She's a Good Hooker
Sharing your quilting and creativity with a friend is so important. You get good, honest feedback. Excitement when you're excited. A push in the right direction when you need it. My friend Karen is one of my close friends, and I'm lucky to be able to call her family too. (Our husbands are cousins, so we consider ourselves cousin out-laws!) We chat almost daily about our families and our projects, even though we sometimes go weeks in between seeing each other.
On Saturday I wanted to share a project that I'm designing with her, so took it along as the girls and I headed to town to run errands. It felt so good to chat about our projects, see what she had going, and to not feel rushed by something else on the schedule (a rarity in my life).
Karen is a hard-worker...whether it's her quilting, hooking, gardening, or cooking. I'll have to take pictures of her beautiful garden next time. But, I wanted to share just a few of the rugs she's worked on since the last time we did show and tell. She gets so much done!
Karen is a self-taught hooker, so is very critical of her work. (We are hardest on ourselves, aren't we?) There's a knack to getting the loops the same size and height. You can be a low hooker, a high hooker, a tight hooker, or a loose hooker. I think like anything it comes with practice. And, Karen is sure practicing with beautiful results.
This is a pattern designed by Shawn Williams of Threads that Bind.

Like all good quilters, Karen knows she bought the flower basket mat at Ewe and Eye in Osage, Iowa, but can't remember the designer!

The circle rug was a challenge at Ewe and Eye that started with the mat and two or three pieces of wool that had to be used. Karen added all the bright colors. I love it!

At the annual Ewe and Eye hook-in, the participants all draw on a mat. Then if they bring it back the next year finished they get money back! This is the 2008 project that Karen has ready for this year's hook-in.

My mom will be attending the hook-in, too, this year on July 26. It's a great group of creative women. Marge and Beth (mother and daughter) run the shop and the event under the big beautiful trees in their yard. Call the shop at 641-832-2447 if you need details!
I've hooked and can hook...but wool applique tugs at me a lot more. But I can't help but wonder what creative outlet the girls will be drawn too...Virginia seemed to like the rugs at Karen's house.
On Saturday I wanted to share a project that I'm designing with her, so took it along as the girls and I headed to town to run errands. It felt so good to chat about our projects, see what she had going, and to not feel rushed by something else on the schedule (a rarity in my life).
Karen is a hard-worker...whether it's her quilting, hooking, gardening, or cooking. I'll have to take pictures of her beautiful garden next time. But, I wanted to share just a few of the rugs she's worked on since the last time we did show and tell. She gets so much done!
Karen is a self-taught hooker, so is very critical of her work. (We are hardest on ourselves, aren't we?) There's a knack to getting the loops the same size and height. You can be a low hooker, a high hooker, a tight hooker, or a loose hooker. I think like anything it comes with practice. And, Karen is sure practicing with beautiful results.
This is a pattern designed by Shawn Williams of Threads that Bind.

Like all good quilters, Karen knows she bought the flower basket mat at Ewe and Eye in Osage, Iowa, but can't remember the designer!

The circle rug was a challenge at Ewe and Eye that started with the mat and two or three pieces of wool that had to be used. Karen added all the bright colors. I love it!

At the annual Ewe and Eye hook-in, the participants all draw on a mat. Then if they bring it back the next year finished they get money back! This is the 2008 project that Karen has ready for this year's hook-in.

My mom will be attending the hook-in, too, this year on July 26. It's a great group of creative women. Marge and Beth (mother and daughter) run the shop and the event under the big beautiful trees in their yard. Call the shop at 641-832-2447 if you need details!
I've hooked and can hook...but wool applique tugs at me a lot more. But I can't help but wonder what creative outlet the girls will be drawn too...Virginia seemed to like the rugs at Karen's house.





Wow! These are truly lovely. Love the one with the circles the best. You crack me up talking about the different kind of hookers - tight, loose, etc. Lol!
Reply to this
I loved the one with the flowers on it! That is something I would love to learn to do one day. Maybe when I retire from babysitting my grandson!!
I have to say, you title on this post cracked me up!!!
Reply to this
I was not really familiar w/hooking
I like the flower basket best...just looks old.
Reply to this
Beautiful projects, her work is excellent. It's not something I've tried, thought about it, but with all that I'm already doing, probably won't get rug-hooking added to the list. Like you, however, I do think I will try some wool applique.
Reply to this