Looking for a winter hobby? You might find everything you're looking for in hooking.
I had no idea that I had everything it took to make a spectacular hooker, but a few years ago, on a Saturday afternoon I discovered I was destined to be a pro. And so was my mother.
Ask yourself these questions:
1. Do you like to work with your hands?
2. Do you love to finish a job?
3. Do you have an instinct for when to pull out?
4. Can you happily sit with wood on your lap for hours?
5. Are you interested in a mindless activity and doing it over and over and over again?
If you answered yes to any of those questions you could be well on your way to disappearing into the dark underworld of hooking.
Table of Contents
Rug Hooking
Rug Hooking, which is considered to be both an art and a craft, became popular after 1830 when carpets became all the rage. Of course, only the rich could afford carpets, so the poor had to figure out a way to make their own. Kind of like how the only way I could afford to have a pizza oven was to make my own.
The poor couldn't afford to use good yarn or fabrics because those were needed for making clothing and quilts, but cruddy, old worn fabrics, those could be used for rug hooking. Strips of whatever they had on hand were either cut or ripped into strips then hooked through whatever backing they could find for free. Most of the time this was the burlap feed sacks their grain came in.
If you're wondering why it is rug hooking isn't as popular as, say quilting, the reason comes down yet again to money; poverty specifically. Quilting was considered a fine art in the 1800's and it's the sort of thing the daughters of rich families would learn along with embroidery and the fine art of eye lash batting. Quilting was always an art of higher status and more sought after by everyone because of that.
Rug hooking? That was for the common folk. People with scabs.
It wasn't until about a century later, in the 1930's that rug hooking started to develop a strong following with artists and it broke free from its lower status.
O.K., that's the short history of hooking.
So what happened a few years ago was I accidentally ended up taking a Saturday morning rug hooking class. My sister, Pink Tool Belt, is an interior decorator and one of her clients is a rug hooker who offered to show my sister how to "do it". She in turn, invited me, my other sister and my mother along to learn too.
I kind of thought we were just going for an hour or so to get a general idea of what rug hooking was. Nope. We were there for the day, we each got everything we needed to hook a rug.
What do you need for rug hooking?
A backing (like linen), a frame to attach the backing to, strips of wool, and a hook.
If you have a larger rug then you should get a stand to hold your rug hooking on as well. I have a DIY tutorial on how to make a rug hooking stand out of a cheap camera tripod.
These are hookers.
Is rug hooking difficult?
Rug hooking is probably the easiest craft I've ever tried. I'm not saying it's easy to excel at, but in terms of technique, you can learn everything you need to know to get started in minutes.
You get a piece of linen the size of the rug you want to make (start with something small like a kitchen mat) and draw a pattern onto it. You can get countless rug hooking patterns and kits from Etsy or you can design your own pattern.
Where skill and practice comes in, is when you get into shading and picking out colours and creating interesting textures and patterns with your wool.
Oh yes. It's all done with 100% wool. This only became popular in the 1900's, the idea of using wool. Before that, it was a matter of using what you had laying around.
Using wool means the rug will be durable just about forever and you can wash it.
And you'll spend an insane amount of money and time trying to find the perfect wool.
Wools can either be solid colour, tweeds, hand dyed, dip dyed, or over dyed.
This is what my kitchen looked like a mere 5 hours after learning how to rug hook. Honestly. 5 hours before this I didn't even really know what rug hooking was.
So how did this happen? It was a pusher.
This is how they do it. You go for a class from a nice, friendly lady who doesn't seem to want anything in return. She gives you everything you need to get started and shows you how to do it for free. Or for a very low fee. And then ... you're in. You're hooked.
This of course is not unlike what a skilled drug pusher does.
If you look closely at this photo, which was taken about an hour after I got home from my class, you'll notice 2 things.
- I've completely pushed all the ingredients for the peanut butter cookies I was going to make out of the way, to make room for the more important thing in my life now, rug hooking.
- I'm a happy hooker. Look at all those bright, fun colours.
By day 3 I hadn't left my living room, or as I like to call it now, my hooking den.
After seeing a wool stand that Pink Tool Belt made out of scraps of wood, I ran to my cupboard to pull out my pasta drying rack. Perfect wool holder.
Something else you might be noticing right about now is that my pictures are crap. I became so enamoured with rug hooking that I couldn't be bothered to drag out my real camera, or set up lights or even really focus my iPhone camera.
It was a struggle to convince myself bathing was a necessity of life.
Because I wasn't entirely sure what I was doing or even what this class was going to be I didn't really put a lot of thought into what I was going to hook, so I decided to just do a sort of rag rug look with all kinds of colours. It'll go in front of my sink in the kitchen and will be the one and only thing with colour in the room.
Yes. Once it's done. A mere 5 years after starting my first rug, I'm not finished it. My sister has since completed countless rugs including a FULL SIZED rug for her front hall.
It's not that I don't love it or don't want to do it ... I just don't. It's very weird. I really do love doing it and love how they look.
It all began with primitive rug hooking and that's the classic look.
1963, $1,750
1940 (this rug is TERRIFYING to me)
1900, $6,500
Now, I love all the antique and primitive rugs, but these slightly contemporary versions from rug hooking artist Joanna Close are heavier on the realism than the folk art. And they're incredible.
Luckily this hobby, doesn't end with something dying if I neglect it. Unlike chickens, dogs, cats or bees.
The other thing you'll need if you become a serious rug hooker is a cutter.
There are 2 ways to get wool for your rug hooking. You can either buy the wool pre-cut and ready to go in any colour you want (which is really expensive). Or you can buy the wool pre-dyed but not cut (which is still expensive) or you can go to thrift stores and find old wool skirts, jackets and blankets, wash it, dye it if you want, then cut the wool into strips yourself. This is the cheapest way to go but there's a bit of an investment in the cost in the machine that cuts the wool.
You could cut the wool strips by hand, but get real. How would I have time for my other hobby of dressing my chickens like 1970's sitcom characters if I did that?
The most popular cutter because of its general indestructibleness, speed and ease of use is the Bee Line Townsend wool cutter. It's about $1,000 with tax.
Or, there's the Canadian made Bolivar which is based on the same design as the Bee Line but it's less money. I'd be happy with either. I'd actually really like to try the Boliver because it's Canadian made and less expensive.
I was VERY close to buying my own cutter within the first week of rug hooking. It's a good thing I didn't. I don't think there's room under the sofa for it.
Having said that, I'm going to make a concerted effort this weekend to put down the laptop and get back to hooking.
Janet
How ironic that a creative activity designed to fill the long cold hours of winter when the garden couldn't be tended to and using worn out clothing to create something useful and beautiful is so expensive. My grandmother was a hooker. Her rugs were treasures, just like her quilts, that we fought over more than money when she passed. They tell a family story and warm our feet. This technique makes beautiful covers for footstools too!
Thanks for this idea Karen, I think this would be a great classroom activity with a little more success for elementary students than quilting. Getting little hands to make tiny quilting stitches is just ridiculous. Hooking uses more thumb action than quilting (I think), which my students would excel at, if you know what I mean.
Lili
Your first rug already looks gorgeous! I am a relatively new hooker too and I use a rotary cutter, self healing mat and ruler to cut my strips, so now I am also a stripper. Your write up expressed everything I felt when I was first exposed to the craft too. Your pasta rack is a perfect idea and I am so looking forward to seeing your completeted rug!
Dagmar
These rugs are so beautiful. The first one with the flowers is so stunning. I would actually frame it, not use it as a rug, otherwise within a couple of days the furry babies would make it theirs and all that stunning hard work would become a fur ball.
Shirley
Hi Karen
I am a 'happy hooker' too - only I make my own shaggy rugs.
Dead simple to do.
1. Crochet a base out of string. Nothing fancy - just need loops and gaps!
2. Cut yarn into lengths that can be folded over.
3. Using a (very inexpensive) latched crochet hook pull the yarn through the gap in the crochet base and then through the loop.
4. If you want a super dooper design - just draw your design and colour onto your crochet base and change colours when you get there.
5. Mow your rug down to the suitable height when you get there.
6. No need for fancy yarns - just use common acrylic yarn.
Have fun!
Janet
Thank you for this idea!
Lynn
My friend buys silk, usually old curtains, at the clearance Goodwill where fabric is sold by the pound. Silk is very light so she gets yards and yards for almost nothing. After tearing them into lots of strips, she latch hooks the most beautiful silk rugs ever. Sigh. I'm to lazy. I throw pots and tear out walls instead.
Connie
Dream on Karen! As a matter of fact I was just looking for a cutter today on Kijiji! It's not often they come up for sale. That hasn't stopped me from stockpiling all of my wool suits from when I had a career. A friend of mine who grew up on the East coast got me started on this dream of being a hooker. She started when she left her job and on visits home she has taken classes from some true artists. Wool cutters come up for sale about as frequently as glass grinders for stained glass. Anyone have either item for sale? I could trade you for a smocking pleater! Ummm, no, I couldn't part with that either.
Agnes Niewiadomski
Dear Karen,
Where oh where did you take this class?
Also I totally know that insane feeling of a craft taking over your life. It's kind of exhilarating.
Bambi Mayer
Love the post. I haven't tried it yet but fear it would turn into an obsession for me like it has for you.
The cutting tool is pretty cool but, for a fraction of the cost, you could get a cutting mat, rotary cutter and quilting ruler (probably for less than $100). Cutting the strips would actually go pretty quick, unless you slice your fingertip off and have to go to the ER. That would also drive the cost way past $100--oh, forgot for a minute that you're Canadian where you can afford to slice your fingertip off!
Bambi
Ann
Cutting wool with a rotary cutter is still quite difficult. I have tried to do it and I would not bother. Either buying a used cutter like Karen would love to, or sharing, or borrowing one is something I bet you could do.
I love the look of the modern contemporary funky rug you are working on Karen. Love it enough to consider a new hobby. Oh wait....stained glass comes first.
Bambi Mayer
I've never found it difficult to use for cutting wool for my quilt appliques and those are often curvy, fussy pieces. Wool is certainly not as thin as quilting cottons so more pressure and fresh blades are a must. But, new gadgets are always fun and if it were me and the funds were available, I would go for the wool cutter!
Bambi
Laurinda
I've been successfully resisting hooking since 2009, when I saw a booth at a fiber fair. There's something very soothing about those loops of rough wool, lined up, all the same height (ish)
It kills me, because I volunteer at 2 different fiber fairs, in the spring & fall, & those really nice, helpful ladies, who are only 2 towns away, are always willing to chat. ..
But I'd really like more info on those stands! They look a lot different than the ones I usually see, & a lot easier to replicate!
Rachel San Diego
Gah, I have thought about (rug) hooking for years!! My grandmother got her daughters and granddaughters into (rug) hooking and I still remember watching my sister (rug) hook in the 1980s. I remember the (rug) hooking to be scratchy and smelly, but maybe we were just (rug) hooking wrong?
Mark
My grandmother taught me and my sibs how to hook when we were kids, but it was latch-hooking. That method made you a cheaper hooker, since you didn't need a $1,000 machine (gak!).
Karin
Yes! I was trying to remember what that was called! I too was a cheap hooker as a kid. You get all the insanity of the addiction but none of the payoff since you end up with a synthetic, tragic looking pile of yarn you'd cross the street to avoid stepping on.
Gingersnappo
Ack! Yes! I remember well the latch-hook picture of a bee I worked on in juniour high. Literally zero payoff.
Karen's hooking technique is a thing of beauty and class!
Debbie
I was just thinking that this sounds like a much lovelier version of latchhooking. I suppose our 80s craft was actually a cheap knockoff of the original rug hooking? This is beautiful, though.
Stephanie
I did a little latch-hooking as a kid (I made a Snoopy rug and a Miss Piggy pillow- her eyelashes were longer than the rest of the yarn, for an extra bit of realism :) ), and I enjoyed it, but that rough backing caused me to rub all the skin off my knuckles. I probably held the hook wrong.
Also, I just wanted to mention that bees won't die if you ignore them; in fact, they like it better that way (this is spoken from my vast experience of a 1-year beekeeping veteran who bothered them too much the first couple of months).
Pam
Yes, I was totally into latch-hooking in the '70's. I did a very un-lovely owl rug using those crappy little pieces of acrylic yarn. Real hooked rugs look so much nicer! I've drooled over some of the vintage ones on ebay, but can't bring myself to blow a wad (as Karen so aptly puts it) on one. And taking up hooking as a hobby seems pretty pricey, too.
Chris
This is hilarious, the best part is Karen is not replying.....she is busy! Can't wait to see the finished rug.
Eve
Ha! I noticed that too. Not a peep out of her... She's hooking away!
Alicia Herron
haha I noticed this too!
Heather
Fourth generation hooker here. Love designing my own rugs. Dyeing my wool... And the mindless, but so not mindless craft/art.
Dale
Both my grandmothers would hook rugs and a weave technique over a stretched rack. I have a few of them as family heirlooms. One has two crossed baseball bats and a ball glove with a baseball in it. Given to me for my 10th birthday, 56 years ago.
Yes...I'm ancient.... but still stayin' vertical!!!
Lauren
U. R. NOT. Ancient! Apparently, after seeing the 106 year old visitor to the White House, only 115 is ancient. Can you think back 49 years, then imagine going another umm, 49 years? Daunting isn't it? Even 30 years is too hard to imagine.
Dale
I love reminiscing of the day the first TV came into my family home, mid 1950s. Three (3) channels. B&W. All signed off at 10:30 pm.
Yep, the good ol' days!!!
What will TV be in another 49 years?
Ter'e
Karen,
You totally crack me up. You have described what it is like, to be a hooker, perfectly.
I started hooking in 1992 and it is just the best hobby.
We recently moved from FL to MO and my biggest house requirement, was that it have a huge area for my wool. Alas, I have this huge finished basement!!!
Hooking is a marvelous craft. Keep at it. Get you some stripes and plaids and hooking really becomes fun!!!!
Oh, forgot to add........you know there are hooking camps, right? ?
Hook on, girlfriend!!!!
Ann Brookens
It..it looks like fun...have to... try... hooking...AAAAAHHHHHH!!!
Karen! The things you do to your loyal readers!!!
I started thinking, "Second hand shops for fabric to use; no problem! Backing, hmm...I could find something." No! Just stop right now!
Jamieson
no.
Kelly
I took a rug hooking class through Edmonton's Metro Education in November. Husband recently offered to move out of the house to make room for craft supplies. I convinced him to stay, arguing that if I was going to quit my job to hook, bead and scrapbook, I'd really need his income.
Sandi
Kelly you made me laugh. Your husband sounds like a keeper.
Barb Julian
My husband laughed, as only a man whose wife has filled all available space with wool. A cheaper way of cutting strips is to get a cutting mat, rotary cutter and ruler.
Debbie
Hahahahaha!
Ellen
I sure can relate. I started making quilts in November and then I started noticing upcycled clothing on Pinterest and then someone gave me 3 trash bags full of clothing. I do not cook do not do dishes, it has taken over 4 rooms and I am freaking hooked and driven. My accelerator is stuck on full throttle!!
Dagmar
You are very blessed that you know how to sew. I think there is such a sense of satisfaction, when you wear something that you have made on your own. Or sleep under a blanket that was given to you, or you gave someone else. There is nothing better than something hand made with love.
Debbie
I'm a garment sewer and have been for longer than I care to admit. I suggested doing a program on upcycling for our sewing guild. My suggestion meant I had to lead the meeting. I jumped in with both feet full speed ahead and I am hooked! For the program I did all sorts of things so it'd appeal to both garment sewers and quilters but the thing I had the most fun with is men's shirt upcycles. I have a notebook full of sketches from ideas that keep popping up in my head. If my husband see's me bring in another thrifted men's shirt he's liable to threaten to divorce me!
Ellen
I fabricated slipcovers and window treatments for a living and I have never been more enthused about sewing. It's very free-ing. Have also been asked to teach classes. Happily I have no husband so there is nothing stopping me. Have fun!!
Jessica
Shoot! Now I want to to it too and you didn't even give instructions on how to do it! As if I didn't have enough that I already taking up space that I already don't do...what you did describe sounded intoxicating. Watch it Lady, I may have to ban you for my own good.
Alison
Oh god, you've pushed me even closer towards being a hooker! I commented on your insta about this, and I'm so psyched you did a write up! I just learned how to needlepoint (turns out it's 50% of the cross stitching I've done since I was six, so less learning, more realizing "I already know how to do this!")so now I need something *learn*. This seems cheaper than my current plan to buy a letterpress and multiple drawers of type, so hooker it is!