That Cozy Feeling: Hooking Home & Garden

It's a beautiful thing to make new friends in our "senior" years. From our first phone call, I just knew that Minnesota rug hooker, Andrea Froeber, would become a friend. We met in person at her rug hooking retreat in Detroit Lakes, quite near our family's cabin on a lake. A hail storm had taken out my windshield en route to the retreat, and Andrea introduced me to an auto-glass guy and drove me to and from! A friend indeed.

I'd been hooking at the cabin for years, wishing and wondering, "Aren't there any rug hookers around here?" Well, now I'm in regular contact with Andrea even when I'm in Iowa--and she's introducing me to more rug hookers in those lake-filled Minnesota counties up north.

Wavy Flower Pot, a Deanne Fitzpatrick pattern that came from one of her books. Andrea didn't have a teacher for this one. "I used 9 and 10 cuts," she said. "The wavy border is what drew me to this one."

My new friend, Andrea, who hooks in her beautiful and cozy home, looking out at a beautiful Minnesota lake.

The first time I visited Andrea's home, I was struck by its cozy vibe and the role that textiles play in her decor. Quilts and rugs make a feast for the eyes. Rugs on the floor, on furniture, adorning the walls---everything looks bright and fresh, yet warm and vintage at the same time. For this post, I've chosen eleven pieces, but we ended up with a Baker's Dozen.

Let's begin with Andrea's inclination to make her rugs look like they've been around forever. "My favorite rug patterns to hook are the ones that will look OLD when finished," Andrea said. "To me it's an old art form. I don’t have the patience to hook a lot of detail, and this is a creative outlet that I can relax and have fun with."

This is Easter Buddies--a little pillow, designed by Maria Barton and hooked by Andrea Froeber. Here we can glimpse a little of Andrea's style. Don't you want to sit for a spell and enjoy a cup of dandelion tea?

Rose of Sharon, a fragment rug designed by Carol Weatherman, available from Sally Kallin at Pine Island Primitives.

Of the rugs that I chose to include in this post, Andrea informed me that four are "fragment" rugs. They're designed by Carol Weatherman, and Sally Kallin has the rights to these beautiful patterns. They are made to look like small fragments of antique rugs. I asked Andrea about how she achieved some of the effects in the fragment rugs, but she said that students are sworn to secrecy. To learn these techniques, she highly recommends hooking your own fragment rug in a class with Sally.

Roosters, a fragment rug designed by Carol Weatherman and available from Sally Kallin. So charmingly hooked by Andrea Froeber.

A fragment rug, Shorebird, designed by Carol Weatherman, available at Pine Island Primitives. After Andrea got the hang of hooking the fragment rugs, she enjoyed hooking this one on her own.

A Fox, one of Carol Weatherman's fragment designs, and Andrea hooked it at Sally's shop. It looks old as the hills!

Here is Tulips, a design from Primitives by CarolRae, hooked by Andrea in a Carol Dunn workshop. You probably recognize that it's resting on one of those cool vintage footrests! "I loved the wool that Carol used because it looked old, Andrea said. "The black/white along with scrappy pieces complete the aged look."

Prince of the Forest, a Primitives by Carol Rae design. Andrea hooked this in a workshop with Carol Dunn. "Her rug has hung in her porch," Andrea said, "and has such a nice faded patina, which is what drew me to it."

Little Houses, designed by Sharon Smith, and hooked by Andrea. She didn't have a teacher for this one. "The funky fun colors drew me to this rug," Andrea said. This charmer hangs on the main floor of the house. I just love those squiggly trees between the houses, almost as much as the houses themselves!

Flowerbox 40" X 52", designed by Karen Kahle, hooked by Andrea. She bought the pattern and hooked it on her own. "I wasn’t sure I could hook a large rug. I was turning 60, and I decided to try something new and challenging to celebrate."

I have failed to mention Andrea's gardening. I can't describe it. Picture a pretty house under shade trees with the back lawn falling away to the lake, and every kind of flower garden. A gorgeous garden shed, antique yard ornaments, colorful old doors propped up against the house. Oh Lord, the zinnias! I think Andrea's gardens are reflected in some of her pattern choices, like the one above.

Button Eyes, designed by Carol Weatherman and hooked by Andrea in a Sally Kallin workshop. "I have adopted several older golden retrievers," Andrea said, "and this pattern is in honor of our (female) “Sami”. The way it was hooked--directional hooking and the vintage colors--- and the variety of deep brown background wools help make this rug look vintage."

From Payton Primitives, Antique Floral, hooked by Andrea. "The same rug hooked in different colors was featured in the August/September 2021 ATHA magazine and I love it!" Andrea said. "Wish I'd seen it before I hooked mine." We like yours just fine, Andrea!

Scroll down, friends, for one more glorious floor runner!

Seeing Stars is a lovely floor runner, designed by Sally Kallin, which Andrea hooked in Sally's workshop. "I used all the colors I love," Andrea said.

I'm so grateful to Andrea for many things, but today, I'm grateful that she let me take these photos and share these rugs, and that she talked with me about her hooking practice. Thank you for reading my Noodlings today, friends, and I hope you're making something cozy yourselves! Happy Hooking!