Hooking Mats and Rugs

Book excerpt: This book features original designs and motifs, inspired by the long traditions of the craft Canadian rug hooker Deanne Fitzpatrick presents a collection of colorful, whimsical designs for welcome mats, area rugs, chair pads, and other decorative household items. Inspired by the seascape, the people, and the long rug-making traditions of the communities of the Atlantic coast, Deanne has adapted some of her favorite motifs to create practical, pictorial hooked canvases-Kissing Fish welcome mat, Old Rose oval rug, Coastal House chair pads, Dancing Women rug, and more. She provides the basic hooking instructions and tips on choosing the right backing (burlap or linen), gathering fabric (silks, wools, velvets-or just about anything else you can cut into strips), and binding the edges. She also provides templates for each of the 33 projects and instructions on transferring and positioning the motifs. Scattered throughout the book are inspiring photographs of Fitzpatrick's many award-winning rugs, her stories of traditions that inspire her work, and insider's tips for shortcuts and techniques. The whimsical, folk-art-style designs range from simple to more complex and will appeal both to beginners and experienced rug hookers. The technique is simple, and the materials are few and easy to find.