The Techniques of Hand Hooking Rugs
Hooking rugs is quite a very old method of rug making and was probably used by one of our great grandparents. Hooking rugs came out of two different cultures. The Scandinavian countries made their rugs with a thick pile known as 'rya', which translated means 'rug' to our Swedish friends. This was accomplished using a loom. The pile was worked into the rug during the weaving process. Ryas are still being made, but by knotting the pile on a woven fabric. That fabric acts as the backing of the rug. The second culture of hooked rugs comes from the orient where they were hand tied. The pile was most often strands of clothing or brightly colored yarn. These two methods are still the methods used today when making a hooked rug by hand.
Hooked rugs were at one time made by forcing fabric or yarn pieces through a tightly stretched fabric. When the fabric tension is released it locks the strands of yarn between the weave of the fabric. Many of these hooked rugs were made so the loop is at the top of the rug.
As a child, I recall seeing my own ancestors making these rugs by taking fabric and yarns so they looped and pushed through old threshing canvas. Each loop was secured by running a heavy button thread inside the loop from the backside. This left the tufting to the front side, which worked as a way to clean off the shoes as they came from the outdoors. The loop was then pulled tight from the front side for a nice locked in loop. This particular method is also often called a rag rug.
The fabric was usually stretched over a stiff frame. The tighter the better as it opened each space between fabric threads for easy insertion of the yarns. Once the work was completed and the piece came off the stretcher the spaces would close around the fabric to hold them tightly. A familiar practice was to place a second backing over the back of the rug to help keep the fabrics or yarns more secure longer.
Scandinavians often made their rugs using geometric designs or animals surrounded by colorful scalloped designs. The rugs borders were quite colorful and held their own design to make it appear the border was a frame.
A large amount of the original Scandinavian hooked rugs are now preserved in local museums for all to enjoy. To keep with tradition, many of the old methods are still practiced today by home crafters who enjoy bringing back ancestral arts and crafts.
Modern day crafters purchase patterns with designs ready to be completed. This gives the crafter the opportunity to use the colors the crafter wishes to use. Finishing the rug or wall hanging is accomplished with modern, backing adhesive and then either frame their work or make them into a pillow or bench rug. Our ancestors may have handed down the art of hooking rugs, but the love of the art has grown to be appreciated enough to continue the craft by present day rug enthusiasts.
