Traditional Rug Hooking
An introduction to the one simple loop of traditional wool rug hooking. This utilitarian craft-turned-art form is rooted in our Canadian history and a culture of up-cycling well before it was fashionable. Designs and techniques may illustrate the use of colour, contrast, value, lines, shape, form, repetition, rhythm, colour schemes, variety, space, emphasis, proportion, and balance. Patterns and designs are easily created using any form of inspiration; colouring books, pictorials, geometrics, nature, etc.
All basic materials, tools, and time are provided for the project typically completed within the session. The workshop accessible for beginners, as well as those with minimal and maximum dexterity and sight abilities.
Hooked projects can become heirloom treasures, often coming with the bonus gift of a spoken word history during their creation. Once mastered, the technique of rug hooking is easily and independently replicated by the participant.
Traditional Rug Hooking is enjoying a resurgence in craft and art circles – often leaping into the category of High Art. Projects can serve many practical household functions as well as being beautiful works of art shown in galleries throughout the world. It is as diverse an art form as those that practice it.
About the artist - Lisa (Whalen) Meecham
Lisa Meecham is a community organizer and accomplished artist in multiple media including furniture and fibre arts. Re-purposing and up-cycling are regularly deployed in her work to create functional pieces of art producing original contemporary social and anthropological statements. An award-winning Traditional Rug Hooker, Lisa’s mats have been displayed in Canadian government offices, Canadian and US galleries, living history museums, guilds, and have toured the same with travelling exhibitions. Lisa offers enthusiastic instruction to those who simply wish to learn this “one simple loop” and encouragement in the role of rug hooking in preserving family stories and microhistories. She is the founder of the Woolly Good Hooking online network, a 3000+ community over several platforms fostering connection, championing the cultural and therapeutic benefits of rug hooking and re-vitalization of heritage arts.
Learn more