News
Intro to Traditional Rug Hooking
Date: 3/16/10
The Mennonite Heritage Center, 565 Yoder Road, Harleysville announces a workshop: “Introduction to Traditional Rug Hooking Using Recycled Wool” for Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 9 am to 3 pm. At the end of this class, participants will leave with the skills needed to pursue this newly popular textile art. Our instructors, Mary Jo and Karl Gimber, will teach you how to hook a log cabin mat. Class fee is $55 ($50 member) plus $25 for the all wool rug hooking kit that includes hoop, hook, pattern on backing and recycled wool. Participants should bring a pair of small sharp scissors.
Rug hooking began in North America in the mid nineteeth century when women hooked strips of scrap wool into burlap to create beautiful and long lasting floor coverings. Karl and Mary Jo Gimber continue this tradition by buying wool clothing at thrift stores and cutting the fabric into strips for their rug hooking projects. They draw their inspiration from historic fraktur and trade and hotel signs to create their original rug designs. Their work is currently featured in an exhibit at the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center, Pennsburg. They are members of the Hunterdon County Rug Artisans Guild.
This workshop will be a fun introduction to a wonderful creative pursuit. Enthusiasts can participate in this craft on various levels. Shops and vendors have great rug hooking designs and precut wool in kit form or rug hookers can create their own designs and dye their wool fabric for the desired color combinations. Rug hooking designs range from a primitive folk art style to formal traditional design to colorful abstract patterns. Projects vary from small table runners to large scale floor coverings. You can create your own family heirlooms. Artisans can enjoy the camaraderie of fellow rug hookers through guilds, workshops and rug hooking camps.
Registration is required because participation is limited. To register, contact the Mennonite Heritage Center via email info@mhep.org, call 215-256-3020 or check the website www.mhep.org.