Featured in these pages are several rug hooking artists who exemplify some of the best work in rug hooking today. You may know some of them already, others will be wonderful surprises. All have used hooked rugs as a way to illuminate and explore their own life's journey. You will find exquisite examples of rug hooking from many of your favourite rug hooking artists and will marvel at the creativity, humour, and depth of meaning in their pieces. Come along on this journey into the minds and studios of some outstanding rug hookers working today. You will be amazed...and we hope you will be inspired to hook the stories of your own life.

Hooked on Celtic Rugs contains a gallery of 20 Celtic rugs to serve as inspiration for your on designs as well as 12 intriguing designs to model off of by master designer David Rankine. Come with us into the colourful world of Celtic rug hooking, a world of amazing designs. Celtic rug expert Gail Lambert leads us through the process of colour planning and hooking these appealing designs, with tips and suggestions on deciphering and untangling a pattern, outlining the complex details, and finishing your hooked piece. As a special treat, Gail included seven Irish recipes for the busy rug hooker. With this book you'll learn how to colour plan and hook your Celtic rug, how to create illuminated letters and fanciful birds, and how to create both simple and complicated Celtic knots.

A colourfully illustrated guide to the traditional and contemporary textile skills of hooking, prodding, punching and tufting, to fire your imagination, and to discover ideas for eco-friendly crafting. - Contains 20 vibrant step-by-step projects exploring playful design and quirky creativity, including rugs, cushions, bags and personal accessories. - Conserves resources through imaginative re-use of all kinds of materials - from recycled clothing, food packaging and plastics, to junk jewellery and surplus yarn. - Includes examples of community projects and an inspirational gallery of work by notable artists from around the world.

Learn the traditional American craft of creating painted floor cloths and then experiment with fabrics and papers to create beautiful floor quilts and floor pages. These colorful, painted canvases were developed in Europe in the early 1400s, used as alternatives to carpets and for table coverings in homes and churches. Durable and decorative, they were used widely throughout the 1700s and 1800s until they were replaced by linoleum in the late 19th century. Today, homeowners enjoy them for their handcrafted, artisan appeal. With more than 200 color images, this book includes step-by-step instructions for making floor cloths, floor quilts, and floor pages, as well as a gallery of inspiring finished pieces in a wide range of styles. Employing modern techniques and materials, these projects are easy enough for beginners but will also appeal to crafters who want to expand their repertoire.

A giant high-top sneaker embellished with golden scissors floats in a polka dot sky along with the surprising motto, "Run With Scissors." Hooked rug maker Jill Cooper explains, "The older I get, the more I don't follow 'the rules.' This rug was a way to share my belief that you must take every chance you can to enjoy all the beauty of life." Taking chances with hooked rugs -- those cozy accessories of hearth and home -- is just what members of Vermont's Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild do best. They tackle unconventional subjects, delight in using unheard of fibers, and love the challenge of designing their own contemporary work. At the same time, they are experts on "traditional" rugs and can replicate hooked pieces from the 1800s with uncanny precision. The guild's annual exhibit in 2006 featured more than 900 wonderful rugs, of which half are presented here and half in the companion volume. Feast your eyes on winners of the coveted Viewers' Choice Awards, rugs in Oriental designs, florals, abstracts, animals, architectural designs, and delicate miniature rugs smaller than a credit card. Rugs by one of the show's three honorees, Pat Merikallio, are featured here, as are rugs made by children, rugs illustrating "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and over 100 pieces depicting the theme "Strong Women." This book is a delightful, inspiring look at what can be accomplished with the versatile and exciting medium of hooked rugs.

Humble origins have not confined hooked rugs to simple dwellings. As the popularity of the craft grew and the appeal of the hooked rug became apparent, it traveled uptown to cushion the footsteps of the rich and famous. An international craft, rug hooking has become a full-fledged art form through the dedication, creativity, inspiration, and diligence of its devotees. This beautiful book is filled with over 300 lavish color photographs of hooked rugs-some from the nation's most elegant homes, some with fascinating histories, some old and others new. The traits they have in common are their techniques and uses, all having been created and displayed with tremendous love. Jessie Turbayne includes many true stories of hooked rugs in exploring the craft's background. She weaves together its technical details, the materials used through the years, biographies of great "hookers," and photographs of the most striking pieces you will every see.

From both coasts of the United States and Canada, plus many areas in between, Jessie Turbayne has collected over 525 images of the best that rug hooking artists have to offer. Included are designs of Americana and Canadiana, advertising art, angels, and abstract motifs. See rugs motivated by exotic cultures, Korean cranes, and ancient Persian textiles. Visit Niagara Falls, tour Soho, and catch a hooked rug exhibition at Indiana's Carnegie Center. Inspiring words from noted hooking artists indicate that rug hooking has gone uptown. Providing interest to textile collectors and artists, interior decorators, art and antique dealers, and rug hooking artists alike.

Get ready to braid a wool rug with an expert, Barbara Fisher. The supplies needed include normal tools a sewer has around the house. Then follow her step-by-step braiding instructions to learn the process and two techniques for making large or small rugs of any shape or color. Patterns are provided for a variety of styles. Once you have mastered the techniques, you can choose your project. A quick one you can complete in a few hours is a pair of Ruggies*TM slippers, made like a tiny wool rug! Try it. Be creative with a practical and colorful gift or a large and warm accent for any room.

With 159 beautiful photos and clear, complete instructions, you can create 16 marvelous hooked projects, for rugs, pillows, eye masks, footstools, and stair treads in a wide range of colorful, playful patterns. \nLearn about backing fabrics, rug hooking tools, materials, frames, and hoops needed to successfully complete the projects. Additionally, every technique needed is explained, including dyeing, cutting wool, transferring patterns, finishing edges, hooking, blocking, finishing, and rug care and cleaning. Actual patterns are provided as well as a resource guide to related magazines and suppliers of hooked rug materials and tools. This book is essential for everyone interested in the art of rug hooking, whether a first timer or a comprehensive pro!

This title features 16 projects for making different styles of beautiful, durable rugs. It is an eco-friendly way to upcycle rags, leftover fabric, and old clothes. It updates a classic craft for a modern audience. Use leftover fabrics to create fun and easy rugs! All you need are the fool-proof and easy-to-follow instructions provided in this book, plus some fabric strips and a large crochet hook. You'll be amazed at how simple and fun it is to make beautiful rugs using inexpensive materials and supplies. With gorgeous colour photographs and clear, straightforward instructions, Suzanne McNeill presents 16 lovely projects to make with strips of fabric. Crafters of all ages and skill levels will enjoy using her simple crochet techniques. You can discover how to update this traditional craft with endless possibilities of colour and fabric combinations. Whether the pattern is square, rectangular, hexagonal, round, oval, or heart-shaped, each custom rag rug you make is sure to become an instant heirloom treasure.

Put aside those preconceptions of dusty, medieval tapestries hanging on castle walls! Tapestry weaving has a whole new look, and fiber enthusiasts of all levels are eager to try their hand at creating images with yarn. Rebecca Mezoff, a renowned teacher of contemporary tapestry weaving, shares her techniques in this in-depth guide to every aspect of the process, from developing a color palette to selecting yarn, warping the loom, and weaving the image. Crafters can choose from inexpensive tabletop and hand-held looms to larger floor looms. Detailed step-by-step photos and inspiring examples from a range of weaver-artists make this a one-stop resource for tapestry weaving how-to.

Rug hooking originated as a primitive art form, and this book takes crafters back to its roots. This book offers basic techniques for rug hooking, including dying and finishing techniques. More importantly, it attempts to unleash your creative side, encouraging you to let your imagination be your guide. See how simple drawings are translated into hooked art. Explore one artist's imaginative expressions and get motivated to create your own. Stephenson's own story of recycling wool into a menagerie of animals, pictorial scenes, geometrics, and nautical themes will add impulse to creativity.

The queen of the craft Amy Oxford offers to beginners and advanced crafters alike a one-stop resource! This is the guide you'll keep at your fingertips while you learn, and throughout your punch needle adventures for years to come. Enjoy Amy's amazingly effective instruction, tips, inspiration, and in-depth info about every aspect of enjoying punch needle rug hooking. Create her colorful contemporary pomegranate project and ginkgo project, and learn to skillfully turn your work into long-lasting treasures like wall hangings, chair pads, rugs, cushions, stair runners, and whatever else your imagination can dream up. Enrich your work with fascinating info on things the other books don't include: the top secrets about the craft that beginners need, and careful step by step photo instructions for doing it right-from choosing your first project's materials, to creating a lovely result the first time, finishing techniques, mounting, adding complexity, and making your own designs. Enjoy the history of the craft of rug punching, gorgeous photos of works by today's biggest names, fun interviews with top makers, how to handle the unexpected, and much more.

A craft richly steeped in history and tradition, punch needle is changing the global craft landscape so quickly, it's hard to miss. Whereas some crafts take much time and expertise to master, you can pick up a punch needle and complete a project in less than an hour, with no prior skill needed. It requires just one easy-to-use tool, a background fabric, an embroidery hoop or frame, and yarn. Punched pieces make excellent wall hangings, pillows, ornaments, stool covers, chair cushions, purses/pouches, baby play mats, and much more! If you can imagine it - you can do it. Simple and easy, punch needle is an approach to creating personal and home decor projects that just require you know how to hold a pen. It's like paint by number...with yarn!

Learn to hook with easy step-by-step photos! Rug hooking at its simplest is pulling loops of colorful wool fabric through a piece of linen backing to create beautiful designs for the floor or wall. Though in years past this was accomplished with a bent nail, a feed bag, and worn-out clothing, today we have specialized hooks and other tools that make the process much easier. In Basic Rug Hooking, you will learn what tools and materials you need to get started, and how to pull your first loops. Once you've learned and practiced the basics, you will be ready to try any of the 5 hooked projects included. Each project includes the pattern and complete step-by-step illustrated instructions. The styles of rugs you can make once you've learned the basic hooking process are endless. Rug hookers today create traditional florals, bright geometrics, pictorials, portaits, and primitives perfect for the modern farmhouse. Basic Rug Hooking teaches you everything you need to know to start hooking today!

Learn how to make 20 modern-vibe projects using the technique of pulling wool strips. Related to punch needle rug hooking, this process has similar traditional roots, but wool strips provide a different form of expression and a unique look. Whether you're a complete beginner, an established fan of punch needle rug hooking, or at the intermediate level, expert Katie Kriner teaches the process and offers 20 projects for honing your skills, and the designs are a variety of styles, including rustic, primitive, chic, and modern. First enjoy learning about this craft's antique origins, then understand what tools and materials you'll need for creating and working with strips of wool. To get you started on the craft itself, Katie teaches 3 simple projects and 2 basic finishing techniques. This lets you create the 17 "next step up" projects, including pillows, wall hangings, floor rugs, bags, holiday decorations, tea cozy, wine tote, footstool, and even mug rugs. You'll learn various techniques for finishing and binding, mounting, backgrounds, assembling pieces, beading, and more. Make the projects as they're taught, or use them as springboards for customizing and expressing your own design style.

Join us as we celebrate the wonderful world of art through the eyes of fibre artist Janet Conner. You won't want to miss this guide through the history of Western art, with a fibre arts twist. Are you fascinated by cave paintings? Check out the extraordinary examples in these pages. Are the Sistine Chapel and gothic cathedrals more to your taste? You will find hooked pieces inspired by these great Renaissance creations. Janet generously provides more than 30 black-and-white line drawn patterns for your use, ranging from a primeval bison to a contemporary abstract. From prehistoric art to the Renaissance to art deco to the art exhibits of today, inspiration for fibre art abounds in galleries and museums. Author Janet Conner, a fibre artist herself, shows us how to take inspiration from these masters and make our own hooked masterpieces. She presents more than 100 hooked pieces based on or inspired by the great artists and gives us the confidence to look at art and paintings with new eyes and the confidence to interpret well-known art in wool. Come on along for the ride - you might just find a masterpiece calling you to your hook and frame.

Discover the primitive craft of punch needle as seen through the eyes of a contemporary artist giving the technique fresh, modern appeal. Yellow Spool's Stacie Schaat shares all you need to know to take a stab in Punched. With Stacie's guidance you'll learn: Simple tools and basic techniques can make a range of trendy home goods. Step-by-step mini-lessons that take you from beginner to pro in no time. When to follow the rules and when to break them for knock out results. How to combine quick, repetitive stitches with composition and color for a modern aesthetic with a dozen must-make projects. Explore the traditional and untraditional methods of punch needle with projects that can be displayed, used, and loved for generations. You're sure to be pleased as Punched.

Every weaver weaves a rag rug - or two, or three. In this long-awaited book, well-known weaver and teacher Tom Knisely shares his knowledge and expertise in this collection of favorite rag rug patterns.

A collection of 39 original, creative designs for knitted rugs. Includes a variety of styles and techniques, including modular rugs, rugs made from I-cord, rugs that emphasize color and texture, and rugs made from repurposed materials. Patterns are easy and quick to knit as well as interesting, incorporating crossover fiber techniques such as crocheting, applique, weaving, and more.

With a friendly new approach to an age-old craft, this book offers over a dozen colourful, contemporary designs inspired by traditional rug hooking techniques for purses, pillows, pictures and gifts, as well as a traditional rug. Inspired by folk art and primitive art, Carole Rennison shows how easy yarn hooking is, providing hooking tips and advice on how to choose the right fabric, wool yarn and equipment. She also demonstrates how to plan and develop ideas, how to choose the right colours and how to complete the designs with a professional finish. The book includes a thorough techniques section that shows how to prepare for hooking, the basic hooking technique and how to finish off your work. The projects range from simple to more complex, appealing to beginners and to more experienced crafters. Each project comes with diagrams, a full-colour chart for simple yarn colour reference and beautiful photographs of the finished design that will be sure to inspire. In addition, a to-scale template sheet with all the essential motifs for the designs is included at the back of the book, so you can trace and start your creations right away.

Join us as we celebrate our wonderful world through the eyes of fibre artist Karen Miller and her hooked rugs! You won't want to miss this guide through the landscapes of the world. Wherever Karen goes, she is inspired by what she sees around her and uses those bits of inspiration later in her hooked rugs. Her travels, both around her native Canada and far away overseas, inform her work and Karen's work inspires us all to keep our own eyes open to the world. Whether it is the surf crashing at the base of rocky cliffs or the colourful leaves on a forest floor, Karen helps us see the world with new eyes. Full-colour photos throughout, of magnificent scenery and of rugs and hooked pieces inspired by the landscape, along with the photography tips and principles of art and design make this much more than a typical craft book. You won't want to miss this one - everyone has a favourite landscape, and Karen helps us to see the land with new eyes.