WHO WE ARE
We are the Colonial Rug Hookers of Northern Virginia, Association of Traditional Hooking Artists (ATHA), Region 3, Chapter 49. Formed in 1996, we are a nonprofit group.
The CRHNV exists to preserve the tradition of rug hooking while promoting and maintaining interest in the art of rug hooking through educating the public. The group provides a means of exchanging ideas and information among members through meetings, programs, and rug hooking events.
The CRHNV exists to preserve the tradition of rug hooking while promoting and maintaining interest in the art of rug hooking through educating the public. The group provides a means of exchanging ideas and information among members through meetings, programs, and rug hooking events.
OUR MEETINGS
We meet once a month, September through June, on Sundays from 12-4 at the Sully Governmental Center in Chantilly, Virginia. (For directions to the center, go to the Fairfax County website or Mapquest.)
Members are encouraged to get to know each other and develop new skills and ideas in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. We have a social hour from 12-1 PM, followed by a short business meeting and then our program for the month. When the business and program conclude, we spend the rest of our time visiting, hooking, and eating goodies contributed by members.
We welcome new members. Upcoming meetings open to potential new members for the 2011-2012 guild year are on the following dates: February 12, March 11, April 15, May 20, and June 10.
Members are encouraged to get to know each other and develop new skills and ideas in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. We have a social hour from 12-1 PM, followed by a short business meeting and then our program for the month. When the business and program conclude, we spend the rest of our time visiting, hooking, and eating goodies contributed by members.
We welcome new members. Upcoming meetings open to potential new members for the 2011-2012 guild year are on the following dates: February 12, March 11, April 15, May 20, and June 10.
WHAT RUG HOOKING IS
The creation of hooked rugs is an old art, developed in the maritime provinces of Canada and the New England states. Discarded or outgrown clothes were cut by hand into narrow strips, which were then hooked into backings made from grain or potato sacks, producing colorful rugs that added warmth and beauty to cold cabin floors.
Today’s traditional rug hookers usually cut wool fabric with a special cutting machine, using linen or burlap for backing to produce both fine-cut and primitive rugs and wall hangings. There’s plenty of opportunity in this traditional framework for experimenting with nontraditional forms. Materials as varied as yarn, roving, ribbon, metallics, buttons, beads, plastic bags, and cellophane have all been used with creative success by contemporary rug hookers.
Today’s traditional rug hookers usually cut wool fabric with a special cutting machine, using linen or burlap for backing to produce both fine-cut and primitive rugs and wall hangings. There’s plenty of opportunity in this traditional framework for experimenting with nontraditional forms. Materials as varied as yarn, roving, ribbon, metallics, buttons, beads, plastic bags, and cellophane have all been used with creative success by contemporary rug hookers.
Illustration courtesy of David Hagen, hagenillustration.blogspot.com
