A Lifetime Of Rug Hooking

Canada's East Coast has a unique craft heritage that has seen generations hooking rugs during the long winter evenings. Hooked mats and rugs were originally intented as functional pieces--a place to wipe dirty feet at the back door, or a cover for drafty floors. But at some point aesthetics crept into this process, and those simple mats have evolved into the wonderful folk art rugs we see today. Nova Scotia's Doris Eaton has been hooking rugs for nearly 50 years and is one of the region's most well-known rug-hookers. A Lifetime of Rug-Hooking features over 80 of Doris's colourful and lively rugs and the inspiration and materials behind her art. Doris also shares some of her tried and true techniques, including her famous "Eaton Edge" for finishing a rug. With a foreword from fellow Nova Scotia rug-hooker and artist Deanne Fitzpatrick, A Lifetime of Rug-Hooking is a marvellous visual tour of the work of an influential East Coast folk artist.

Rug hooking tools and equipment made simple, from advice on choosing the perfect wool to finishing your hooked rug. • Step-by-step instructions on how to hook a rug • How to draw your own pattern • Troubleshooting and tips for new rug hookers • 8 projects with patterns and complete instructions

Finishing techniques from expert teachersStep-by-step photographsCare and cleaning of hooked rugsIncludes whipped, knit, crocheted, and braided edges Every rug hooker needs a resource for edge finishes. This comprehensive book covers eight different techniques, providing helpful tips and suggestions for professional looking edges. Includes a range of styles from simple whipping to complex combinations of hooking and braiding. Contributors are teachers, designers, and artists well known for their fine work and innovative techniques. Step-by-step color photos show you how. A must-have for rug hookers everywhere.

Features 30 years of articles from Jane Olson's Rugger's Roundtable Learn the best techniques of hooking a rug from beginning to end Detailed step-by-step directions and easy-to-follow text plus how to hook the same design four different ways Using Jane Olson's 30 years of articles from her Rugger's Roundtable as a base, The Rug Hooker's Bible, brought to you by Rug Hooking magazine, is an easy-to-use standard text for beginner and teacher alike. Decades of experience is edited, expanded, and updated so students can easily study the very best techniques of hooking a rug. See how the same designs can be hooked in as many as four different ways-fine shaded, primitive outline and fill, dip dyed, and with artistic scraps. This book is an indispensable tool for all levels of hookers.

The best of the best, the rugs chosen by rug hookers themselves, these rugs were voted the favorites by the readers of Rug Hooking magazine.

Rug-hooking began long ago as a practical solution to the drafty floors in North American settlers' houses. From those humble beginnings, the craft has evolved into a highly respected art form, and many who have seen the vibrant rugs created by Atlantic Canadians are inspired to take up the hook themselves. In East Coast Rug-Hooking Designs, master rug-hooker Deanne Fitzpatrick explores and explains the art she loves. Photographs of her colourful hooked rugs are accompanied by her frank and touching stories of life in Atlantic Canada-the life that inspires so many of her designs. From hooking and gathering fabric, to choosing colours, designing, and binding, the entire process is clearly explained. Over thirty playful and dynamic patterns are included-some suitable for beginners, and some that will challenge even experienced hookers. Whatever your level of expertise, this book will surely have you hooked! Rug-hooking artist Deanne Fitzpatrick is renowned worldwide for her stunning rugs and patterns. Her work is in permanent exhibits at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Museum of Civilization, among others, and she has made frequent radio and television appearances, including on CBC's Land and Sea. She lives in Amherst, Nova Scotia.

The only juried exhibit of the year's best hand-hooked rugs Full-page color spreads of 60 beautiful rugs Reader's Choice Ballot--vote for your favorite rugs Each year expert judges choose the 60 best hand-hooked rugs from the many rugs entered into the juried competition known as Celebration of Hand-Hooked Rugs. In 2010, RHM celebrates the twentieth annual competition with our annual book, Celebration of Hand-Hooked Rugs XX, showcasing the best of the best. Each winning rug is presented as a 2-page spread that includes a photo of the entire rug, a close-up detail of the fine workmanship, and comments from the artist and the judges. Celebration is eagerly awaited each year and is overflowing with inspiration for all who are interested in fiber arts.