Rug hooking has been around for centuries. Some historians say that descendants of the ancient Egyptians made the first hand-hooked rugs. Other say that the art originated in China, while yet others believe that the earliest hooked rugs were the floor mats made in Yorkshire, England during the early part of the 19th century. The base of the rug was made from the burlap sacks that the livestock feed came in, and the fabric was any kind of cloth too old for wearing or making into quilts. The rag rugs were quick to make it helped pass the time during the hard cold winters when there wasn’t much going on outdoors. By the 1940's, rug hooking had become a well-established hobby in the United States and Canada. Its popularity continues to grow today.

Punch needle embroidery, a member of the rug hooking family, is often referred to as painting with thread, your tool pierces the fabric on one side and leaves a loop on the other. Traditionally projects are worked from the back so that one side may look like embroidery, while the looped right side looks more like a hooked rug. Totally a matter of taste!

You can find various rug hooking supplies at CRAFTWORKS as well as Rug Punch, Punch Needle, and Rug Hooking Classes. You can find out more about our classes here or by calling us at 508-393-9435.