RHGNS
2022 Virtual Rug Hooking School
Course Overview
Original designs hooked and photographed by Tatiana Knodel, Sudbury ON, completed in 2021, 16″ x 36″
The Virtual Rug school will run from Feb 20, 2022 to Feb 25, 2022
The Evening activities include:
Sunday night – Carolyn Landry will facilitate an interactive session on the 7 Sacred Teachings
Monday night – Deanne Fitzpatrick will present “Creative Rug Hooking for a Modern World”
Tuesday night – Hetty Van Gurp will present “Island Inspiration – How I Discovered My Love of Rug Hooking Through Storytelling
Thursday night – FUN night – Mask Judging, LEFT, RIGHT, CENTRE and winners of Virtual Rug Display. Mask theme is ‘Air, Earth, Water’
February 2022 Virtual Rug School Course Details
Download PDF version of Course DescriptionsBeginner:
So You Want to Be a Rug Hooker ….

Designed, hooked and photographed by Ellen Tancock.
Instructor: Ellen Tancock, Nova Scotia
Come join us and learn about this beautiful art that is part of our heritage. You will hook this lovely picture and learn about types of hooking, backings, equipment used, such as hooks and frames, how to transfer patterns to backings, and about wool, lots of beautiful colors of wool. You will be hooked!
Kit available from Instructor. The kit will include pattern on linen, wool cut and ready to use, a hook and information sheet for pattern. Student has choice of two colours for the house. Kit $70. Hoop ( if required) $ 30. Mailing cost- individual fee based on location
Course Length:
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Number of Students:
3 days
Monday, Wednesday & Friday
Beginner
20
Celtic Knots – Dots to Designs

Motherhood knot designed, hooked and photographed by Anne Inder
Instructor: Anne Inder, Newfoundland
In this course you will be shown how to go from making dots in grids to creating your own mat design.
We cover a brief history, tools of the trade, colour and design and how to transfer your design. You will learn the “T” method used to create 3 x 3 and 4×4 basic grids, Fish Entrails, 4 x 4 with 2 breaks and a Celtic cross – 2 breaks. You will also learn how to draw full borders, Carrick Bend knot, Linked Hearts and the Motherhood knot (as seen in photo).
Course Length:
Course Level:
Number of Students:
3 days
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
Intermediate
15
Creative Indigenous

Designed, hooked and photographed by Shirley Joyce.

Instructor: Shirley Joyce, Nova Scotia
Welcome to “Creative Indigenous” where we will explore the Mi’kmaw “Seven Levels of Creation”. During the three days, you will see work by Indigenous artists and learn the history of the creation of the Mi’kmaw people. While designing you may hook your animals as silhouettes or gather inspiration from the Indigenous artists you will learn about in class.
We will be hooking a chair pad that I have designed. Proficiency with #3 cut will be necessary to hook the animals as they are small. Each animal has special meaning: Eagle is Love; Buffalo is respect; Bear, courage; Turtle, truth; Wolf, humility; and Beaver is wisdom. You will be expected to choose your own materials and colors to achieve the finished rug. Join me for a fascinating three-day journey into the Mi’kmaw art and culture.
Course Length:
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Number of Students:
3 days
Monday, Wednesday & Friday
Intermediate
20
Designing and Hooking Clouds with Mixed Fibres

Designed, hooked and photographed by Robin Whitford
Instructor: Robin Whitford, Ontario
Are you one of those people who is often looking up and admiring the sky and clouds? I am! Always changing, the sky provides endless inspiration! In this 3-day workshop we will walk through my process for creating an original design from a photograph of a gorgeous blue sky full of clouds, getting it on the foundation fabric and hooking it with a variety of wools, yarns, and fun fibres!
A kit will be available to order which will include photo of clouds and a variety of mixed fibres to create the clouds and sky (plenty for an 8×16” design). Rug warp or linen can be ordered if needed as well.
Students are welcome to use all their own materials if they prefer and I can email them the photo to use if they wish (or they can use their own).
Course Length:
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Number of Students:
3 days
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
Intermediate
15
Dyeing Beautiful Yarn for Hooking & Punching

Photograph by Jane Holden
Instructor: Jane Holden, Nova Scotia
Whether hooking or punching, dyeing is the best way to get variety and your own beautiful colours. We will look at various colour palettes which resist fading.You will dye your favourite one.
Basics will be covered with special considerations for dyeing yarns using several techniques. Each new dyeing method will first be explained and demonstrated. You will then choose your colours and be guided to dye at home. Students are encouraged to have a rug/project as a focus. Previous dyeing experience is helpful.
Cost of setup, specific lightfast dyes and yarn will vary depending on what you have already. Plan for a minimum of $35 for yarn with setup for beginners ranging $70 to $120.
Course Length:
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Number of Students:
3 days
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
Previous dyeing experience helpful
12
Exploring Vintage Japanese Woodblock Designs

Crows at full moon (1925-1936) by Ohara Koson (1877-1945), hooked and photographed by Caroline Simpson

Carp and fly (1900 – 1930) by Ohara Koson (1877-1945), hooked and photographed by Caroline Simpson
Instructor: Caroline Simpson, New Brunswick
In this 3-day course, we will explore traditional motifs of vintage Japanese woodblock prints, using dip-dyes, spot dyes, swatches, and stained-glass techniques to replicate the image. Choose one of three patterns adapted from vintage woodblock prints by Japanese artist Ohara Koson, 1877-1945 (PDF supplied for you to transfer to backing material of choice) — or create your own design. There are many copyright-free images that can be found online. These patterns are best worked in cuts #3 to #5.
Patterns available for you to transfer:
- Crows at full moon (1925 – 1936) by Ohara Koson (1877-1945).
- Carp and fly (1900 – 1930) by Ohara Koson (1877-1945)
- Poppies – Birds and plants (1900 – 1936) by Ohara Koson (1877-1945)
Course Length:
Course Level:
Number of Students:
3 days
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
Intermediate
15
Find It, Finish It

Heron and Fish designed by Carol Harvey Clark, hooked and photographed by Ann Jones
Instructor: Ann Jones, Nova Scotia
FiFi is for everyone! It is our virtual hook-in during rug school. When we gather, we help and encourage each other. You can join us for 5 days or join in on the days you are not in your virtual classroom. All are welcome.
Ask anything about the design, colour planning, any type of hooking in any cut. Any question is fair game. There will be many answers and suggestions. This is a gathering of like minds, of new and experienced rug hookers. It is also a time to hook together, to start your project, to continue a project, to show us your project. We will learn from each other, get to know each other, and have some fun.
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5 days
Monday to Friday
All Levels
As many as register
Introduction to Fine Shading – Pansies and Pussy Willows

Pansy and Pussy Willow Rug designed, hooked and photographed by Ruth Downing
Instructor: Ruth Downing, Nova Scotia
In this virtual course the student will be introduced to the world of fine shading through the use of 6-value swatches. Ruth has designed a round Pansy chair mat, one of the easiest of flowers to shade. Her approach will be to acquaint the class with valuable shading techniques in a step by step process through power point and the use of visual aids, such as rugs, photos, and diagrams. The student will learn equal gradation of values, blending techniques, fingering, mock shading, as well as tricks for creating realistic florals. Students must be proficient with #3 cut in order to take this course.
The paper pattern will be emailed to students for enlargement. The cost is $15. Well in advance of the course, Ruth will provide detailed instructions on how to dye your own swatches including formulas, reference material and helpful information. Invite a friend and learn this useful dye method together. If you are feeling timid you are more than welcome to purchase your swatches from a vendor.
Join Ruth for a fun and informative course learning basic fine shading techniques. You will see colour and value in a new light!
Course Length:
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Number of Students:
3 days
Monday, Wednesday & Friday
Intermediate
20
Punch Hooked Pillows

Punched in Wool Stylized Flower, designed, punched and photographed by Simone Vojvodin

Punch in wool, Jack jumps over the carrot stick, designed, punched and photographed by Simone Vojvodin
Instructor: Simone Vojvodin, Ontario
Do you ever have wool so beautiful that you wish you could use it as is? Beautiful pillow covers, wall hangings, or table mats can be created by punching directly into the wool fabric, allowing the fabric itself to be showcased as the background!
Students will learn this special punch needle technique using quality milled and hand-dyed wool fabrics and yarns. The process of adding “pennies” or wool appliqué, and some fancy stitches with the punch will also be taught to embellish the pattern, plus a super simple method for pillow cover assembly. A fun class, with practical applications! This workshop is suitable for students with some basic punch hooking experience.
Kit fee: $100 plus tax (includes shipping!) Kit includes wool fabric, hand-dyed yarns, pattern, tracing item, embroidery thread, and class hand-outs. Variety of patterns to choose from.
Note from Teacher: A #14 or #13 Oxford Punch Needle is required. Students may order one from the teacher beforehand.
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Course Length:
Course Level:
Number of Students:
3 days
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
Intermediate
15
Wearable Pictorials on Mittens


Patterns designed, hooked and photographed by Winnie Glavine.
Instructor: Winnie Glavine, Newfoundland
Combine your love for machine sewing, knitting and rug hooking as you take your rug hooking skills outside the box and create a pair of wearable mittens. Not a seamstress or knitter? No worries, team up with someone who is and have them waiting in the wings with their service.
Fabrics required: medium weight wool fabric to make your mitten, (retired wool blanket), linen foundation fabric, wool yarns in a variety of colour and fleece for lining the mittens.
Hooked Creations NL is dedicated to reduce, reuse, recycle and therefore repurposed clothing is ALWAYS encouraged for your rug hooking projects when possible.
Course Length:
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Number of Students:
3 days
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
Intermediate
15
Yarn Painting with Flair

Created and photographed by Len de Graaf.
Instructor: Len de Graaf, Ontario
What is Yarn Painting?
Melted beeswax is applied to a hard surface and when dry yarn is pressed into the hardened beeswax with a sharp implement to create a beautiful piece of art.
WHO: People who love working with yarn such as rug hookers, needle punchers, weavers and thread painters.
WHAT: Each participant will be mailed a kit containing an 8×8″ wooden cradled panel board. This board will have 6 coats of melted beeswax on it applied by me before it is sent to you. Included you will have instructions as to how to beeswax your own boards after the workshop. You provide your own yarn & fibres. Theme: You may wish to reference a landscape painting by Tom Tomson or use a picture you have taken yourself of a landscape.
HOW: On Monday I will demonstrate yarn painting techniques which you will practise on your board. Then when you are comfortable you can start your yarn painting using yarn and alternative fibres to create your own painting. On Tues. you will continue to yarn paint. Then on Friday I will show you how to work with edges, sides of the wooden frame and most importantly how to work with the corners.
KITS: Each kit will cost $45.00 which includes mailing.