Join a Guild:  Get Connected!

Find out about other ATHA chapters www.ATHArugs.com
An international guild to investigate is TIGHR www.tighr.net
National Guild of Pearl K. McGown Rug Hookrafters www.mcgownguild.com/
Socialize on the Net www.rughookingdaily.ning.com

Get Hooked - Learn about this Forgivable Fiber Art

Classes & gatherings in Traditional Rug Hooking are happening in Sonoma County with:
Laura Pierce in Petaluma & Brigitta Phy in Graton.
You can send me a message on my blog: Laura's Loop and I'll get you hooked up!

Rug Hooking History

Unique Folk Art:  With roots centuries old, rug hooking is a folk art unique to North America. Born out of necessity and using materials at hand, (burlap sacks, old clothing, and fabric scraps) the first hooked rugs appeared in Atlantic Canada and New England in the late 1700's early 1800's. Hooked rugs are functional art originally created by rural women to cover the bare floors of their homes. The craft uses a hand hook, much like a crochet hook, to form a looped pile of a carpet or mat from fabric strips or yarn on a wide weave base.

Creative Outlet:  In an era when women's roles were more circumscribed than today, rug hooking also provided an outlet for a woman's creativity and individuality. The craft thrived along the Atlantic shores where winters were long and cold and floors were chilling to the feet. As people traveled west, so did rug hooking. People began selling hand hooked rugs, and cottage industries sprang up across the continent. Today hand-hooked rugs can be seen in galleries and museums in New York City, Washington DC, Toronto and London, as well as in local museums, libraries, and community centers across North America.

Wine Country Rug Hookers:  A Chapter of ATHA
- the Association of Traditional Hooking Artists

WCRH members meet once a year to take care of paperwork and make plans for the coming year. Our periodical newsletter keeps us informed about upcoming gatherings, rug shows and retreats.

Check us out on Facebook: The WCRH and on ATHA.org