Jananas

My nana was a talented rug hooker. I still have coasters and a small rug that she made for me. Both family cottages are decorated with coasters, seat covers, and art pieces that she made. Sadly, when I was young I didn’t have an interest in learning. As part of an art series that I’m working on I realized that the best way to portray what I’m going for is through rug hooking, for two reasons – one, its a good contrast, and two, it honours her.

A few weeks ago I attended one of Barb D’arcy’s classes with a friend of the family. Barb is one of those inspirational people – talented and kickin’ it into her 80′s. [As an aside, she mentioned the importance of having hobbies because they give you a reason to get out of bed in the morning - something that becomes exceedingly important as partners and friends start to pass on. What makes you want to get out of bed in the morning?]

Being in her studio space as like getting to spend time with the holy grail of rug hooking. And it made me want to learn – about rug hooking, about dying, about fabric and weave and history. Next up on my list of classes to take is rug hooking – I’m only waiting so that I have enough free time in my schedule to make room for it!

However, just because I can’t take a class doesn’t mean that I can’t start to teach myself. I ended up going to the Hook In this past weekend up in North Toronto. I even joined the Ontario Hooking Craft Guild! Jason very kindly drove me and held my bags while I fondled wool, drooled over fleece, and oogled patterns. I bought a simple starter kit, a coarse hook, and a hoop. I took a crack at it over the weekend and spent a little more time on it today. Right now I’m playing with it as I go – learning about how far apart I can place loops, how to get straight lines, tension, how to hold the hook. Right now I can’t see myself being all gung ho about finishing, but I do think that this is the perfect change of pace project. I can pick it up and do a line or two and then put it back down again. Its my break from other things!

Even though I’ve just started out, I have some ideas of patterns that I’d like to make. Punk Rock Rug Hooking anyone?

Oh, and the fleece I picked up got spun into yarn this morning. It actually went okay for the most part – not too many parts where it went super crazy kinky. I think that the key for me is lots and lots of pre-drafting so that the combed top is pretty narrow. I’m not very good at drafting while also pinching/moving my right hand so that I can form the yarn. That’ll take more practice.