Rug Hookers Demonstrate Traditional American Craft at Library

Members of the Southern Michigan Hookrafter's Guild at the Manchester District Library on Sunday, March 22, 2015.

Yesterday afternoon, 5 members of the Southern Michigan Hookrafter's Guild demonstrated rug hooking at the Manchester District Library.  Ella Bell, Sue Tracy, Margaret Campbell, Jean Brown and Pat Sahakian explained the process, history and current state of the historic and very American craft.

Rug hooking's roots in this country are almost as old as the country itself. All that was required to create these beautiful and functional "bed rugs" and floor rugs were burlap for the backing and scraps of clothing. The clothes were ripped into thin strips and worked through the burlap with a hook. Originally any type of fabric that was available was used, today mostly 100% wool is used. The Hookrafters do still use old clothing however, frequenting Worth Repeating and other second-hand stores in search of wool.

The guild also donated a book to the Manchester Library, Introduction to Rug Hooking: A Beginner's Guide to Tools, Techniques, and Materials, a brand new book by local rug hooker, Kristen Miller who lives with her husband and sons in Howell.

The Southern Michigan Rug Hookrafters meet the last Saturday of every month, January through August and October from 10am to 2pm at the Smith Kimbell Community Center, 211 Tecumseh Street in Clinton, MI. In addition to their regular meetings, they also hold retreats and public events. On Saturday, April 25th they will be hosting a Hook In at the Washtenaw Farm Council Fairgrounds in Saline from 10am to 4pm. There will be a rug show and local rug-hooking vendors. Walk-ins are welcome! There is a $10 admission charge.

If you would like more information about the Southern Michigan Rug Hookrafters, Sunday's event, their meetings or the upcoming Hook In, contact guild president, Pat Sahakian at psahakian@gmail.com.

These coasters are being crafted using nylon instead of wool and in an arctic theme in the mode of a Grenfell rug. "Mat" making during winter months in Newfoundland was already traditional by the time Dr. Wilfred T. Grenfell arrived in St. Anthonys Newfoundland and establish the Grenfell Mission to fight chronic disease, hunger and poverty in Newfoundland. Grenfell and an American woman, Jessie Luther, set up a world-wide sales distribution network for selling these rugs which continued through WWII, making them famous and collectible today. Because wool was scarce in Newfoundland, Greenfell rugs were commonly made of nylon, silk, and rayon stockings.

strips of wool sorted by color, ready to be worked into the rug

This rug was hooked by Betty Cummings and is as lovely on the back as it is on the front.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.