Intro to Rug Hooking

Rug Hooking was known as the “craft of the poor”. Hooked Rugs were made by those who could not afford machine made carpets, using feed sacks as backing and scraps of fabric and worn clothing as hooking materials. This technique is a wonderful way to up-cycle old materials and fabric into floor mats and bags.

Students will begin by completing a small project (Sunflower) which will enable them to learn the basics of Rug Hooking and Proddy Hook. This should be finished in class and ready to take home. Student can then design and mark up their own design/piece ready to begin hooking.

Skills you’ll learn :

• How to prepare and mark up fabric ready to Rug Hook
• How to Rug Hook and Proddy Hook.
• How to finish off your work.

Date: Tuesday January 22, 2019

Time: 10am to 4pm

Class fee: $145

Materials fee: $35

This fee covers:

• Beginners Rug Hook
• Backing Fabric
• Sunflower Kit

What to bring:

• Pen/pencil note pad
• Permanent marker
• Small Quilting hoop/frame, tapestry frame or Clipsal frame. This is just a frame to hold your work taut.
• Scrap fabric in case your foundation cloth needs extending to fit into your frame.
• Rotary Cutter, Ruler and Mat Sharp dressmaker’s scissors
• Old Cotton T-Shirts in a variety of colours, wool fabric (needs to washed and felt in washing machine), knitting yarns. These will be cut up and hooked into your rug. Note: To felt wool – look for a high wool percentage then wash your fabric on a hot wash in the washing machine and dry.

Tutor details: Marcia King

Marcia is an experienced maker with expertise in Rug Hooking, Felting, Dyeing, Knitting, Embroidery, Crocheting, Leather work, Patchwork and Quilting. She has even dabbled in shoemaking. She has been Rug Hooking for quite a few years and loves the process as well as the fact that she can re-cycle fabric. She has hooked rugs and bags out of men’s suits, blankets, old t-shirts, sari silk, wool fabric and yarn. Marcia is a member of the Australian Rug Hookers Guild, Begonia Quilters, and the Victorian Feltmakers.

Picture credit: Marcia King