Teaching Amazing Beginners to Hook
Updated: 2 days ago
As with all traditional and folk arts, we're keenly aware of the average age of rug hookers. Some of us--maybe a lot of us--are getting up there, and we need to teach younger people. In fact there are grants available for passing on the traditional arts to the next generation. Teaching even one other person of any age is a worthy goal. My friend Suzanne teaches youth how to hook during the summer months. About four times a year, Midwest Rug Hookers is teaching a new crop of 12 beginners through Metro Community College in Omaha. And I had a chance to teach a handful of beginners at my local arts center...
WINE & WOOL at the Arts Center
"Wine & Wool" was a two-session September beginners class on consecutive Thursday nights. The arts center generously provided a glass or two of wine for each participant, plus something delicious to nibble on during our 4-hour sessions. We expected a smallish group and had five students plus my friend and helper, Melanie, a relatively new hooker who shared her own perspective as a recent student. ❤️
For a few years, I've been teaching experienced rug hookers, but teaching beginners is different. One might think it's easier, but nope. When we've been hooking for a long time, we take many things for granted, things we need to slow down and think through in order to explain them well.
For what it's worth, here's how I prepared for and taught the class.
The Pattern
In July and August, I designed and hooked four different 12"-square patterns before coming up with one I felt good about. My first two attempts weren't simple enough. The third was boring--I pulled it out. Finally, I reworked my first attempt with clearer and simpler motifs.
I ended up with Late Summer Sampler, a little mat with four quadrants hooked in a warmer palette tempered with a cool sky color. Two quadrants feature hit-or-miss hooking in straight lines--good practice for loop height and placement. The other two quadrants feature motifs of a simplified bird in flight (red-winged blackbird) and a cone flower. Contouring around these motifs with the sky color made for good practice.
The Handouts
I'm a big believer in written material for students to help reinforce their learning. It can be challenging to pull those first loops while trying to listen, and it's good to have handouts to refer to. I provided these:
How-to instruction, a glossary of terms, and a guide to using the wool strips in the appropriate places.
For how-to instruction, I used one of those out-of-print rug hooking books for a guide. I didn't plagiarize the author, but used one chapter for a checklist of topics to cover.
A list of local rug hooking events and some good local and online options for wool, patterns, tools, and equipment.
two pages on color harmonies
a simple page on finishing your mat with references to YouTube videos
and a sheet about our local ATHA chapter, Midwest Rug Hookers
The Kits
Each kit included a Moshimer Primitive hook, the pattern drawn on linen, and the wool strips bundled up for each area of the mat: a black bundle in a 7-cut for our grids and our blackbirds, a motif bundle in 7-cut for the bird's wing and the cone flower, a sky bundle in 7-cut, and a hit or miss bundle in 7- and 8-cuts. Plus a Sharpie and handouts.
Kit Value
The Moshimer hook was a $15 item, and the patterns were 20" X 18" on unbleached linen. Including the hook, my kits in inexpensive paper bags cost a little over $30. I didn't factor in my time, just the expenses--and I did donate some cut noodles in an 8-cut (I have so many!) and some wool.
How We Spent Our Time
The first session was mostly demonstrating how to hook each element and helping students individually with loops (Melanie helped a lot). Students could try different frames and hooks. They learned to cut wool. Three students decided to hook a red bird, so we cut some red woolens! I was very glad that they felt free to make the pattern their own.
In the second session, we heard questions and ideas that might make the class better. Then more demo, a chat about color, a look at various types of rugs and fibers to hook with, and finally a demo of finishing.
Results
Maybe this was an especially dextrous group, but gosh, they picked it up quickly and easily. Three students purchased their frames from the arts center, and three students upgraded their hooks, buying an Irish hook from me, discounted to $35. (A fourth is looking for an Irish hook online now.) Two students have attended an all-day hooking event of Midwest Rug Hookers, buying supplies and equipment from our swap table. One student has registered to attend the Nebraska Fall Hook In.
The arts center is plum-full for the rest of this year, BUT we plan gather at my house next month for hooking together. I hope that some students can begin a new project!
Suggestions and Take-Aways from Teaching a Beginners Class
I'm glad I had observed the teaching of Jodi Isom (Midwest Rug Hookers). She's so chill, and she is very tuned in to what a beginner needs to know. Observe another teacher of beginners if you can--or watch a YouTube video.
Things went well. Melanie, my friend and helper, was a big part of that. Even if one rug hooker takes the lead in your beginners class, it's great to have other experienced rug hookers present to chime in and help individuals.
To each session, I brought different rugs, different books, different fibers--so that students could open their minds to the breadth of this fiber art. I would do this again.
We looked at yarns, dyed seam binding, and sari silk, and we talked about dyed nylon stockings and more fibers to hook with! 
To each session, I brought hooked items to share. Students don't always think of what all they can hook. 
Jessica, talking with Patty, Terri, and Jodi at an all-day gathering of Midwest Rug Hookers. In that room, there was endless encouragement and advice. One student felt that a 12" square mat was a bit large, and she suggested going smaller next time. We could definitely do an 8" or 10" square project. Those students who took their projects home with them came very close to finishing. Those who didn't work on it between sessions didn't get as far. (This is not unusual for the students at Metro Community College. Usually students do not finish within the timeframe of the class.) I do hope that hosting students at my house will help them finish!
Nancy bought wool from our sale table at All-Day Hooking and used the MRH cutter! She has started Stash-Building! 
Jodi in red, showing Jessica some hooks to choose from. Jodi teaches beginners regularly and is an excellent resource for any new rug hooker! If your students can't zigzag or serge their projects, Jodi Isom suggests using Elmer's glue or Fray Check to lock in linen fibers before finishing. This suggestion enables ANY student to finish the mat.
Though it's important to review finishing techniques, it's hard to learn this skill until you can actually do it. None of the students was ready to finish, though some were so close! Still, I'm glad to have demonstrated trimming, steaming, pinning, whipping, and sewing. They all have my number, and I'll be happy to help them finish.
Though I have not been good about labeling rugs, I did demonstrate this for the students, in hopes that they'll do better than I.
Wine & Wool is an appealing title! I think it drew students, and our arts center went above and beyond, with red and white wine and some tasty and substantial snacks. They even offered a bluetooth speaker for music in our classroom. Don't underestimate the value of an inviting venue and experience!
Thank you for reading my Noodlings today, friends, and thanks to Melanie for some of our classroom photos! Whether you have a niece who likes handwork, a neighbor who admires your rugs, or an arts center open to hosting a beginners class, do your best to pass on this Traditional Art to others, maybe some young ones! Happy Hooking!
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