The Joys of Fibre Arts: Hooking Rugs

Rickmansworth u3a member Nan shares her unusual hobby: the art of hooking rugs

Nan Millette with Wrest Park Central Walk hooked design 2025

Whilst travelling back and forth between Atlantic Canada and the UK in 2010/2011 to visit my father in hospital, my friend Wendy drove me to the Halifax (Nova Scotia) airport and gave me a bag of magazines and books ‘to read on the plane’. One of those books was on hooking rugs, written by Deanne Fitzpatrick, the sister of one of Wendy’s neighbours. Little did I know then that 14 years later I would be designing, hooking, teaching and exhibiting my work internationally!

Me Own Wee World by Nan Millette (2012) - her first designed and hooked rug.

I read Deanne’s book, loved her story, then checked out her website, noting that she offered workshops. I signed up for one of her workshops, and was hooked! My first self-designed and hooked rug, “Me Own Wee World” was inspired by a television documentary I saw on young Irish dancers.

Some of the earliest examples of looped rugs have been discovered in Egyptian tombs. Evidence suggests that the Vikings brought this craft to Scotland, where it continued to evolve. By the 19th century, rug hooking became particularly popular in England, where workers in weaving mills would repurpose small fabric scraps (called thrums) into home projects. Hooking rugs involves pulling strips of fabric or yarn through a sturdy woven base, creating loops that form patterns and textures. Rug hooking is a versatile craft that can be used to create everything from functional floor coverings to decorative pillows, wall hangings, and even chair pad covers!

Twinkle floor rug (2022) - Nan Millette

‘Hookers’ (or ‘ruggers’) are a lovely community who enjoy making rugs (also called mats). As I live in the UK, I started looking around for other hooking groups, but they tended to be in Yorkshire and the south-east coast, not in west London where I live. By chance, the local arts council was looking for exhibitors at Artistsmeet, so in October 2019, I collected the rugs I had made for family members, and had a one month exhibition, teaching two workshops on rug hooking during that month. The second workshop had keen potential ‘hookers’, so I started teaching classes. But, once pandemic lockdowns began in March 2020, like many others, I pivoted to delivering online lessons.

I continue to take online and in-person workshops, both in Canada and the UK, and have joined a community arts group to expand my creative horizons. I exhibited my work in Halifax (as a member of Craft Nova Scotia) at the Age of Aquarius exhibition at the Mary E. Black Gallery in 2018. By joining The Guild of Handhooked Rugmakers (TIGHR), I entered a community of artists based in the UK, Canada, the USA, Australia and Japan. In 2024, I taught a workshop and exhibited my work at TIGHR’s Niagara Falls (Ontario, Canada) triennial conference.

Which way up? (2020), Nan Millette

I take commissions, but don’t expect to sell my work as I use linen backing (hessian tends to be more uneven and produces small fibres that I am allergic to) and small batch bespoke wools, yarns and silk. All these materials are expensive, and given the hours required to design and hook rugs, makes the cost of selling them too high for most buyers. I recycle materials (like T-shirts, knitwear and donations of yarn from other crafters) whenever possible.

I derive much joy from this art and craft hobby: I meet new people, I continue to learn, the hooking process is meditative, and I have something beautiful to display or gift after weeks and months on my hooking frame. My father passed in 2011, not knowing that my journey in rug hooking had begun and how far it went, but I know he would have enjoyed seeing my progress and the results.

Sunny tulips chair pad cover (2024), Nan Milette