada. Image adapted from an illustration in "Garretts and the Bluenose Rugs of Nova Scotia" by Nanette Ryan and Doreen Wright)
What is traditional rug hooking?
Traditional hooking uses a hand hook, similar in shape to a crochet hook, to form a looped pile from fabric strips or yarn on an even-weave base (such as burlap, monks-cloth, divider cloth, or linen). This technique arose in the North American colonies during the first half of the nineteenth century, and provided a warm floorcovering for the bare floors of pioneer homes that could be created from a discarded feed-sack and scraps of fabric from the rag-bag. It also provided a rare creative outlet for worldly women whose work was truly never done. Today their handwork is revered as folk art - and contemporary rug hookers are creating rugs, chair seats, wall hangings, trivets, Christmas tree ornaments, carpetbags, clothing, jewellery,...
Traditional rug hooking is not latch-hooking (which forms a knotted pile from short pieces of yarn, using a very different hand hook). As a result, I'm afraid that latch-hookers won't find what they need in the FAQ.
The use of punch-needles and speed hooks is also commonly, and correctly, called "rug hooking". The machines used for punch-needle hooking and speed hooking also form rug piles from the running loop stitch, and sometimes these techniques are mentioned in the same reference books and supplied by the same companies as traditional hand hooking. If you are interested in these newer techniques, you may find a starting point in the rug hooking FAQ - but I'm sorry to say that WOOLGATHERINGS won't be for you.
About these pages
The HOOKED! web site is a completely noncommercial resource for enthusiasts of rug hooking. Like hooking rugs, maintaining this site is purely a labour of love! I'm currently undertaking a sweeping update of the contents of the site, so watch this space for new information...
Special thanks to Rug Hooking Magazine for providing web space for this site. HOOKED! maintains editorial independence.
Last modified: 19 February 2000
Page started: March 1995
Deborah Merriam (dmerriam@connect.ab.ca), moderator
As reviewed in Century Home, Canada's Magazine For Traditional And Country Living, October 1997