The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers is a global organization of creative people who come together in friendship to share ideas, and to explore the different techniques of the art of rugmaking using a variety of fibres.
This image “Admiring the rug” says it all –
Admiring the rug (39” x 32”) was designed and hooked by Membership Chair Diane Cox, who says ….
“I designed this rug to show the enjoyment in showing your latest rug to a friend, over a cup of tea, while it is rainy and grey outside! Hooked and prodded it with a mix of recycle fabrics on hessian.”
The newsletter contains interesting articles, and the images of the scenic Yorkshire Dales, will make readers who hail from these parts, and those of us who have already visited, long to return.
Want a membership form and having problems with the one attached to the newsletter ?You’ll also find a membership form on the TIGHR website www.tighr.net
Ilka Landahl, member of the Narrawilly Proggers gathered many awards for her sculpted wall hanging 1st prize- Shorn Hooky& Proggy Item, Special Award & Champion of Show.
When asked how she created such an interesting piece of work Ilka said ….
“I hooked it with normal and partly fancy wool a little bit higher than usual and cut it, sculpting it into shape.
Between the different sections of colours I hooked with a small strip of fabric which helps to hold the wool better and brings more out the effect.
For variety I hooked some sections normal without shaping.
It makes a lot dust and fluff so I had the vacuum cleaner by my side all the time.
I like it because it looks so cosy/cuddly.”
Editors note for overseas readers; Shows are held across Australia in Capital cities and country areas. In general they are a combination of agricultural displays, stock and farm machinery, and competitions involving livestock, as well as arts & crafts and entertainment – similar to a State or County Fair in North America. They are generally called Pastoral or Agricultural Society Shows or AgFests.
Members of the Narrawilly Proggers have been entering rugs in competiton at the Milton Show for some time.
Miriam Miller said ……
“I cannot remember when the first time was, but it was many years ago and at first we entered in the general handicraft section under “Any article made from recycled materials(soft)” Then we got our own section which was about 6 years ago.
We have 5 categories. Jacqui Thomson and I provide the prizes. The stewards are Janet Walker and Elke Smith-Hill and we also provide our own judge. We have a different person judge each year.
While many of our members compete in the various categories, some just exhibit their work, demonstrate rug hooking and talk to interested visitors about the craft.”
Above Christine Alexander taking a break in a quiet moment at the Show.
The following are images of winners and place-getters in the various rug making categories
1st prize winner in Proggy Floor Rug by Carol Flynn
Pat la Rance received a Special Award for this piece
Gail Nicholls took 2nd Hooky & Proggy Wall Hanging for her superb work in this rug.
The Santa cushion was hooked by a 14 year old. Chloe Thompson who received a Highly Commended Award.
This bag by Marilyn Smyth took 2dn prize Hooky or Proggy item not otherwise mentioned.
1st prize in the Hooky Floor Rug category was awarded to Elaine Kitchner for her floral rug.
1st prize in Hooky or Proggy item not otherwise mentioned was created by Christine Alexander
Maggie Hickey took 2nd prize in the Hooked Floor Rug category.
2nd Prize Proggy Rug was awarded to Bev Latta for this rug 82cm x 110cm (33″x43.5″)
Carol Thompsons received a Highly commended award in the Hooky and/or Proggy Wall Hangingcategory for her hooked and framed rug.
TO THE NORTH, in Queensland, there was a SHOW of a different kind!
Judi Tompkins held her first Sunday “Shed Day“ – it was a huge success – the inclusion of a wine tasting may have had something to do with that. Jewellery was shown along with some rather unique mens shirts.
13 people attended the “Leap Year Eve” Shed Day and Wine tasting…several other people were also invited to the wine tasting which meant Ron Duggelby was able to show off some great lapidary and wire wrapped jewellery which inspired several people in terms of colour and design.
Several hookers wanted to learn how to locker hook (and thanks to my tuition by Robin Inkpen I was able to show them the basics!).
Margaret’s first lesson in locker hooking.
Sally starting on a new locker hooking project.
We then we moved on to lunch where Simon Rawlins from Pieroth Wines offered a great range of white, red and dessert wines form South American and Europe.
Finally, Jacqueline Rawlins brought in a selection of her shirt design work, she uses Aboriginal print fabrics (designs approved by the Aboriginal elders) and turns the fabric into high-quality men’s shirts for the Australian climate.
It was a day of fun for the senses; colour, taste, texture and folks! It was especially nice to have virtually two “visiting artists”!
More from the Editor:
There will be another Show report in the next News – the exhibition of rugs at a NSW Quilt Show.
Are you thinking of setting up a Rug Show? Watch the ARG News Blog coming soon – for an article on “Judging Rug Shows” – where our members will offer their suggested guidelines for choosing a judging panel as well as the criteria for judging rug submissions.
While in the Perth Metro Area during March/April ;
comes the following from Jan Holland’s News at WAFTA;
Anne William’s first solo exhibition Through the Singing of my Hands will be held at Mundaring Arts Centre, in Gallery 2
March 19th to April 17 2016
Anne Williams – Artist statement ‘Housewives’ (sewing kits) were standard army issue for the ‘Nashos’ of the 1950s. They have been carried into battle zones all around the world. This one was issued to Pte. Ian Williams in 1956/7.
Concurrent with this exhibition, Gallery 1 is showing an exhibition for the Mundaring Shire Acquisition Award on the theme of Migration and Settlement. The Gallery is a great venue to visit with a gorgeous shop full of wonderful work by WA artists and crafts folk. Well worth the trip up the Hill.
Some members of the Wanneroo Rugmakers group like to knit and crochet and some also like to felt. At the Group’s first meeting for the year Margaret showed her recently felted pieces – images of these have just arrived in my INBOX.
Margaret says…..
“The small bowls were cobweb felting and for the flower I used Corriedale wool roving that I just wet felted. My botanical piece was also wet felted with merino wool and silk. I’ve looked at Kris McDermet’s website – love her work and am really disappointed Kris is so far away.”
In Albany, Western Australia, Kira Mead, featured in the January issue of Rug Hooking Magazine, is experimenting again ….
this time hooking into felt. Kira tells me she is “contemplating involving felt with standing wool.”
Also in my INBOX today was the Blog from Beaconsfield Hooking Crafters Guild with an article about Kris McDermet’s upcoming braiding classes and mentioning Kris’s recent awards including 2015 Rug Hooking Magazine’s Celebrations – where Kris was a finalist in the Original Category for “Prints”
“Prints” Described below by Kris;
“This is a 7 path Labyrinth – it is 5 feet round. The braids are the walls of the labyrinth and the hooking the foot paths. The birds, bugs, flowers, prints, leaves etc. are found on our labyrinth paths that we made in our field here in Vermont, USA.”
Australian rugmakers who were in Strathalbyn, South Australia in 2012 for the TIGHR Conference will remember meeting Kris and I’m sure would be interested to hear of her recent award and also the new combinations she is using.
On her website Kris talks about her love of combining hooking and braiding and also combining wool and silk. The latest addition to her combinations is Nuno felting with various wool and silk fibers felted together and cut into shapes and then combined into her hooking – like the heart shapes used in her wall hanging “Passion”.
Events for 2016 have been added to the Calendar on this website – with more still to be entered.
The first for 2016 will be in Queensland – 19th & 20th February – Punchneedle hooking with Bec Andersen
Sally, from Brisbane, who introduced us to the gripper strips substitute available in Australia (shown on a frame in the recently published Guild newsletter) has taken a punchneedle class with Bec and recently sent these images ……… here is what Sally said –
This is a photo of the piece I did in Bec’s “Intro to Punchneedle” class. I drew the design based on some of the source material that Bec had available in the class. All of the wool yarn is hand dyed by Bec.
The photo below shows preparing our backing, drawing designs and choosing wool, for the punchneedle class with Bec in her studio.
I would strongly recommend Bec’s classes as she has a way of presenting information that is fun, and she was really well prepared for the class.”
Be sure and check out the Current Calendar & Events page for more workshops by Bec and workshops around Australia by other Guild members.
The question often asked – “What are the benefits of Guild membership?”
From the Editor:
The first issue for 2016 of the Guild’s newsletter “In the Loop” is almost ready to be sent out to Members. As I look at the articles included, one of the main benefits of membership is obvious, that is, members can advertise (free of charge) on this website their events, projects and any rug hooking items they may want to sell.
For example a Guild Member from Victoria (Aust) has found a very creative way, using the etsy.com online website, to publicise the work she does to raise funds for a charitable organization and to sell the tools needed for the project.
Chris has combined her love of rug hooking with a fund raising opportunity and as a member of the Guild, Chris also has coverage of her project and sales on this website.
Here in Chris’s own words , as posted on her etsy.com site, is how her project came about :
From Rugs to Rug Tools
I became a ‘Rug Maker’ about five years ago. I fell in love with wool, but being an Australian resident, there were no workshops in the whole of Victoria. So online I went and what a treasure trove of websites, YouTube videos, online classrooms and blogs I found.
I soon learned how to hook rugs, dye my own wool and make some of our much needed tools, for example I needed a table frame for my current project – an oriental rug and an ambitious project to say the least and since the postage from the US was far too expensive I had to make my own, with the help of hubby off course.
In 2012 I attended a Rug Making Expo in Sth Australia and met some like minded women and before you know it we started a group, now known as the Yarra Valley Rugmakers, member of the Victorian Rug makers and the Australian Rug Makers Guild.
Tools are not too easy to find in Australia and us Victorian ladies had to send for them either from interstate or overseas.
This year I have started giving Rug Making workshops from which all the fees will go to overseas missions, namely Uganda and India. I therefore needed hooks, so this lead me to look into importing hooks from overseas and I now sell beautiful handcrafted hooks, made in Ireland but sold from Australia, thus “Rughooks for missions”
With our Australian currency being low, it is very viable for rug hookers from overseas to buy my hooks. I hope you will support me and leave favourable reviews and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.
Comments or questions for Chris can be added below, or if you’d like to send her a personal message you can contact her through this website –
Jan/Feb 2016 and read the article by Australia’s Accidental Rugmaker, Kira Mead.
It’s just over a year since Gay Wilkes, a founding member of ARG from Albany, Western Australia, sent me a picture of Kira’s work – a wall hanging made from recycled wool blankets.
Kira Mead with one of her vibrant rugs. Picture: Lata Photography
As Membership Chair, I invited Kira to join the Guild – she was surprized, said she wasn’t a rugmaker, so I explained that though she didn’t know it, she was using a rugmaking technique and making quillies, so was an “accidental rugmaker”, a term Kira has adopted.
Throughout the past year Kira has experimented with eco dyeing, hanging odd-shaped wall art and various rug making techniques. Her open and sharing personality reflects the bright colours she likes to work with.
After going viral on the Guild Facebook page, the giant quillies went from wall hangings to chair covers, to 3D vessels and seat and floor cushions and more.
Kira’s quilllie cup mat.
Like many Australian Guild members, Kira’s an isolated rug hooker, she lives in a country town about 417 ks (259 miles) south of Perth. There are rug hookers in and around the area, Gay and others who have taken the workshops Judith Stephens and I gave in 2010 and 2011, but so far no group has been formed.
Newly retired and looking for an artistic outlet, Kira searched the web and came across the giant quillies. Now as a member of the rugmakers guild Kira continues to search out different techniques on the web and again was surprized to discover this chain stitch is a “rugmaking” technique, one of several stitches to have “cross pollinated” from embroidery to rug making.
There’s been articles in previous issues of Rug Hooking Magazine by Laura Pierce, Gene Shepherd and others detailing various rughooking stitches.
Still using chain stitch, Kira has made yet another transition from embroidery to rughooking, by creating a design from a traditional pattern worked in cross stitch. She had been researching Bukovina/Ukrainian and Romanian patterns as it is the area her paternal family are from. Then found in her linen cupboard a piece her grandmother brought with her when the family came to Australia as displaced persons in 1950.
Below, made to celebrate International Rug Hooking Day
is the piece underway, made with up-cycled 100% Wool (Albany Woollen Mill) blankets and the finished project.
“In my Bunica’s Travel Trunk” 29cm x 29cm
Now I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing what Kira comes up with in 2016.
The year is just beginning and these Before/After images have arrived in my Inbox “shibori felted knitting” ??
Pippa the pooch about to loose the jacket and the jacket after felting, with some “additions”.
Kira intends to enter a hooked fibre sculpture in WAFTA 21+ a juried Exhibition – so images of that work must be kept under wraps until after selection for the Exhibition.
Editors Note: As a trainee instructor at my first McGown Guild Workshop in Eugene, Oregon, 2002, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Marie Bresch an accomplished rug hooker (you can find Marie’s name listed in Rug Hooking Magazine as a member of the Emeritus Board). Marie learned to hook in Canada many years ago in a very formal class setting where everyone was expected to learn all the rug hooking rules, as well as the different creative stitches used in rug making – 13 I was told. Marie said the stitches were detailed in a book published in Canada. I’m thinking given that time frame, it was probably by Rittermere.
You often hear reference to the “rughooking police”, but don’t worry its now OK to break some of the rules. Back then, at a time when rugs were IN USE … ON THE FLOOR, the rules were in place to preserve the life of the rugs. I’ve met rug hookers in the USA & Canada who have on their floors, rugs made by their Grandmothers – its possible some of these rugs could be close to 100 years old because my friends are “mature age” and their mothers remembered the same rugs being on the floor when they were children.
To share with you the magic and joy of Holiday Season, Beaconsfield Hooking Crafters Guild extend to you our best wishes and invites you to visit our Website to view our last clip of animated rugs, featuring pieces from our 40th Anniversary Show and our Greeting Cards Collection.
Editors Note: To view the current animated rugs clip and two earlier animation projects created by Maria Romero, Webmaster-Beaconsfield Hooking Crafters Guild, click the following link http://beaconsfieldrughooking.tripod.com/animated-rugs.html and then be sure to take a tour of the interesting articles on the Beaconsfield website.
Jo and Judi setting up for a day of rug hooking demonstrations in Perth, Western Australia.
All set up and ready for visitors in the morning – just hoping the weather will be kind and we won’t need the ceiling fans – it’s been the warmest spring (Sep-Nov) on record and the hall is not air-conditioned. It’s also been the driest Spring in 5 years.
The next morning a storm blew in – wild enough to cause the City of Perth to cancel the Christmas Parade. Wind and pouring rain kept people off the roads – except the intrepid Wanneroo Rugmakers who headed in to Alexander Park Craft House to demonstrate various rug hooking techniques.
Below Yvonne explains how she hooks without a frame.
here are some small examples of Yvonne’s work
and Kath’s latest proggy rug is the centre of attention here
while Jo discusses her Rittermere rug hooked with wool yarn (carpet wool hand-dyed by Judith Stephens)
This rug pattern is a classic – the design is printed on hessian and it was imported from Canada about 40 years ago before there were any other names added to the company then called only “Rittermere”.
Also in this picture is one of Robin Inkpen’s rugs which she hooked with recycled fabrics.
Jo had begun work on this rug when she received the Jan/Feb 2015 issue of Rug Hooking Magazine featuring orientals in wide cut and bright colours. While tempted to switch to “brights“, Jo continued with the colours in keeping with a large rug already in her living room.
Below Robin helps a beginner rug maker who was pleased she braved the wet roads to come and learn about this craft. Judi Tompkins had started her morning off with instruction in the basic rug hooking technique.
Kath was also pleased to receive some artistic help from Robin to adjust the colour plan another classic Rittermere rug she is working on.
and …. yes, there was yet another Rittermere rug on show – the peacocks below.
The rug pattern may have been old but Anna decided to go her own way with her colour plan – no desire for “realism” here.
All these old Rittermere rugs were purchased last year at a weekend hooking retreat in South Australia, from a rug hooker who had given up hooking and was “downsizing” in preparation to move house. She had taken lessons years ago from a teacher who had immigrated to South Australia from the UK via Canada in the late 50’s – and for over 30 years held a monthly meeting at her house for her students. During that time she imported all the patterns and tools for her students from Canada.
At previous rug hooking events in Perth we’ve had the pleasure of the company of Kira Mead from Albany – she always has something different and exciting to show – she couldn’t make the long drive this time – but sent an image of her latest creation.
Who’d have thought of 3-D Quillies
What a fabulous and colourful way to “wind-up” the year.
In the New Year we will bring you more news from other groups around Australia, until then
Greetings and Best Wishes for a healthy and safe New Year to all our members and their families.
Rug Hooking events are being planned across Australia to celebrate International Rug Hooking Day on 4th December
Rug Hooking Magazine will post photos and brief descriptions of rug hooking events from around the world on the RHM Facebook page. To accommodate different time zones the page will be monitored from 3rd to 5th December with images posted on the 4th December – USA time.
So send in your photos, even if it’s just you and a friend getting together to hook rugs or talk about rug hooking.
Judi Tompkins from Queensland will be in Western Australia giving a workshop (3D Rughooking) on the 5th of December (the 4th in the USA) so her group the Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters had their own special celebration ahead of time.
The group lunched at Secrets on the Lake, a rainforest resort, in Montville, Queensland, not far from Judi’s home.
No rug hooking took place, but just look at the inspirational surroundings.
Photos taken by Judi Tompkins
Also in Queensland
Bec Andersen, is planning a morning tea and a Rughooking Show and Tell
on Friday the 4th December 10:00am – 12:00pm
at theTamborine Mountain Library,
Cnr. Main & Yuulong St
Works by The Happy Hookers are on exhibition.
Members of the public are welcome
RSVP Essential 55405473
While in New South Wales, the Narrawilly Proggers will be holding their annual “Fashion Show” on Friday the 4th of December.
This is a popular event held at Miriam Miller’s Rug Room. The Narrawilly Proggers receive donated garments which are cut up for rug making. Miriam says “All year we save anything unusual or interesting and the after the parade, some are used for rugs, others worn.”
Garments are modeled by members of the group and sold in an unusual manner amid much hilarity.
Funds raised go to support Heather Ritchie’s Rug Aid – a rughooking school for the blind in The Gambia.
Visitors are most welcome on this day – for details of the event contact Miriam Miller Tel: (02) 4455-6870 or
email: narrawillyfarm@shoal.net.au
In Western Australia, on Saturday 5th December,
the Wanneroo Rugmakers will hold their Saturday meeting in the main hall of Alexander Park Craft House, Cnr Elstree & Clyde Sts, Menora and will demonstrate various rugmaking techniques and Robin Inkpen will be visiting from Donnybrook
Robins locker-hooking with sari silk
Invitations have gone out to Guild members and those who’ve expressed interest in learning about the craft, to bring their hooked creations for show and tell, or their rug making projects in need of help, and to share in a day of exchanging rugmaking and textile ideas.
Dont have a rughooking project to work on?
Frames will be set up and material available for you to try several different rugmaking techniques. Tools and kits for small projects will also be available for sale.
Bring your friends and join the fun
any time between 9:30am and 4:00pm
If you’re coming for the day bring some lunch for yourself – tea and coffee will be available.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Welcome to TIGHR’s Hooking Matters !
Above Christine Alexander taking a break in a quiet moment at the Show.
1st prize winner in Proggy Floor Rug by Carol Flynn
The Santa cushion was hooked by a 14 year old. Chloe Thompson who received a Highly Commended Award. 
1st prize in Hooky or Proggy item not otherwise mentioned was created by Christine Alexander
Maggie Hickey took 2nd prize in the Hooked Floor Rug category.
work she does to raise funds for a charitable organization and to sell the tools needed for the project.
and various rug making techniques. Her open and sharing personality reflects the bright colours she likes to work with.
To All Australian Rugmakers Guild members
You must be logged in to post a comment.