November 2008

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This Month's Meeting
Hooking Events
Hooking News
Hooking History
Hooking Technique
"The Loop" Newsletter

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This Month's Meeting

November Meeting – November 14,  2008
The November meeting will be held at our regular location, the Hunterdon County Complex on Rt. 12 outside of Flemington from 10:00 to 2:00.

Program –  Author, instructor and Guild member Margaret Lutz will present a program on “How to Finish a Hooked Rug”. It will include a discussion of how to finish using 13 different techniques.  The techniques include self binding, braided edging and corded and whipped edgings. A book signing for her popular book “The Secrets of Finishing Hooked Rugs” will follow the program. In addition to teaching rug hooking, Margaret is the exclusive provider of Lib Callaway patterns.

Show and Tell – Bring any Lib Callaway pattern rugs and rugs with your favorite finishing techniques.  Of course, sharing current projects is always encouraged.

Hooking Time – Take advantage of the meeting to do some hooking. Bring your equipment and current project to work on.  We have the room until 2:00, so stay and hook.

Hospitality – We thank in advance Carol Kindt, Barbara Lugg, Kitty Platt and Bonnie Rusch for volunteering to provide the refreshments for the November meeting. Your efforts help make our meetings more enjoyable.

December Meeting: Advance Information— Our eagerly anticipated holiday luncheon will take place at the December meeting. Members are encouraged to hook a holiday ornament that will be hung on small Christmas trees that will be raffled.  The popular “Shoebox Surprise” will be another feature of the holiday meeting.  Fill a shoebox with hooking or non-hooking related items that you think will be appreciated by rug hookers,  wrap it as a gift and bring it to the meeting. Sharon Ballard always has fun ways to exchange the boxes.  With a month and a half lead time, there is lots of time to hook an ornament and fill a shoebox.  Join in on the fun!

Membership — Now is the time to renew your Guild membership. Please note that dues must be paid by the November meeting in order to receive the discounted member rate for camp. Click here for a printable membership renewal form.   

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News

Third Annual Rug Hooking Retreat – January 9-11 2009 – There are only six spots still available for the fun filled hooking retreat.  If you want to be assured of attending, you are encouraged to register now. There will be an “early bird” drawing for a free massage session for those who have registered by the end of November.

The retreat is scheduled for January 9-11, 2009 at the Hampton Inn in Flemington. Participation will be limited to 25 HCRAG members.  A non-refundable registration fee of $35 must be paid in advance. Give your check made payable to HCRAG to Gail Ferdinando at  the November meeting or send it to her at 4 Bonnell Rd., Pittstown, NJ 08867.

Participants can commute daily or stay overnight. A discounted rate of $112 per night, plus tax, has been negotiated for all reservations made prior to December 9th. Please contact the Hampton Inn at (908) 284-9427 to reserve your room and mention HCRAG to get the special rate.

Registrations Being Accepted for Rug Hooking Camp – It is not too early to sign up for our 13th annual rug hooking camp that will be held from August 10-14, 2009.  Three excellent instructors – Sandra Brown, Judy Quintman and Abby Vakay—are scheduled to be with us.  Information on Judy Quintman and Abby Vakay is provided below to assist members in making their camp instructor decision. This augments the information on Sandra Brown that was provided last month.

Abby Vakay—Painterly Possibilities—Abby will be joining us from her home in West Hampton, NY where she teaches  creative rug hooking and yoga.  The information that follows was taken from her letter to her students at Cape May this fall.

“What is painterly? We will all have our own ideas around that question, and they are all right. To me, it is simply color, value and texture flow, less boundaries, free.  We will share and try various alternative fiber techniques as we pull, poke and prod fibers into perfectly.  I will bring many fibers, dyed in the painterly fashion to support your work painterly places.  All patterns, works-in-progress, and your designs are potentially painterly.  All week, we will flow fiber, dye, and meld many materials, for the painterly approach.  I encourage students to bring and to share inspiration and insights throughout the week.  Please bring any works, books, ideas that inspire the creative process.  My hope is that this workshop will transform your approach to this and all your future fiber-artworks.     I will offer movements to offset carpal tunnel, guided imagery to enhance creative unfolding. Prepare for painterly, and a different approach to fiber flow. For more information visit www.abbyvakay.com. On the website, click fiber, then Painterly Progression.” 

Judy Quintman – Judy lives in Wilmington, NC and has been hooking for 11 years. Her favorite style is primitive although she enjoys working in other styles with smaller size cuts as well.  In her session she will explore a wide variety of techniques including proddy (as seen on her Peonies rug on the cover of Rug Hooking Magazine, June 2008), and other ways to enhance your rugs. She will cover any and all topics that are important to you – including dimensional techniques, backgrounds, mixing colors for backgrounds, finishing your rugs and labeling them as well.  Judy participated in our 2008 Camp along with her step-daughters, Guild members Gail Ferdinando and Debbie Walsh.  She “loves to teach rug hooking and to share the craft.” Housing is needed for Abby Vakay and Sandra Brown.  Any Guild member who provides housing (including breakfast and dinner) comes to camp free. Let Karl Gimber know if you have interest. You are not expected to entertain the instructors in the evenings. In fact, after “being on stage” all day the instructors need the evenings to relax, reflect and prepare for the next day.

To register for camp, just send a $25 check made payable to HCRAG to Karl Gimber at P.O. Box 16, Carversville, PA 18913.  The deposit is non-refundable.

Please note that dues must be paid by the November meeting in order to be eligible for the HCRAG member rate of $150.  The non-member rate is $225. You can register later, but dues need to be paid now.

Plans for Spring Fling Advance --The responses to the members’ survey confirmed sufficient interest in a weekend workshop in the spring.  As a result, Weezie Huntington is moving forward developing plans for the Spring Fling to be held the weekend of March 20-22, 2009 at the Hampton Inn in Flemington, NJ.  The proposed weekend would begin with a wine and cheese reception Friday night from 5-7 during which time the students and instructors would meet to discuss the projects.  Instructors would teach from 9-4:30 on Saturday, and 8:30 – 3:30 on Sunday. Weezie is now exploring the availability of various instructors.  The tentative fee for the weekend is $150. A discounted room rate will be provided for those who stay over night.

Guild Exhibit a Success – The Guild’s exhibit at the Lebanon Township Museum was a big success according to Guild members Deanna Kinney and Joan Lucas who oversee the museum.  Over 70 hooked rugs, mats, holiday ornaments, pillows, stools and other three dimensional items were creatively displayed. The opening reception on October 4, 2008 kept the staff busy all day and attracted many local residents.  The volume of visitors continued throughout the month with visitors every day.  Most had not hooked before and had interest in learning more.  There were a lot of new rug hookers and some who wanted to start. Information on the Guild was available for the visitors. The staff enjoyed “living with all the wonderful rugs all month.” Our thanks to members who provided rugs for the exhibit and those who helped install and remove the exhibit. A special note of gratitude goes to Deanna Kinney and Joan Lucas for inviting the Guild to their special museum.

Rugs exhibited can be picked up at the museum on November 1.  Otherwise, Kay Weeks will bring them to our November meeting. 

Guild Demonstrates Rug Hooking — Last month was our busiest with respect to demonstrating rug hooking at community events. HCRAG was represented at seven events in October— the Apple Butter Frolic (Harleysville, PA), Fall Festival (Hilltown, PA), “Larenswaert” Festival (Peter Wentz Farmstead, Worcester, PA), Millbrook Days (Millbrook Village, NJ), Quakertown House Tour (Quakertown, NJ), the Sheep & Fiber Festival (Ringoes, NJ) and the Worcester Historical Society Tour Day.

We thank the following Guild members who participated – Sharon and Cliff Ballard, Janet Bosshard, Cindy Boults, Margaret Brightbill, Joyce Combs, Gail Ferdinando, Karl Gimber, Weezie Huntington, Joan Lucas, Barbara Lugg, Deanna Kinney, Pat McDonnell, Joanne McIllmurray, Gisele Meader, Irene Pasternak, Dee Rosebrock, Debbie Walsh and Janet Williams.

Guild participation not only supports community organizations, but is an excellent way to introduce the public at all ages to the wonderful world of rug hooking.  The exposure is good for the Guild and enjoyable for those who demonstrate.

Dee Rosebrock working with Weezie Huntington and others has developed a Beginners’ Kit that includes backing with a star design, cut wool strips, hook, hoop and instructions.  The kits have been popular with those attending the events at which we demonstrate. These fund raising kits were sold at most of last month’s events. We are grateful to all who contributed wool and who helped put the kits together.

The last event scheduled for 2008 is Thanksgiving in the Country on November 1 and 2 at the historic Prallsville Mill in Stockton, NJ.  Proceeds from the house tours and vendor sales support the Facial Reconstruction Department of Children's Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. This is a fun weekend with many visitors and people interested in rug hooking.  Contact Joyce Combs at 609 737-9281 or fjcombs@verizon.net if you are interested in participating.

Trish Becker Hosts Winter Workshops at The Woolery — Join Guild member Trish Becker at her rug hooking art studio on January 15, 16 and 17, 2009.  Fee of $275 includes instruction, country gourmet lunches, snacks and treats all in an historic stone barn setting.  Come meet Judy Long, Editor of the ATHA Newsletter!  Contact Trish at thewoolery@earthlink.net or 908 268 3949 for details and to reserve your place.
 
ATHA to Hold 2011 Biennial Conference in Lancaster, PA -- Lancaster has been selected as the site for the next Biennial Conference for The Association of Traditional Hooking Artists in 2011. With the location in close proximity to us, it will be convenient for Guild members to participate.                           

Visit the Guild Website at www.hcrag.com  to find out what is happening with the Guild.  Use it to check on membership information, the schedule of programs and to connect with other rug hooking links. There are also photos from our 2008 Rug Hooking Camp and a gallery of rugs hooked by HCRAG members. Laurie Rubinetti updates the site monthly. Take a look!

 

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Events

Rags to Rugs: Pennsylvania Hooked and Handsewn Rugs Exhibition – Through December 31, 2008 at the Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum.  For more information contact Kim Fortney, VP, Heritage Center of Lancaster County at 717-299-6440 or kfortney@lancasterheritage.com.
7th Annual Newtown Hooked Rug Show – Saturday October 4, 2008 at the Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades Lane, Newtown, CT. Admission $10. Full program offered - speaker (June Myles), workshop (Trish Becker), juried and non-juried show and 35 vendors.  For more information visit website www.newtownhookedrugshow.com or email nmh1792@hotmail.com or call 203-270-8293.
Historic Longstreet Farm Workshop – Susan Feller will present a workshop at the Longstreet Farm on October 20-24, 2008.  For more information go to www.monmouthcountyparks.com or call the farm at 732-946-3758.

Hooked in the Mountains XIII – November 8-16, 2008. The annual show and workshops sponsored by the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild will be at the Shelburne Museum. For more information go to the guild’s web site – www.greenmountainrughookingguild.org.

Jersey Girls Hooked Rug Exhibit – April 24 & 25, 2009 at the Firehouse in Oldwick, NJ.

16th Annual Maryland Shores Rug Hooking School – This McGown School will be held in Ocean City, Maryland on April 19-24, 2009.  The teachers are Nancy Blood, Vicki Calu, Gail Dufresne, Sarah Guiliani, Betty McClentic, Eric Sandberg and Cynthia Norwood.  For more information contact Janice Russell at 410-289-4110 or ocrug@aol.com.

A “Gathering” of rug hookers meet at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel, NJ every Tuesday from 10-3. The hook-in is open to rug hookers of all levels.  For more information, call the Farm at 732-946-3758.

The Mercer Hookers meet on the first Thursday of every month from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Mercer County Library in Pennington, NJ.  It would be a good idea to contact Weezie Huntington (weezie711@gmail.com) if you are coming for the first time.  The hook-in is open to anyone sharing an interest in rug hooking.  Bring your lunch.

HCRAG Calendar of Events

November 14, 2008 – Monthly Meeting – Finishing Rugs (Margaret Lutz)
December 12, 2008 – Holiday Luncheon
January 9, 2009 – Monthly meeting – Auction and White Elephant Sale
January 9-11, 2009 – 3rd Annual Rug Hooking Retreat – Hampton Inn, Flemington, NJ
February 13 2009 – Monthly Meeting – Program TBD*
March 13, 2009 – Hooking Animal Eyes – Gail Dufresne
March 20-22, 2009 Spring Fling - Flemington Hampton Inn (tentative)
April 10, 2009 – Monthly Meeting – Program TBD
May 8, 2009 – Monthly Meeting – Program TBD
June 12, 2009 – Monthly meeting – Annual Picnic
August  10-14, 2009 – HCRAG Rug Hooking Camp – Educational Services Commission School

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Hooking in History

From Wikipedia
The author William Winthrop Kent believed that the earliest forebears of hooked rugs were the floor mats made in Yorkshire, England during the early part of the 19th century. Workers in weaving mills were allowed to collect thrums, pieces of yarn that ran 9 inches (23 cm) long. These by-products were useless to the mill, and the weavers took them home and pulled the thrums through a backing. The origins of the word thrum are ancient, as Mr. Kent pointed out a reference in Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor.

Rug hooking as we know it today developed in North America, specifically along the Eastern Seaboard in New England in the United States and the Canadian Maritimes. In its earliest years, rug hooking was a craft of poverty. The vogue for floor coverings in the United States came about after 1830 when factories produced machine-made carpets for the rich. Poor women began looking through their scrap bags for materials to employ in creating their own home-made floor coverings. Women employed whatever materials they had available. Girls from wealthy families were sent to school to learn embroidery and quilting; fashioning floor rugs and mats was never part of the curriculum. Another sign that hooking was the pastime of the poor is the fact that popular ladies magazines in the 19th century never wrote about rug hooking. It was considered a country craft in the days when the word country, used in this context, was derogatory.

Since hooking was a craft of poverty, rugmakers put to use whatever materials were available. Antique hooked rugs were created on burlap after 1850 because burlap was free as long as one used old grain and feed bags. Every and any scrap of fiber that was no longer usable as clothing was put into rugs. In the United States, yarn was not a fiber of choice if one did not have access to thrums. Yarn was too precious, and had to be saved for knitting and weaving. Instead the tradition of using scraps of fabric evolved. Yarns and other creatively used materials have always been used for hooked rugs in the Canadian Maritimes. The well-known Cheticamp hooked rugs used finely spun yarns and the highly valuable Grenfell mats were meticulously hooked with recycled jerseys. Everything from cotton t-shirts to nylon stockings were cut and used.

The modern preference for using only cut wool strips in hooked rugs originated with Pearl McGown in the 1930s, and may have saved the craft from disappearing in the United States. Mrs. McGown popularized strict guidelines for rug hooking and formalized its study.

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Hooking Technique

Tips from Heloise (a.k.a. Barbara Lugg)
When blocking a rug, several elements are needed - stream, pressure and duration of the pressure.  In order to get a lot of steam, a hot iron is required.  Generally when the hot iron is placed on the surface of the damp towel to produce the steam, the iron will cool. To maximize the heat you then need to wait for the iron to heat up again before you continue. This adds time to the blocking process. If you do not wait, less steam will be produced.  One way to speed up the process is to use two irons and alternate using each one.   When you are blocking with one, the other is heating up.  Used irons can be found at thrift stores for under $10.  The investment will speed up the blocking process and should improve the results too.

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Have you ever purchased a rug pattern and discovered that is was printed “off kilter”? Over the years Barbara Lugg has helped many rug hooking friends correct the problem with a simple solution.  She takes a dull pencil, places it “in the ditch” and pulls it down the border of the pattern to get a straight line. The process is repeated on all four sides of the pattern. Barbara then hooks a row around the border of the pattern following the light line created by the pencil.  The hooked row can remain as part of the rug or replaced later. In some cases, the rest of the pattern may need to be adjusted as well, but most often squaring off the border is sufficient.

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The most commonly suggested way to block a hooked rug is to place the rug face down on a flat surface, straighten it, and then place a damp cloth on the back of the rug.  A hot iron is then used to produce steam and to apply pressure.  Another way that many of our Guild’s veteran hookers believe produces better results is to roll the rug in a damp cloth and leave it over night. The backing absorbs moisture and becomes more pliable. This makes it easier to straighten and shape the rug before applying the iron in the normal manner. 

 

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"The Loop" Newsletter

"The Loop" is the newsletter of the Hunterdon County Rug Artisans Guild (HCRAG). It is published monthly (September through June).  Articles, suggestions or ideas for the newsletter can be submitted to Karl Gimber at P. O. Box 16, Carversville, PA 18913 or by email to karlg@nni.com by the the 20th of the month.

Besides being a great hooker, Karl Gimber does an amazing job of compiling "The Loop" newsletter. It is a huge resource to our Guild members and has a wealth of information and inspiration for hookers!

Click below for complete printable copies of this month's issue as well as back issues of
"The Loop" newsletter.

"The Loop" November 2008
"The Loop" October 2008
"The Loop" September 2008
"The Loop" June 2008
"The Loop" May 2008
"The Loop" April 2008
"The Loop" March 2008
"The Loop" February 2008
"The Loop" January 2008
"The Loop" December 2007
"The Loop" November 2007
"The Loop" October 2007
"The Loop" September 2007
"The Loop" Camp 2007
"The Loop" June 2007
"The Loop" May 2007
"The Loop" April 2007
"The Loop" March 2007
"The Loop" February 2007
"The Loop" January 2007

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