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.
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.
A Hooker's life has its ups and downs You pester your friends for their hand me downs, Its rip and wash and dye and cut But a Hooker is hooked and won't give up. Its time to begin and you are eager to start You've picked your project... its a work of Art, Little by little you see it grow But there are time when it does go slow. An hour here and an hour there Eventually you do get there, When the last strip is finally done You must admit... it was great fun.
Catherine Jazowick