Rug Hooking Course for Beginners

What you'll learn

Learn Rug Hooking for Beginners with our handcraft short courses in Sydney!

This beginner-friendly class teaches all the skills required to begin your own rug hooking projects.  You will learn how to use the hooky and proggy tools to create the two very different styles of rugs and also how to finish the edges of your rugs in a variety of ways depending on the end use.  The craft can be used to make items such as rugs, wall hangings, coasters, bags and cushions.

Rug hooking is a traditional craft that has been practised for centuries. Despite almost dying out in the last century, it is now enjoying a resurgence today. Its popularity is not only a response to its wide range of design possibilities, or to its practicality but also reflects the desire to make use of recycled and scrap materials today.

During the class, you will be introduced to the history of rug making and shown a range of examples illustrating the variety of possibilities with this craft.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this rug hooking course, you should be able to:

• Design and make products using the hooked and progged methods.
• Know the different ways to prepare base material for the rug's end purpose.
• Select materials for both practical and artistic purposes.
• Know the stages of the design process and how to transfer a design to a backing fabric
• Finish the edges of the rugs and know which finishing method to use for each practical purpose

Course content

What will be covered in this rug hooking course?

Morning: Introduction to the two basic rug hooking techniques.

• Outline of the history of Rug Hooking: showing examples of different techniques and design styles from traditional to contemporary.
• Learn how to prepare and cut fabric ready to hook or prog.
• Learn the basic Hooky and Proggy techniques and experiment with ways to fill areas.
• Experiment with high and low effects, solid colour v patterned fabric, manipulating the strips and looped v cut loops
• Work with different materials and fibre types and constructions - knitted, woven or felted fabrics, yarn and non-traditional materials such as plastics.
• Combining techniques including making 3D effects and flowers.
• Understanding which technique will be best suited for a particular practical end purpose.

Afternoon: Designing and Finishing Techniques.

• Design Considerations, creating a pattern template and how to transfer a design onto the backing using chalk, pen or netting methods.
• Understand how to even out the fabric ready to finish off the raw edges.
• Mitred corners and facing method for finishing for light end uses such as coasters.
• Tape and thread method for finishing - suitable for wall hangings and low-traffic rugs.
• Cord + Hessian Tape method for hard-wearing end uses such as rugs.

Session 3: Beginning your Project

• Creating a pattern template and preparing the hessian backing
• How to transfer your design onto the backing using chalk (damp cloth to rub out), pen or netting methods
• How to prepare your recycled garments before cutting
• Different methods of cutting the strips
• Discuss the different ways to keep the fabric taut and start working on the project

Session 4: Different ways to finish the edges of your project

• Understand how to even out the fabric ready to finish off the raw edges
• Mitred corners and facing method for finishing for light end uses such as coasters
• Tape and thread method for finishing - suitable for wall hangings and low-traffic rugs
• Cord + Hessian Tape method for hard wearing end uses such as rugs
• Use the mitred corner and facing method to finish off your rug hooking project

Intended audience

Who is this rug hooking course for?

This course is for absolute beginners, no prior experience or knowledge is required!

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Course materials

Materials provided

All materials and tools, including the hooky and proggy tool, are provided for you in class.

You have also the option to purchase your own tool set at the checkout.

What to bring to class

• A notepad and pen for taking notes
• A medium-sized pair of scissors
• Any project ideas you have for discussion