Note:
Olde Forge in-person meetings and activities continue to be on hold indefinitely due to Covid‑19.
In the meantime we’re delighted to advise that we have a few upcoming virtual workshops now posted that may be of interest. Also, for links to other virtual events, including lessons, hook-ins and more, check out Virtual Hooking Inspirations.
You may want to check out our hooking-related resources and links — they may be helpful regardless of where you’re located.
We hope you enjoy the site and wish you all some very happy hooking.
If you are already a member of Ottawa Olde Forge Rug Hooking, join other members at our Facebook group to discuss hooking, show us what you’re working on, ooh and ahh over work others share.
If you’re worried about security, provide only as much info as you need to create a Facebook account — your name, an email (create a gmail or other email account that you use just for Facebook). No need to give any other personal information.
Continue to stay safe and keep on hooking!
Welcome to Ottawa Olde Forge Rug Hooking
Here you can find out about our activities and meeting dates. If you’re in the nation’s capital please visit during a meeting, take part in a workshop or attend one of our events.
As well, you may want to check out the hooking-related resources and links – they may be helpful regardless of where you’re located.
We hope you enjoy the site and wish you all some very happy hooking.
Note: City of Ottawa has closed most of its facilities, including Maki House, until April 5. All Olde Forge meetings are cancelled until further notice and we will be rescheduling the Canadian Mola workshop with Loretta Moore.
Sadly, our Hook-in is now also cancelled!
Workshops
& other events
Information about our workshops so others, beyond Olde Forge, can know more about what we’re up to, and join us when there’s room.
We are a rug hooking group based in Ottawa, Ontario with members from across the Ottawa Valley and into Western Quebec.
Members are optionally individually affiliated with the Ontario Hooking Craft Guild(OHCG) and Ottawa Olde Forge is recognized as an OHCG branch within Area 1. OHCG provides a connection to rug hooking throughout the province of Ontario and Western Quebec.
Our 90+ Olde Forge members hook in a wide range of styles using a variety of backings. They also incorporate other fibre arts — for example, felting and embroidery — into their pieces.
Every year — except in 2018 when we cohosted the OHCG Annual, and in 2020 due to Covid-19 — Ottawa Olde Forge Rug Hooking hosts a hook-in. The event attracts rug hookers and needle punchers from across the OHCG Area 1 region, and beyond. All are welcome to register.
Olde Forge membership runs from Sept 1-Aug 31 annually. Fees are currently $20 and collected in the fall when we reconvene after a summer break.
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Three in-person meetings (when things resume) a month: two Thursdays and one Saturday. We break for summer – there are no meetings in July and August, and only one in June.
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Access to an extensive and well-catalogued rug hooking and punch needle library. In addition to a wide range of books, holdings include issues of Rug Hooking Magazine since its beginning, swatches to help you choose colours for wool dyeing, and more.
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Access to three cutters: one is available during in-person meetings only; two others are on loan for up to one month
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Use of an art projector to enlarge designs
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A variety of workshops, currently via Zoom, and, in future, we plan to offer a mix of in-person and virtual classes. To see what’s currently scheduled, see the workshops page. We list workshops publicly as we fill any vacancies from ‘outside’, after Olde Forge members have had the opportunity to register. This gives us the opportunity to facilitate more workshops.
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Events such as our annual hook-in, complete with several vendors and approximately 100 members and guests from around the region
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An annual ‘garage sale’ that features donated items from people no longer hooking as well as members who are making room in their stash. It’s a great way to add to yours!
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Best of all, the camaraderie, shared passion, wisdom and encouragement of a talented group of rug hookers and needle punchers. The show and tell at each meeting is always inspiring and tips, tricks and learning are always there for the taking.
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Finally, and available to everyone, are the extensive resources and sources of inspiration on our website. There you’ll find a searchable index of Rug Hooking Magazine articles and patterns, thanks to the brilliant work of our librarian and our webmaster – and much, much more. Enjoy!
Location:
Maki House Community Centre
19 Leeming Drive
Ottawa, ON K2H 5P6
Crystal Beach area
Times:
1st Saturday of each month : 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month : 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Meeting dates are subject to change due to statutory holidays, including Labour Day, Thankgiving and Easter. See the meeting schedule below for exact dates each year.
Business meetings are held at the Saturday and 1st Thursday meetings of each month. Tea and coffee are supplied, so bring your lunch, your mug, your hooking, and join in the fun!
When in-person meetings resume,
the schedule will be posted here.