Resources
INSPIRATION
Search all of the articles and patterns in Rug Hooking Magazine from its beginning in 1989. Contents can be searched and sorted by name, title, pattern, year and issue, as well as by selected categories of interest. A separate subject index is also available (see below). Developed by Jane Thacker (librarian) and Norma Elliott (webmaster) of Ottawa Olde Forge Rug Hooking.
This index groups the instructional articles in Rug Hooking Magazine together by subject, making it easy to find all of the information on a specific topic (e.g.: chair pads; finishing; leaves; paisleys; repairing rugs, etc.). There’s no need to go issue by issue to find what may be helpful if you have a particular interest or need some guidance. Articles on dyeing are covered in a separate list (see below). Prepared by Jane Thacker, librarian for Ottawa Olde Forge Rug Hooking.
A list all of the articles about dye techniques, dye tools and dye recipes published in Rug Hooking Magazine since its beginning in 1989. Compiled by Jane Thacker, librarian for Ottawa Olde Forge Rug Hooking.
A list of the contents of Rug Hooker News & Views magazine from its first issue (November/December 1972) to its last (March/April 1989). RHNV was the precursor to Rug Hooking Magazine. Provided by Jane Thacker, librarian for Ottawa Olde Forge Rug Hooking.
Check out their image gallery and especially look for The Ark.
Hooked Rug and Homelife Museum (Chéticamp, N.S.)
Check out the virtual tour and get inspired.
PREPARING TO HOOK
An instructional page from a rug hooker along with other hooking-related information and products.
Cindi Gay discusses how much wool you need for a given rug size. And lots of other questions answered.
You may have acquired an image (jpg) of something you would like to hook but want to make sure you are not violating any copyright laws by doing so. You should first establish the owner of an image. One way to do this is to use Google Image search feature.
As an alternative to linen and burlap, Verel is useful for many types of hooking.
The Wool Genie, a genius rug hooker, shared in the Wooly Mason Jar Facebook group, a method she devised for transferring a design to a backing. The first of us in our group to experiment with this method has written up the process for you to download here.
Why it’s important to wash your wool before it goes into a rug…and tips on washing.
A Pinterest site covering a multitude of rug hooking topics. You could spend all day here.
Rug hooking can be murder on the hands. Taking frequent breaks and doing regular hand exercises as shown on this poster can help prevent and alleviate damage and associated pain. Courtesy of Wisconsin comic artist & illustrator Kaitlin Bruder (@bruderkaitlin) https://www.bruderkaitlin.com
HOOKING
Our very own Pat Bonn shows you all the steps, materials and basic techniques needed to make a hooked rug. Pat is an OHCG certified Traditional Rug Hooking teacher. With Nora Lee holding the camera, Pat made this video as part of a presentation given by her and Nora about the commemorative rug that Ottawa Olde Forge Rug Hooking group made for the Ottawa Olde Forge Community Resource Centre’s 40th Anniversary in 2020. The presentation was given online in October 2022 to members of a recreational program at the centre. A video of the slide show that was given about the making of the commemorative rug will be shared on this site as well, once it is made.
Descriptions of monks cloth, rug warp, and the various types of linen.
At our November 2018 meetings we had wonderful discussions about hooking water and it was wonderful to see the examples that people brought in. Hopefully we can get pictures of these pieces. In the meantime, here is some of the wisdom shared.
Sleeve bowls for your worms
You do not have to buy special bowls/containers to hold your hooking worms. In Guatemala the artists source their materials from thrift stores. They cut off the sleeve of a shirt, tie a knot in one end and voila, you have a ready made bowl. BTW the thrift stores in Guatemala carry the leftovers/castoffs from thrift stores in North America.
In rug hooking, what to do with ends that come together in one row: how to hide them or leave them up. Susan Elcox of New World Rug Hooking demonstrates.
FINISHING
Helpful information on various finishing techniques from Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild in Vermont, USA.
“Most rug hookers like to label their rugs, for good reason. There’s great benefit to keeping track of the name of the pattern, when it was hooked, the name of the teacher who helped them, and a wide variety of other information.” — Ania, of AniaCreativeDesigns
PUNCH NEEDLE HOOKING
Amy Oxford’s series of punch hooking tutorials that will take you from start to finish. Currently over 20 videos, with more to come. Bookmark this site and get started.
A great tip from one of our members. Thanks, Sherri.
COPYRIGHT / SELLING YOUR WORK
NOTE: In December 2023 the term of copyright protection in Canada was extended by 20 years. This means that works protected by copyright, such as artistic works and photographs, are now protected by copyright for the life of the author/creator plus 70 years. However, any work that entered the public domain before 30 December 2022 (under the former 50 year term of copyright protection) will remain in the public domain.
While this is directed specifically to polymer clay artists, there is much valuable information in this graphic that can be applied to rug hooking.
Here’s an interesting set of flowcharts that illustrate the terms of Canadian copyright law by type of work, prepared by the University of Alberta’s Copyright Office. Follow the path under the flowcharts for artistic works and for photographs to determine whether or not an image you want to use for a rug hooking is in the public domain and can be used without the express permission of its creator.
If you find yourself tempted to copy an image for your next rug, you need to ask yourself a few questions.
A valuable resource for anyone wanting to sell their work.
CARING FOR HOOKED PIECES
Tips on taking care of hand-hooked rugs.
Info on using the age-old technique of cleaning hooked rugs with snow.
INSPIRATIONAL ARTISTS
An inspirational artists without a doubt. Her irregular shaped hooked rugs break all the rules. Check out her many gallery sections. So many ideas to get creative juices flowing.
You don’t have to know anything about the Tarot to understand and love what these artists have brought to their interpretations of Tarot cards.
Lizan Freijsen is inspired by fungi and mold to create beautiful textiles using a unique process that combines color and form with the time-consuming craft of hand tufting.
MISCELLANEOUS GEMS
The story of how a 3m long hooked wall hanging came to be. With photos.
Briggs & Little survives by keeping its yarn and its business old school, natural and on a small scale. (Short article and CBC podcast)