Yankee Peddler Hooked Rugs

SOME BITS ABOUT RUG HOOKING
©Yankee Peddler 2000  

 Come visit the wonderful world of rug hooking and Yankee Peddler hooked rugs.  The trip to the rug hooking carriage house is about one hundred feet from the back door of our home.  That insures a short commute, a consistent work schedule and low transportation costs and unless we have a tornado, bad weather shouldn't shut us down. 

What about the rugs? Oh yes the hooked rugs!  Rug Hooking!

This is supposed to be a web site about hooked rugs and rug hooking.  How do you make hooked rugs and what materials and techniques are necessary and helpful in the craft?  I would like you to have some fun during your visit so if it seems as if I am being light hearted, well, I am.  If there is anything your not too happy with or doesn't work right with the website, blame it on me.  If you let me know about it, I will try to fix it (or then again maybe I won't!  -  just kidding).  Although it may take a little time to download some of the rug hooking images, we hope you will enjoy our featured selections.  We update every time something new comes up.

The Yankee Peddler

The hooked rug you see to the left is a rendition of a peddler (maybe even the Yankee Peddler?) proudly displaying his wares while his faithful steed patiently waits .  As the peddler diligently traveled the New England countryside, customers eagerly awaited his arrival.  The peddler offered essentials such as pots, pans, brooms, needles, sundries, lotions and elixirs of all types.   Of course, the news of neighbors, recent happenings and current events were shared as well.

Being a good salesman, he was aware of the unique interests of the times and knew of the practice of making rugs and spreads from old scraps of wool by the homemakers.  He would offer specialty items he believed his customers might be craving, needing and willing to pay for.  Anything that might save time and labor was high on the housewives'  list (sound familiar?).  

He knew about the practice of working scrap pieces of wool into colorful functional additions to the household.  Wool clothing items that were beyond repair and old worn feed or seed bags combined to make useful and warm additions to the home.  Our clever salesman might have a new dye formula to add to the many these folks were already using to dye material for their hooked rugs.  Sometimes he even offered patterns ready made on burlap with suggestions for design colors.  His customers could use them to make rugs, bed coverings or wall hangings with these now colorful scraps of old woolens that were hand-cut into usable strips.  Maybe he might even offer a new version of handle with a  bent nail ready-made that they could use as a hook to make the task of pulling the wool strips through the backing a little easier.

So we now join the ranks of peddlers with special electronic wheels of bits and bytes that move at hyper-speed.  What a way to travel! Of course we only enter your abode by invitation and that makes it extra special.  Thanks for your hospitality in advance and by the way, I do enjoy a home made cookie and a cup of coffee.  Ah, the benefit of a virtual cookie n coffee - no calories n caffeine!  Thanks anyway.   We have customer all over the United States who have become friends over the years.  We are happy that you have decided to spend some time visiting.   It is a special connection, isn't it?

By the way,  we offer the Yankee Peddler Hooked rug you see above as a pattern so if you are an experienced rug hooker (it is challenging pattern) and want to purchase it,  let us know.  Uh-oh,  look out, here comes the beginning of the hard sell!  Not really, let's learn a bit more about rug hooking first. 

 The Hooked Rug Business

Yankee Peddler Hooked Rugs is primarily a mail order business and we have operated it for  over twenty five of its sixty-five years.  We carry all supplies related to rug hooking such as hooks, scissors, cutters, frames, hand dyed wool, wool as is, books about rug hooking, burlap, linen,  monks cloth, hundreds of rug hooking patterns, dozens of rug hooking kits and other products such as dolls,  and holiday ornaments all made out of our woolens.  We thought you would like to see some of our carriage house displays. 

                        Just a reminder, if you click on these images, you will see a jumbo version of the same image.  I don't think it will make your day but it might make your eyes happier.   Lots of colorful creative displays with many of the special items Marie has located and has available for purchase.  The doll is a special addition that we dressed up with an old fashioned colonial paper hat to celebrate the holiday.  We carry a lot of helpful items to help you make your beautiful imagination spring to life.

Our rug hooking patterns include primitive and fine hooked designs and more about this distinction later.  Our hooked rug patterns cover diverse themes such as floral arrangements, landscapes, geometric designs limited only by your imagination.   We carry lots of items you might need whether you are a beginner or an old timer looking for a new hooked rug challenge.

Now that I think about it, I don't think old timer is the best selection of words here.  Why don't we say one who is "rich with experience"  That's better, isn't it?  Rich with experience.  It's even better than "senior citizen".  Confusing to me whenever I tried to figure out exactly who are the sophomore and junior citizens.

Our Special Products and Supplies for Rug Hooking

We sometimes wonder why the Yankee Peddler so popular with our customers and keeps them coming back year after year.  Maybe its because we are continually introducing new products and trying to encourage more folks, specially the younger ones to try rug hooking.  Everybody needs a hobby.  By gosh, if you do not have one, you ought to get one.  Did you know that hobby is derived from the word hobbyhorse and according to Webster's is a pursuit of fun and relaxation?  Did you know that? I didn't.  Now wouldn't you like to relax and have fun with a neat hobby?  Sure you would.

We offer our original rug hooking designs (even I have had one or two ideas that Marie translated to a patterns and then beautiful hooked rugs) and our unique hand dyed woolens. These special colors help to give  your finished hooked rug  a truly wonderful  and distinctive appearance.  Although many factors are involved, we believe that much of the real distinction of a hooked rug is the nuance of colors you use to translate your imagination into reality.  Marie creates her colors with the end results you want to achieve in your hooked rug and that makes for a very outstanding final product. 

We also are continually introducing new products and rug hooking patterns.   We even have designed and put together kits which are very popular with beginners and experienced rug hookers alike.  Our kits contain pre-cut wool, a printed pattern, a hook, rug binding and a photograph of the  finished piece.

The one we have displayed for you on the left provides an example of the contents of one of our rug hooking kits.   If you are a bit short on time (who isn't?) you can finish one of these hooked rug kits relatively quickly.  Note that you will still need a rug hooking frame to complete your project or four kids - one to hold each corner taut and stay put for several hours at a time as you work on your masterpiece. On the right are some kits assembled and ready for purchase.   ):-)
  
What is rug hooking and how do I do it?                                                                                   

One way of describing rug hooking is that it is an exciting  adventure in the use of color, wool, design, texture, creativity and individual expression (your very own noggin).  With perseverance, dedication and bold courage, you can produce original wonderful hand hooked rugs that become more valuable as time goes by.   Stick around for a hundred years, sell it and you'll have enough to go to Hawaii.

This skill of hooking  is the unique hand process of making a rug or wall hanging with strips of colored wool, a backing such as burlap, linen or monk's cloth and a hook (more on this below).  If it is done well it can result in the beautiful creations of the images  you will be able to see on our Yankee Peddler site.  Since there are so many nuances in a hooked rug, your creation will truly be unique to your individual combination of imagination and expression.

The art and also the necessity of making rugs has been around for thousands of years.  I imagine some cave dweller spreading a hide on that cold cave dirt floor to make the first rug and keep the cold chill off their tootsies.  Never-the-less, this traditional method of hooking rugs by hand with strips of wool and a bent hook has emerged as more or less popular in the last hundred  years.  Although in colonial days these rugs were used for bed coverings, wall hangings and floor coverings  to protect from cold drafty New England winters, the finished pieces are now mostly used as decorations.  These folk art creations  are continually growing in value as collectibles and family heirlooms which get passed from generation to generation.

There are as many subjects and possible styles as there are ideas and people to think them up!  Some of the primary styles we have available are Primitive Rugs, Traditional Rugs, Penny Rugs and Combinations which use aspects of other crafts combined in one piece.  Some of the major subject areas are Pictorials, Landscapes, Orientals, Persians, and many others.  We have designs and patterns for all these areas and are constantly introducing new designs as patterns.   We also offer kits which make the creation of a finished product more fun with less effort.

What tools do I need to make my rug?

You will need a rug hook as one of your primary tools.  The rug-hooking hook is a variation of a crochet hook that has been embedded in either a wooden or plastic handle and is available in a variety of different shapes and sizes.  Folks try to choose a hook which has a handle that is very comfortable to hold and manipulate.  This is essential as you will be using the hook to make every loop in the rug.   The size of the metal part of the hook also varies based upon the width of the wool strips you are using for your rug as indicated below.  It seems as though this little tool gave its name to the entire craft.

For fat strips of wool from 3/8 inch to 1/2 half inch wide, one would use a course hook.  For narrow strips of wool from 1/8 inch to 3/8 inch wide, one would use a fine hook.  The proper size of the metal hook allows you to properly snatch the wool strip and pull it through the backing without damaging the backing or the wool.  So it is important to get the right size hook for the right width of wool strip and the type of backing you are using (i.e. burlap, linen or monks cloth).

We recommend that you choose a hook which has a handle shape that fits comfortably in your hand.  It is worth the effort to search for the hook that feels best as you will be working with it for many hours as you create your rug loop by loop.  Some folks have several hooks with different handle styles. When they switch handles it gives their hand a change of pace and some comfort.

 A frame is necessary to keep the backing stretched taut so one can push the hook through the burlap, monk's cloth or linen and pull the strip of wool back through to make each loop of the rug.  On the left is a   Basic Beginner Frame.   This is a simple wooden lap frame and you would use thumb tacks to secure the backing as taut as you can.  This is an inexpensive approach but takes significant time to un-tack, move and re-tack the backing each time you have completed a section.  We manufacture  these frames and have them  in stock.  Relatively inexpensive but more labor.

Another approach is to invest in a Metal Lap Frame which has wire mesh grippers that can pull the backing taut with the twist of a rod - see the little handle on the upper right of the image?  This is more convenient and less time- consuming but considerably more expensive than the simple wooden frame. However, it is most definitely worth the investment if you are thinking of becoming a serious hooker.

The one you see pictured here is a Puritan Lap Frame and it is a fine product.  Believe me, the frame is a very important tool for rug hooking.   It allows you to position you work properly and create the appropriate tension to be most efficient.  When this situation prevails loops can be pulled through more evenly to form a more attractive and consistent pile.

In order to make hooked rugs one needs strips of wool that generally can vary from 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch wide.  These strips are the basic building block of your hooked rug.  In the old days one would use a scissors and methodically and tediously cut these strips from old scraps of no longer usable woolen clothing (waste not, want not).  That was tough, slow work.  As you can imagine, it is desirable to cut strips of wool that are of the same size and cut true.  The most efficient  way to do this now a days is to use a  cutter  that has been specially designed to cut wool strips for hooked rugs.

 We have displayed a fine product which is made by Fraser Manufacturing.   As you can see, the cutter is made up of a hand crank, a circular cutting head which comes into contact with a circular  metal drum on a strong metal base.  The large strip of wool is passed through the two drums and cut into three or four even strips.  The width of each strip is based on the width of the blade edges on the cutting head itself.  There are different sized cutting heads for different sized strips of wool.  It takes a bit of practice to feed the wool into the cutter so that the strips will be straight but you'll soon get the hang of it and it is immensely more efficient that using a pair of scissors!

Speaking of scissors,  it would be helpful to have a special pair to cut the loose ends of the wool strips which are left over when finishing with one of the strips.  The tip of the small scissor is curved and allows for a neat appearance of the pile when the end of each protruding strip is cut properly (at the beginning and end of each strip left exposed when the wool strip is pull through the backing).

The backing used for your hooked rug is an unseen but very important component of your final product.  We carry a variety of backings and your choice will depend on the type of rug you are making and how much you want to invest in  this foundation material.  Some examples of different backings are burlap, linen and monk's cloth.
 burlap            linen             monk's cloth.   To the left you can see examples of each.
                              The edges are sewn off to increase the strength and durability of each finished piece.  Each of these examples from burlap to linen to monk's cloth represents better quality and cost more.  With all the time and effort you will put into  your project, it probably is a good idea to use the best backing possible.

A rug hooking pattern is a simple line drawing which we silkscreen on a backing, the most common of which is  burlap.  We carry hundreds of patterns and continue to introduce new ones.  We have many of these patterns on display on this site presented as finished pieces.  Almost all  of our customers  buy pre-printed patterns, however some folks purchase backing and draw their own patterns.  It is considerably  more challenging to do this as you then must interpret, develop and implement  your own color plan.  However, we do have the backing available if you wish to purchase some.   

The pattern you see to the left has been printed on burlap and is one of our most popular and successful designs and is called the Running Rabbit.  This design is sold as a kit and comes with a color plan, a photograph and cut wool, rug binding and a hook which makes your part easy; you just have to hook the rug.  Please be advised that we silkscreen our patterns and strive for high quality at all times.  When you have all the materials necessary you can begin the process of creating your original piece of folk art.  It looks considerably different when completed, don't you think?

How do I actually hook a rug?

Of course you first need to select a rug hooking pattern that appeals to you. If you are a beginner we suggest a smaller less complex rug hooking design.  The one we have chosen to demonstrate the process is called the Running Rabbit pattern which is available as one of our kits.   Join us now as Tanya helps demonstrate the fundamentals of rug hooking.

You must first stretch the pattern taut over the frame which is resting comfortably on your lap. In this demo we are using one of the metal lap frames with the wire grippers.  These frames make this task of stretching the pattern relatively effortless.  Grasp your hook with your primary hand between the thumb, first and third fingers and position the hook above the stretched section of the rug you want to start working on.  Of course, as you begin this will feel strange and somewhat uncomfortable so remember to have patience and be  confident that as you practice, each one of these steps will be easier and become more natural.  Each rug consists of thousands and thousands of loops and your will definitely get better as you work.

 At the same time (see left)  you need to hold one of the strips of wool underneath the pattern close under the backing with  your other hand. Push the hook through the backing and catch hold of the wool strip with the tip of your hook.  This is easier said than done but  you will get the hang of it with some practice - be patient, it will happen.   As  you can see from the two images giving the view from the bottom of the pattern, try to ensure that the wool strip is even and not twisted.  Pull the wool strip up through the backing to the desired height making your loop neat and consistent with the others.  These loops are the basic building block of your designs and the way you make them can vary. We will present more detail about loops below.  Did I mention that you should be doing a tap dance at the same time as this busy hand business is going on?  Just kidding.  What's next you say?  Read on!

You need to pull the loop through the backing at this point.   A tug and a slight twist of the hook seem to be the technique which works well for most folks.  You will develop your own comfortable style with practice and time.  The most important consideration is that you work your hands so you are comfortable and relaxed.  Think pleasant thoughts, relax, focus on deep breathing and let your fingers, hands and wrists do the work. 

As you will note on the left image,  the hook has pulled the first strip of wool through the backing.  In this case the choice was made to start on the outline of the rabbit.  The excess part of the strip above the pattern is pulled back below to approximate the height of the pile you have decided have.  You now would move the hook  a bit away from there and push it through to grab the strip once again.  You should choose the next point based upon the thickness of the strip you are using.  Your objective is to achieve a pile for your finished piece which is not too loose or not too tight but smooth and even.

You are now ready to pull  the first loop through.   It should be a neat loop with no unnecessary twists or turns in it.  You now would lift the loop  to the desired height which may be from a quarter to a half of an inch high  based upon the effect  you want to achieve.  

On the right image please observe the first loop being pulled through. (Hurrah!)  This procedure is repeated until you have used up the strip of wool leaving the final single piece pulled through on the top of the rug.  These uneven first and last top remnants will be trimmed off later on with care taken to make the cuts look neat and even.

Since much of the uniqueness of your finished hooked rug depends on the method one uses to pull the wool strips through the backing creating these loops, we will offer some information on the different approaches and techniques that could be used for this basic step of the rug hooking effort.

Some tips about making the loops.

Remember, we are trying to make the surface of the hooked rug look even so the loops should not be packed too tightly or too loosely and there should be no gaps between the loops exposing the backing.  If you were working with fat strips of wool you would space the loops a little further apart than if you were working with narrow strips of wool.   This will make more sense to you once you start actually  working on your own rugs and you get a feel for the texture you are creating.

Experience has taught us that if you pull the loops too close together (no matter what the width of the wool strip) the rug will begin to tighten and possibly buckle under the strain.  On the other hand, if you pull the loops too far apart, the rug will appear flimsy and it will be weaker and not create the overall blend an even pile will portray.

Your objective is to create a pile that is attractive, uniform and strong.  When you can produce a finished hooked rug and have the design appear attractive either from the top or reverse, you have achieved a major milestone in quality for this craft.

There are many different effects one can produce depending on how you fashion your repetitive loops and how high you decide to make the finished pile. A higher pile will create a more lush softer appearance.  A lower pile will create more definition and a tighter look.   If you hook your loops continuously in either a horizontal or vertical direction you will create a linear result.  If  you use a circular approach, you will create a rounded texture.  If you pull the loops in a random pattern, you will achieve another effect.  When you combine this with varying the height of each loop, you can change the impact of any hooking style and enhance the impact of the final images you are trying to achieve.  Your craft at rug hooking will improve with time and practice.

As you realize by now I am sure, the possibilities are endless.  With experience, you will develop your own special approach which will create a finished piece of work which will be uniquely your own.

Finishing the Hooked Rug

When you have completed hooking the rug it is time to choose binding with a complimentary color and bind the edges.  This will strengthen the work and help to extend its useful life.  Hopefully you have also signed and dated the work with a personalize label on the back.   We find that in time most of these works wind up hanging on the wall or decorating furniture rather than being placed on the floor and this also helps to establish part of the provenance of your work.  

You will be so pleased when you have finished your first hooked rug.  Congratulations!  Now your work becomes a part of folk art history and with tender loving care an heirloom for you and your family to pass down through the generations.

If you have any questions or suggestions for more topics or you would like additional information, please email us at yankeepeddler@yankeepeddler.com or call Marie at 860-663-0526.

Lilacs Blooming            Plot of Pansies                                       
                        

Steve's Very Special Neat Extra Added Attraction Just For You

"COME ONE . . .  COME ALL  . . . LADIES AND GENTS  .   .     .   CLICK ON DOWN THIS WAY"  

Or rather should I type:  click that down arrow a few more times you  bold, wild and crazy computer web surfing aficionados! Come catch a glimpse of some peaceful images and perhaps you might relax a little.   I really like Hammonasset Beach State Park Beach.  It is about ten miles from the Yankee Peddler Carriage House. (not really a carriage house but we like to call it that anyway).  See some images not about rug hooking but those that nature has to offer every day.

This state park is my favorite place to visit throughout the year specially in summer.  The third image is the spring blooming of the Beach Roses.  I never knew there was such a thing as a Beach Rose.   I only became aware of Beach Roses because the park attendants labeled them with a neat little sign!    And I guess that if I am going to stop and smell the roses, I prefer they be on the beach, and labeled!

Now that I think about it, every time you turn around you could learn something new, specially if there is a label attached to it.   In fact,  I like this idea of labeling so much I think we ought to extend it to lots of other objects most anywhere like trees, flowers and a multitude of items on my furnace or computer.   Or maybe even on sewing machines which I don't understand at all.  Hey, it might create a lot of harmless new jobs and make some folks a few bucks!  A possible mission statement for the new company, "Label To Learn". 

Anyway I digress once again. What I would really like you to do is to enjoy the dreamy colors that mesh sand, glacial rocks, sea-grass, water and sky all warmed by Old Sol with unrelenting persistence (not much in winter).  Remember, if you click on any of the images and say "Hammonasset" quickly three times, they will fill the screen. Take some time to visit each one and imagine you are feeling the warm sand sand, drinking in the blue sky and and hearing the gently swishing of the water.

As you gaze at these views, I'll bet you will almost hear the rustling beach roses, the softly splashing waves, wistful lilting hoots of the seagulls, caress of the gentle sea breeze,  and sometimes maybe even that roaring motor boat ripping up the waves.  Ooops, try to put that last one out of your mind.  Anyway here are some of the views that I enjoy any time of the year but specially in the summer.
             

                                                                                                                                                               
The Gulls           Seawater Pond                Beach Roses                Sunset 2                 Low Tide    

                                                     

 Little Waves        Log Jetty               Reflections            Sunset                 Sunset 3                 Point Mountain ,NJ                    
                                    
                                                  

Winter Scenes February 14, 2007

    

Carriage House Cooler --Winter 2007
   
    

Hammonasset Beach Panorama View - Sunny Low Tide -August 2005

Now aren't you feeling a bit better now than you did a few moments ago?

Don't you feel a little bit  better?

Yes, you are beginning to relax.

Definitely relaxing, a little calmer, a wee bit more contented, a shade more peaceful.

Maybe,  you may even be possibly experiencing the tingling sensation of a few warm fuzzies?

It feels so good to relax and feel that warm sun embracing every part of you.

Perhaps you have found your wa which means harmony and balance.  

Let's hope you can still maintain your wa and consider the following two possible actions:

Do I go back to site and continue my exploration of those colorful beautiful designed Yankee Peddler Rug Products and supplies?

or

Do I leave my favorite beach view on the monitor, put on some nice music, or my new sound

generator with the gentle waves and sea breeze in the background,

stretch a country mile (or a city block), take three deep  breaths, yawn,

(never underestimate the power of breathing)

 lean way, way back on that comfy chair

( you do have a comfy 'puter chair, don't you? I do )

really, really stretch those legs way out to your tippy, tippy toes

and rest them  up on the corner of the desk,

 indulge in a hearty sip or two of your favorite beverage,

 unwind and  let go of the hustle and bustle of your daily busy hassle,

 (bet you have not seen the word bustle in a long time)

gently close those weary, droopy eyes and begin your

meditative soul-full journey to your peaceful place   .     .

perhaps you might even catch a few winks,

nod off   yes your noggin will be bobbin and eyes closing 

as you slip calmly  into your favorite nana dream land .  .

yes, slide into a soft, sleepy peaceful snooze and maybe,

possibly maybe, perhaps you might even .   .  . dream

a    sweet      gentle      calm        pleasant        peaceful        image

 

dream       ah  yes           a   meditation           of sweet sensations       

with special thoughts             perchance you might dream  of            dream of      

   DREAM   OF   BUYING   SOMETHING !   ):-)

Whatever you decide to do,

 have fun and cherish that smile and twinkle in your eye

 cause you look great and are a joy to all when you 

smile!

Steve

*

*

*

*

*

Yankee Peddler Newsletter by Marie

If you would like to receive Marie's newsletter on a regular basis, please send your email address to YankeePeddler@YankeePeddler.Com 

One more thing!

Did you like our Yankee Peddler Hooked rug offerings and our web site?

 Would you do us a favor?

  Please ask some of your friends to visit 

YankeePeddler.Com  

Thanks

This page was last updated on:March 20, 2007 09:35 AM