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ISSN 2207-001X    23  August 2024

Out of the box and onto the wall, at Rug Hooking Week, Sauder Village, Ohio, USA, August 2024. Witchetty Grub was designed and hooked in 2023 by Josephine (Jo) Franco, for the Magnificent Bugs in Rugs project.  Many thanks to Susan Feller @artwools  for images of the grub on exhibit at Rug Hooking Week.

Canadian textile artists Yvonne-Iten Scott and Leslie Knight are the Curators of  Magnificent Bugs in Rugs, https://www.instagram.com/magnificentbugsinrugs/ a travelling exhibition of artistic, hand-hooked rugs, which they also published in a children’s book. The editors have done an excellent job of creating verses to go along with each entry. Profits from this project will go to promoting the traditional craft of rug making to a new generation.

The project Brief sent to rug hookers around the globe called for an indigenous bug. Most people think of lovely butterflies and colourful beatles. For me coming from Australia it was no different, our country has more than it’s fair share of butterflies, spiders and colourful bugs, but knowing the rugs for this project were intended for a children’s book and remembering when my sons were small, how fascinated they were with sticks, stones, rocks, and yucky bugs, I narrowed my search for yucky bugs and grubs, deciding on the Witchetty Grub  which features in many articles on Australian Bush Tucker (Bush Food) found in the Outback – the barren and dry “red heart” of our country. Tourists blanch when told by indigenous tour leaders that the grubs can be eaten raw (taste like almonds) or when quickly roasted in campfire coals, they taste like scramble eggs or chicken. The grubs are a rich source of protein, vitamins, and healthy fats. Can’t say I’ve been game enough to give it a try – but there’s several videos on YouTube of people who have.

Witchetty grubs are the larval stage of Ghost Moths (Endoxyla leucomochla). Ghost moths lack functional feeding organs and only live for a few days. Before they die, they lay eggs around the Acacia bushes (Acacia kempeana) commonly called Witchetty Bush. When the eggs hatch, the grubs burrow into the ground and feed on the sap in the roots. If the grub is not dug up and eaten, after pupating the adult moth emerges from its woody home leaving behind its protective skin.

Having chosen the witchetty grub, the next thing was how to depict its “plumpness” (some grubs are big enough to stretch across the palm of a person’s hand) and how to simply depict the colours of the area where the grubs are found. I settled on a 3D hooked grub, giant Waldoboro hooking if you will, on a flat traditionally hooked background featuring the red/gold colours of the West Australian outback often referred to as part of “the red centre”.

After drawing my grub and having it enlarged at a local print shop, I stuck the print to the window and covered it with tulle tracing the design onto it with a thick marker pen.

The next step was to lay the tulle over my foundation cloth and transferred the grub to it with the marker pen. I use the term foundation cloth instead of “backing” to avoid confusion, because I knew the finished piece would have a decorative, protective backing.

To see where to begin my sculpting within the body of the grub, I hooked the outline of the segments in dark coloured wool, strips from my stash that I’d overdyed, grouping the previously cut strips together with rubber bands to go into the dye, then placing them in a lingerie bag to be rinsed in the washing machine before hanging out on my clothesline to dry.

I knew Waldoboro was a matter of hooking loops high, packing them close together, cutting the loops and then sculpting; and had seen progress photos of work by Judi Tompkins who lives in QLD on the other side of Australia, so figured I had this in the bag – not so…

it’s more difficult than it looks.

The simple background was drawn in next; distant hills covered in spinifex (yellow/gold clumps of tall grass) were hooked with alpaca. Thethe broken tree root, clear vibrant blue sky and the red earth below – all hooked with cut wool strips salvaged from my stash.

With the dark background complete, I began to pull long loops using a mixture of white wool, wool tops (unspun fleece) and several strands together of spun alpaca. This is when I knew I had a problem. When hooked, the first segment looked like it was exploding, how was I ever going to cope with the rest? Time to place a call to Judi and get some advice.

Gradually I managed to tame the grub sculpting from the section emerging from the broken log to the head, which was the hardest part that I left for last. At that point it was time to think again about the finishing.  I’d given some initial thought as to how to present, because of the raised centre decided if possible, to show on a plinth rather than hanging.

Thanks to Judi T., I had a supply of hand-dyed thick rug wool, unspun fleece (tops) and spun alpaca.  Three large tubs of skeins of undyed alpaca had been donated to our group in the West, more than we could ever use, so a couple of large bags of skeins were sent to Judi in QLD who, with help from some of her group members, dyed the skeins and came up with a wonderful array of variegated colours. From her pictures I chose what I needed. The dyed skeins were rolled into balls and sent back to me (that was some well-travelled alpaca).  I used the alpaca for the distant hills and because it was so fine, I had to double or triple it after unwinding to cut out the segments of colours that I wanted. Along with the yarn came a piece of cotton fabric with an embossed stitch that had been dropped into the same orange/yellow dye bath which worked beautifully as the backing.

Before attaching the backing to the hooked piece, a pocket was added as a label, showing artists details and to hold more printed and laminated information on the grub. The backing was tacked in place and the excess material folded over to the front of the work.

To make sure the weight of the grub didn’t pull the rug out of shape if it was hung, a running stitch was sewn under the outside edge of the grub attaching it to the backing.

Then came the decision on how to cover the wide turn-over. Normally I would roll the backing to the front of the piece and whip stitch it in place, but with the extra width this didn’t look like an option. I’d only used a small amount of the dyed rug wool, and a pile of it lay next to the piece during my thought process. A braid to create a frame seemed like the answer, but because my turned over backing wasn’t even in width, I felt something more unstructured was needed, plus the extra height would give additional depth to the piece. The question was, how to fix those loose strands to the work?

That’s where single strands of the dyed spun alpaca came into play. I was able to wrap the alpaca strands around the loosely placed thick wool and stitch the alpaca ends into the foundation cloth, a tedious job – it would have been so much easier to have whipped or added a braid!

I was not happy with the finish, but it was too much to undo – so out came the needle and alpaca thread again and I button-hole stitched around the base of the wool border into the seam of the backing – yes I am picky!  but happy with the final look. The project took 3 months to complete and  our dining room table was finally uncluttered.

To be invited to participate in this project was an honour; to be amongst so many experienced rug hookers who create intricate and amazingly fine shaded colourful works. It was a challenge to come up with something that would fit in with their traditional pieces, since the scope of my current work with up-cycled textiles is outside my McGown Guild training and accreditation.  Fortunately, memories of my two young sons some 50 years ago, provided the inspiration.  The challenge was worth it; starting from scratch, figuring it out as I went along, so glad I took Judi’s advice and documented the project from beginning to end.

I’m proud to be included in the Magnificent Bugs book and the travelling exhibition to be shown next at The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers (TIGHR) Triennial Conference, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada from September 29 to October 2, 2024. https://tighr.net/ 

I’d love to attend but due to health matters can’t make it this year.  Greetings to all  –

ISSN 2207-001X  January 1, 2023

Without fail, on the 1^st day of the month “Connecting Us” Miriam Miller’s newsletter arrives in my INBOX. Today, the first day of January 2023, was no different.

Images in this issue, No. 84, reminded me of visitors to Miriam’s Narrawilly Rug Room shared five years ago…

RUG HOOKING VISITORS FROM NEAR AND FAR: April 2017  No.19

On 7^th April 2017, Rug Day at Narrawilly, Maggie Whyte, accompanied by Sonja and Janet from Canberra made the 3-hour journey each way to join in for the day… that was the “near”.

From “further away” came Irene Bruninghausen, who lives in Darwin, in the Northern Territory, but spends some each year in Sydney. Irene brought her nearly completed first rug to discuss with Miriam.

 “My Rug was conceived in Ormiston Gorge Central Australia, physically commenced under Miriam’s tutelage at Milton N.S.W. Contributions were made at roadside stops in Queensland and it was almost completed in Darwin N.T. Now back at Milton trying to get a lesson in corner edging. It’s been a scenic journey for us. One thing I have learned about rugging you have to be comfy. In hot sweaty Darwin, I stripped down to a cossie, and set the stretcher frame down on a day bed. Then set up an enormous pedestal fan behind me.  Fantastic – it blew all the loose threads and scraps all over the house.”

It’s a long drive from Darwin in the Northern Territory to Narrawilly in Milton, New South Wales, through the “outback” to the South Central East Coast, approximately 4,567km (2,838miles). These images were taken back when Irene first began her rug. I am in awe of the isolation and distances between stopovers, so have noted them on the images.

And from “far away”, in that same issue from long ago…  Sally Gilbert of New Hampshire, USA, who had travelled to Australia and visited with Miriam and the Narrawilly Proggy Rugmakers Group, shared images of chair pads she designed with Australian motifs and hooked with a combination of new and repurposed 100% wool strips. 

Now in this new, 2023 issue, is an image of a door pocket that Sally hooked to fill with Christmas greens and give to her daughter-in-law as a gift. The pattern purchased from Two Old Crows, is 13 inches long and hooked with wool from Sally’s stash on linen foundation cloth.

Miriam’s Rug Room, Narrawilly, 2017 – Sally (second from the left) with members of the Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers; Sue (Sally) Miriam, Margaret, Christine, Judy and Janet.

FROM THE EDITOR:

It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone, let alone 5 years since the images in this report were taken!

2022 saw the loss of many of our rug hooking friends, horrendous floods on the East Coast of Australia, the Northern Hemisphere hit with hurricanes and now extreme cold and snow! a continuing assault on Ukraine and COVID still a problem. Hopefully this New Year will see things  come under control so once again we can plan to travel.

Best Wishes to everyone for a peaceful, safe and happy New Year.

ISSN 2207-100X     30th  March 2022

Arts Connect Open Studios (Hinterland) was held last weekend. Artists from the Hinterland area of the Queensland Sunshine Coast opened their studios so the public could see “how art happens”.

This was a first time for Judi to open her studio Palimpsest to the public.

Who would have thought it even possible after the extreme weather event of  March 4.  Judi’s home & studio, are in Landsborough, in the middle of the one of the worst hit areas!

Wild winds and flooding. Trees downed, no power, phone or internet. Schools closed and people told to stay off the roads!

Early preparation was her answer.

Judi in QLD  kept me (Jo in WA) up-to-date with her plans for, and then news of, the weekend.

Judi…

“I had Studio “Palimpsest” set up

plus two small galleries, the  Foyer Gallery,

and Mini Gallery…

and an interactive challenge for people to try and assemble, the “Deconstructed Fibre Puzzle”.   

Since my fibre technique is generally unknown to most people in this country – and it’s so tactile – I also provided visitors with access to a “Touch Table” in the area between the two galleries where the fibres used in my work could be touched and handled. This, to try and restrain visitors from touching the works! I know they are soooooo enticing!”

Saturday rolled around and even though one of the organizers had been to visit Judi to check out her studio space and had indicated there would be many visitors, Judi didn’t really believe it. In the Landsborough area she is one of four artists, a couple of painters and a sculptor working with wood. There are towns in the Glass House Mountains and further north closer to the coast well known for artists colonies but Landsborough is a bit out of the way.

Judi…

“What a terrific first day and my first time with Open Studios… it was exhausting but it was great fun!

I had at least 50 people come through, a really nice group of engaged and engaging visitors with good questions. I sold one work and a few bags and small items. 

Jo:  I have one of Judi’s bags showing the Greater Bilby – it makes a great catch-all  there’s a place for my keys in an inside zipped pocket and the black bottom and shoulder straps don’t get grubby. Plus the zip at the top of the bag prevents things spilling out!

Judi: Most visitors went onto the studio deck, individually and in groups, to “have a go” at assembling the “Deconstructed Fibre” puzzle (16 pieces with an “extra” to throw them off), they tried to match wits with this fibre challenge but only a few managed to put it together (I think it has something with how you squint!)

Since my two galleries and “touch table” are away from my studio space, I owe the success of the day to my team of highly-trained and immensely creative group of fibre/textile artists who acted as “fibre docents” answering questions and guiding people to various areas. My docents were issued with red aprons (embroidered with my “Moose with Boomerang logo – and tattoo) so visitors knew who to ask for information.

SUNDAY – Judi…   Oh MY! today was a real surprise even though I expected more people on a Sunday…. I can’t be sure how many showed up (still have the paperwork to go through) but a number of them came back after Saturday’s visit. I would guess there were 80+ visitors. My crack Fibre Docent Team in their red aprons were available to guide visitors to the various locations and to answer questions but even with help, I was flat out all day.   I sold another three pieces as well  as more canvas bags and small kits (people were thinking ahead to Christmas and grandchildren I believe).

 SOME OF MY  SOLD WORKS :

The “Deconstructed Fibre Puzzle” served to keep people here even when they said upfront, they were “in a rush”. There were some really hysterical moments with the puzzle and one group of 4 “cheated” by using my new photo that “proved” the puzzle would work and that there was indeed a 17th piece that didn’t fit. I told them I would time them for speed and accuracy…. they failed to do it quickly even then but finally got it together…. and insisted on a “Winners” photo be taken.

The puzzle served as a great icebreaker and let people experience fibre and my “odd” work tactilely.

The “touch table” was a hit and I had people going back for “one more touch” before they left!  Some in the gallery would begin to reach out to touch and then abruptly withdraw their hand smile at me and quickly walk out to the touch table.

We also offered free Turmeric as people left… many intended to plant some while others said they would use it in the evening meal. 

 Several people have indicated they want bespoke/commission work and I do think that many received a metaphorical “whack on the side of the head” when they were asked to see the world and all who sail in her, differently.

Judi’s take on the weekend event…

The Open Studios was great on a number of levels and the fact that my Fibre/Textile group was so involved as my “Fibre Docents” accounted for the success of the two days! The event couldn’t have been more fun, cooperative, or collaborative! I’ll do it again!  Visitors commented on how well-organised this event has been… I would second that!

Once again, many thanks to Arts Connect for the Open Studios adventure. This organisation will be the topic of conversation and I hope for more memberships in Arts Connect when my Fibre Docents come back for one of our irregular “Gatherings” later in April.

**  The End… of a Great Weekend **

Bobby Melia along with members of Yarra Valley Rugmakers Group had a successful weekend at the Lost Trades Fair, Bendigo, Victoria, on 19th/20th March, 2022. They  demonstrated rug making techniques, displayed their work, answered many questions about rug making tools and frames and attracted new members to their group.

The demonstrations appealed to all ages! Apparently young Marcel spent at least half an hour working on the proggy rug after a short lesson with Lee. Then he ran off to drag his brother back for a lesson. Never mind the heat!   (Photos and permission supplied by Marcel’s mum.)

Fairgoers were intrigued with the traditional craft and many have joined the Victorian’s online group all commenting on the enthusiasm and friendliness of the group members who were demonstrating.

Here are some images from the event.

When seeing this frame on the Victorian group’s Facebook page Judi Tompkins, QLD  commented “It looks like the frame shown in Miriam Miller’s Hooky & Proggy Rugs, a great reference and the only rug hooking book written in Australia. The stretcher frame is also useful as a smaller frame.”    Bobby replied that she had shared the information on the frame from a great article on RugCrafting Australia.

Canadian Susan Sutherland (TIGHR/Secretary), also commented on the stretcher frame. Susan is no stranger to Australia rug makers, she lived and taught rug hooking in Canberra before the Australian Rugmakers group was established and has since visited to attend our Aussie Group events.

Here’s the image from Miriam’s book which also has instructions on how to make this frame. Don’t have the book?      For more information email Miriam at  narrawillyfarm@shoal.net.au    or check out RugCrafting Australia.    The frame can be made to any width (see Editor’s Note at the end of this Blog.)

The next get-together of the Yarra Valley Rugmakers is April 9th in Warrandyte.

If you’re interested in learning rug hooking or prodding, or if you just want to check it out please email Anne a.schafer@bigpond.com or send a private message on the Groups Facebook page  – they will message you with more details.

Bobby says:  “We usually go from 10-10:30 until 3 or so.

Beginners, will need a piece of hessian (Spotlight undyed hessian is good, or a sack that’s not falling apart), some cloth (anything you like), tools if you have them, could even be a crochet hook but if you don’t have anything yet, or want to wait and see, tools can be made available for the day, perhaps an embroidery, tapestry or quilting hoop (if you have one already), scissors… hmmm?  What else….     

A contribution to lunch (we eat too much so go easy), (speaking for myself there, I eat too much) or…   just come to check it out. But it’s fun to start and after 15 minutes you’ll know why.”

There is now a second rug makers group in Victoria run by  Chris Noorbergen a member of the Yarra Valley Rugmakers. The new group, the “South Coast Rugmakers” meet at Chris’s house in Leongatha. Vanessa, a new member has been in contact with Chris regarding her first project and says…  “Hi everyone, Thanks for having me in your group. I am very new to rug hooking and this is my first attempt. Chris Noorbergen is patiently guiding me and putting up with my hundreds of progress photos. Eventually it will be a floor rug (nothing like starting big)”.     

Can you believe it…   this is a “first” rug!

FROM THE EDITOR: As mentioned earlier, the stretcher frame can be enlarged.  The Wanneroo Rugmakers in Western Australia, had two large frames built to accommodate a group community project.  The “super” frame  seating up to six rugmakers was supported by the side rails on tables instead of sawhorses beneath, allowing space for 3 people to sit each side of the frame without knocking knees. The design outline and small sections of the rug were hooked and then the whole thing turned over and completed with proggy. The backing had been rolled over the top and bottom bars and work started in the middle, unrolled to access the rest of the design. As work on the wall hanging was coming to an end, the finished centre portion of the work became so heavy it was necessary to slide another wooden bar under it between the two tables for support . The group met in a shared space, so after each session the backing was unlaced from the side rails and top & bottom bars rolled back towards the middle, tied together, to be stored laying flat as a “long tube”.

The designs for these wall hangings were drawn up by the Community Arts Director from photos taken by local artist Lyn Franke, of Lake Joondalup and local market gardens – rows of lettuce in red soil seen below.

ISSN 2207-100X         March 2022

A question often asked…

“Where can you buy cut wool fabric for rug hooking in Australia ?”

In North America, many rug hooking instructors sell wool fabric from their studios or online; by the metre, as swatches, or strips cut to the size required. You can find online sellers showing “.au” in their online address – however the cost of the postage indicates the wool strips are coming from overseas and the postage costs more than the wool!

If you are trying to achieve the “carpet” effect in your next rug, then you know you need to use strips of durable wool fabric to achieve the “even loops” that simply can’t be achieved by using miscellaneous recycled fabrics that tend to “mushroom” or shred in a textural way (but still loved by many). The intricate, tapestry-like antique rug patterns were specifically designed for wool strips!

COVID de-stashing – holds the answer!

I received an email from Jenny in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, who was sorting her late mother’s craft supplies and is interested in selling two (2) wool fabric cutters; a large quantity of “re-cycled” wool garments, along with previously cut wool strips; plus a large selection of rug designs drawn on Hessian. Not being a rug hooker, she didn’t know where to find buyers for these supplies or where to start advertising.

Rugmakers in Australia are well-aware of how difficult rug hooking supplies are to come by, so once again the network of the Australian Rugmakers Group is able to come to her rescue and help our Australian rugmakers! You will find all the items on our Swap n Sell page along with the Jenny’s email address for easy contact.

If you need wool strips but don’t want to go to the expense of buying a cutter; and Jenny’s current stash of strips are not the size you want, or in your colourway, you could arrange with her to have some of the recycled wool fabric cut to the size you need.

If you have shopped online for pre-cut wool strips, you know they are generally cut from swatches that are 31-46 cm (12-18 in.) long and are sold online through places like eBay and Amazon, in 100-strip lots that range in price from US$12.95 – US$15 plus postage of US$25  – more than what the wool strips cost!

Here’s an image showing the different sizes of strips and a Wool Calculator – this information is shared from the website of Loopy Wool Rug Hooking Wool and Supplies, who I’m sure won’t mind the publicity. https://www.loopysupply.com/

Traditional Rug designs are also available For Sale on this website’s Swap n Sell. Some are commercially printed, others hand drawn.

If you have purchased old patterns printed or drawn on Hessian, you know the primary problem has to do with the Hessian backing and how it was stored. These patterns are probably 40-50 years old and have been folded while stored instead of being rolled like quilts. While the creases could be ironed out, it does mean the backing has probably been weakened along the crease lines and most rug makers are reluctant to invest a lot of time and wool into an intricate design on a “suspect” backing.

However, it is possible to save these antique designs by copying them onto a new backing of your choice (i.e., new Hessian, synthetic linen or monks cloth, all available in Australia.)  Copyright would not become an issue as long as the purchaser merely transfers the commercial pattern for their personal use and does not make additional copies for sale.

The rug hooking supplies listed are located in Tanunda, South Australia. If you are interested contact Jenny at  jenny-au@ihug.com.au who said anyone passing through the Barossa Valley is welcome to inspect the items and/or save on postage.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  I know several Aussie Group members who have purchased and hooked up designs on backing from this era – I have done so myself – it seems to hold up quite well. The quality and finish of the “old” Hessian is superior to the Hessian available today, which is smelly and hairy!

In the West, after 2 years of no COVID, numbers are climbing rapidly and we are masked and dealing with severe COVID restrictions. While on the East Coast, they are coming out of horrendous floods. To top this, in Europe, Ukraine and its people are being decimated!  Thoughts are with everyone dealing with adversity.    Stay Safe and keep on rugmaking. 

ISSN 2207-100X         February 2022

    SAVE the DATES –  Here’s to a good start to the New Year!                     

updating calendars,  networking, coming together to source and share materials… don’t miss sharing “worms”  at the end of this Blog.

Did you know that you can find out about rug hooking groups around Australia on this Australian Rugmakers Group website – just click Current Events 

Some Australian rug groups meet “in person” –  others online, and some groups, like the ones in Sydney (Epping), in Victoria, and in South Australia, do both.

In NEW SOUTH WALES  a group called  From Rags to Rugs, Sydney Rug Hookers meet in the north shore suburb of Epping to learn rug making techniques, encourage and inspire each other. Martha Birch, the groups facilitator, welcomes all rug hookers to their regular meetings, gives tuition to any newcomers, as well as paid Workshops.

Martha can also offer advice on where to source rug hooking materials and equipment. The group meets monthly on the 2nd Saturday, from February to November. For more information email Martha at:  marthabirch@gmail.com

In Milton on the New South Wales Central South Coast, you’ll find in-person gatherings on the 1^st & 3^rd Friday of the month in Miriam Miller’s Rug Room at Narrawilly Farm, you can’t miss it, it’s surrounded to the north and east by sunflowers. Miriam’s Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers have been meeting since 1994.  Miriam gives private workshops as well as holding her groups gatherings. To contact Miriam, email narrawillyfarm@shoal.net.au    “Connecting Us” Miriam’s newsletter is archived on this website… contact her if you’d like to receive it by email.

In Victoria, there are now two rug hooking groups. Members of the original group – Victorian Rug Makers, Yarra Valley Group, travel to meet at each other homes. The new group, the “South Coast Rugmakers” meet at Chris’s house in Leongatha.

Since COVID caused everyone to isolate, members from both groups keep track of each other on a Facebook group This group is open to all rugmakers.

Next month Victorian group members are  going to the Fair!   The Lost Trades Fair in Bendigo on 19^th & 20^th March, where they will be demonstrating rug hooking. More information on the Fair and to purchase tickets click here.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA – Strathalbyn: The StrathMatters are another “online” group, but when getting together they gather at the Strathalbyn Neighbourhood Centre, Parker Avenue, Strathalbyn, between 10am – 12noon, on the first and third Fridays of the month. Facilitator Judith Stephens, designs rugs, gives workshops, takes part in the SALA trail and Craft Fairs and organizes rug hooking events for her group. Follow their Blog and join their Facebook Group to see their work.  This checkered rug was locker-hooked as a Christmas present by Christina; its now in position in apartment under desk and between main rug as ordered by her second son.

QUEENSLAND – Landsborough: The Sunshine Coast Fibre & Textile Artists meet on an occasional basis at Judi Tompkins Studio, Palimpsest. The “gatherings” that started out as a rug hooking group now focus on both craft/art and the diverse interests and skills of the participants.

On 26^th   & 27^th March 2022  Judi’s Studio will be open from 10am-4.00pm as part of Open Studios – Sunshine Coast.

The curated week-long art trail embraces the region from Caloundra to Coolum along the coastline as well as taking in the Hinterland through popular tourist destinations like Maleny and Montville, including Landsborough.  Art enthusiasts and collectors can enjoy a rare opportunity to see behind the scenes, meet and directly support local makers.

You will see there are many more Australian rug making groups listed on the Current Events page; if your group doesn’t show up and you’d like to be listed, or if you’re listed and would like changes made, or have events to publicize please email Jo at: rughookingaustralia@gmail.com

NETWORKING & SHARING MATERIALS: Over the last two years, lockdowns have given many people the time to declutter, and across the country rug hooking groups have received donations of rug hooking supplies.

It seems latch hooking must have been very popular in Australia in the 70’s – the catch cry now is… “I’ve been clearing out my deceased mother’s craft supplies”, or “I’m downsizing into a retirement home” or “I’m having problems with my hands and can no longer work on this”.  It’s interesting that people are not just disposing of, but are trying to find a home for, craft supplies that were an important to their loved ones.

Through this website we often receive emails from people looking for “pre-cut wool” and the open mesh canvas used as backing for latch hooking so there must still be active latch hookers out there?

Donations offered for sale are shown on this websites Swap n Sell page.  However, some “donations” go straight to local groups like this one in Queensland. The offer came in through the website and the person donating was in the Sunshine Coast area so the donated “supplies” were shared with the Sunshine Coast Fibre & Textile Artists in Landsborough. They said unpacking was like Christmas!

What can a group of traditional rug hookers do with latch hooking supplies?

A couple of members of the Wanneroo Rugmakers who know latch hooking shared the donation, boxes of latch hook wool and backing delivered to their Saturday morning meeting a couple of weeks ago. Here’s the first of the new rugs underway –

Did you know… the same mesh “canvas” (backing) used for latch hooking can be used for locker-hooking?

Here’s a locker-hooked rug by Anna (from the Wanneroo Rugmakers in West Australia) with a crocheted edge using the same twine as her 1.5m diameter crocheted rug, alongside a rug traditionally hooked with T-shirts.

The best thing about locker-hooking is you can reuse cotton household items like sheets and doona covers. The cotton tears easily into strips and due to the ruching of the material as the fabric strips are gathered up and “locked” into place (see hook with “eye” and locking cord in the image above) there are no raw edges showing.

Now for traditional rug hooking with strips of woollen fabric…  I’m often asked, “where in Australia can you buy wool fabric to cut up for rug hooking. ”  Well, there isn’t a supplier – you’d have to buy from a supplier in North America and pay to have shipped. It’s even hard to find used wool garments in Op Shops here because our winters aren’t as severe as in the North and most of us opt for light-weight synthetic winter garments. This doesn’t help the person who contacted me recently and would really like to give hooking, with wool fabric, creating even rows of loops a go.   I told her I would put the word out that she was looking to buy cut strips of wool fabric.  I keep using that term “wool fabric” because we in Australia use the term wool in place of yarn and hooking with wool yarn is quite different and has a different finish.

I’m thinking particularly of the Victorian Group some of them do use wool fabric to hook with – having had the wool shipped in, and also purchased from Gene Shepherd on one of his trips to OZ.  Or those like myself, who purchased wool fabric while traveling in the USA.  No doubt – like me they possibly have swatches or cut strips left over from various projects.

If anyone finds themselves with left-over strips (worms) they would like to sell, swap or donate, please send images to show approximately how much you have available and I’ll put you together with the person/s I know are searching.

I know this can be done, as many years ago I wrote an article for  Rug Hooking Magazine and mentioned the fact that while Australia has no shortage of sheep, they are shorn and the wool goes off-shore to be milled and the woollen fabric that comes back to Australia is EXTREMELY expensive – you wouldn’t be cutting it up for rugging!  Following that article a rug hooking group in California put the call out for leftover worms (strips) and I received a large box full of strips varying in size and colour.  Over the years those wool strips have gone into many of the groups rug hooking projects. The best part was, we received that box full of cut strips before we had a cutter. Another tool that has to be purchased in North America and shipped here. The cutters are heavy and shipping expensive!

Woollen blankets are used by Miriam Miller and her group (NSW), Judi Tompkins (QLD) & Kira Mead(WA). Unfortunately, like many Australian mills, the Albany Woollen Mills in WA have closed down. Kira has scoured the Albany Op Shops and I think takes the prize for the most Albany Woollen Mill blankets.

Looking for supplies? You’re welcome to use this website to connect with other rug making enthusiasts.

Email questions and they’ll be forward to the appropriate person or group.    Happy Rug Making   

ISSN 2207-100X 31st  December 2021

Here we are at the end of 2021, still separated across the country and around the world by lockdowns. The forced separation has encouraged many to accept technology as a way of socializing and taking workshops – the personal touch is missed, but surprisingly these Zoom, Facetime, Google Chats etc have broadened friendships for many rug hookers even though the use of technology has been a steep learning curve.  That was certainly the case for members of the Newfoundland Board of The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers (TIGHR).

They began their 3-year term as host country at the end of 2018 with plans to hold the TIGHR Triennial Conference at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John’s, NL, Canada from October 4-8, 2021.

Expecting to have a diverse group of rug hookers attend with a variety of interests they began looking for instructors who would approach topics in a unique way to stimulate creativity. Workshops were to take place in small break-out rooms in a hotel setting. Due to COVID, the Triennial Conference was cancelled and the workshops and presentations went online once a month, January until December 2021.

In October Jo Franco and Judi Tompkins gave an online presentation discussing contemporary rug hooking and the history of rug making in Australia at the end of which most of the viewers stayed on for a Q & A session viewers mics were opened allowing for quite a social event.

Read More        Presentation for TIGHR 2

The 2018-2021 TIGHR Board must be congratulated for the success of the online Triennial activities. An enormous amount of time and effort must have been spent preparing for not one, but two Triennial Conferences, as well as learning to deal with the technology to take the workshops online and hold the General Meeting as a webinar giving all TIGHR members the chance to attend.

FROM THE EDITOR:

I hope you will enjoy reading the TIGHR Presentation with the history of rug making in Australia and how Australia came to be involved in the International Guild. At this time when we are all so “connected”, it seems hard to believe that in the 1970’s, North American traditional rug hooking was being taught in country South Australia by Pam Whitehead, and on the south-central coast of New South Wales, Miriam Miller was teaching rugmaking using techniques from the UK – and neither knew about the other. Miriam has just published the 72nd monthly issue (uninterrupted) of her newsletter from her Narrawilly Farm Rug Room where the Narrawilly Proggy Rugmakers have been meeting since 1994. Images of all rugs made during that time faithfully documented by Jacqui Thomson. https://www.rughookingaustralia.com.au/connecting-us-miriam-miller-nsw/

By comparison to both the US and Canada, each land mass the approximate size of Australia, the number of rug hookers in Australia is miniscule and those here seem to be allergic to “organization”. In our presentation Judi and I featured some of the groups and their members and have attempted to show how a traditional craft is becoming a contemporary art form. While on the other hand there is a resurgence in reuse/recycle and while doing so creating supportive networks.

While putting the presentation and this blog together I looked back through previous blogs and am amazed at the creativity of the ARG members. At this time of the year looking back seems like the thing to do… you can too, on the left side of the website you will find Recent Posts listed and a search box where you can input the Month & Year for earlier posts.  October 2012 – was a busy month! our first blog on the 2nd about a Rug Hooking Demo in Queensland; on the 8^th notice of the ARG General Meeting and the 31^st featured the Rug Expo/International Tutors – held the weekend after the 2012 Triennial Conference.  The Blog was preceded by the Guild newsletter which transitioned from a one page email to multiple pages with coloured images printed and posted to members. Then posted online in a private members section of this website. After a revamp of the website doing away with the private section, the Australian Rugmakers newsletter finally morphed into this Blog.

Now it’s time to look forward… and to welcome new rug hookers through this website, ARG Facebook page and online rug hooking groups and to stay in contact with rug hooking friends in Australia and around the globe.

I wish you all a Happy and Safe New Year in 2022