Join a Guild:  Get Connected!

Find out about other ATHA guilds www.ATHArugs.com
An international guild to investigate is TIGHR www.tighr.net
Pearl K McGown's legacy www.mcgownguild.com
Read all about it! www.rughookingonline.com
Socialize on the Net www.rughookingdaily.ning.com

Get Hooked - Learn about this Forgivable Fiber Art

Classes in Traditional Rug Hooking are available in Sonoma County with:
Brigitta Phy in Graton at 707 829-9641 or   Gita@greenvalleyrughooking.com
Laura Pierce in Petaluma at 707 762-2595 or  Lwpierce@comcast.net

Marita Friedman hosts a monthly Hook-In & classes at her Studio in Jack London Square, Oakland, CA.

Gail Becker teaches Rug Hooking in Turlock, CA. GaBecker@charter.net She is offering a California Postcard Challenge: everyone is welcome to participate!

Rug Hooking History

Unique Folk Art:  With roots centuries old, rug hooking is a folk art unique to North America. Born out of necessity and using materials at hand, (burlap sacks, old clothing, and fabric scraps) the first hooked rugs appeared in Atlantic Canada and New England in the late 1700's early 1800's. Hooked rugs are functional art originally created by rural women to cover the bare floors of their homes. The craft uses a hand hook, much like a crochet hook, to form a looped pile of a carpet or mat from fabric strips or yarn on a wide weave base.

Creative Outlet:  In an era when women's roles were more circumscribed than today, rug hooking also provided an outlet for a woman's creativity and individuality. The craft thrived along the Atlantic shores where winters were long and cold and floors were chilling to the feet. As people traveled west, so did rug hooking. People began selling hand hooked rugs, and cottage industries sprang up across the continent. Today hand-hooked rugs can be seen in galleries and museums in New York City, Washington DC, Toronto and London, as well as in local museums, libraries, and community centers across North America.

Look for us at the Fair!

We participate in the Sonoma County Fair each summer by entering our rugs in their competition and demonstrating Rug Hooking every day of the fair. Visit us in the Garret Building, 11am - 3pm, and see first hand what it's all about. We also show our rugs at the Marin County Fair and the Gravenstein Apple Fair.

Wine Country Rug Hookers:  A Chapter of ATHA
- the Association of Traditional Hooking Artists

WCRH members meet once a month in Rincon Valley of Santa Rosa, to share ideas and techniques of our Fiber Art. We show our rugs and wall hangings at various public venues, sponsor workshops and share Rug Hooking at various Fairs.

Join Us

Guests are welcome!  Annual Dues of $30.00 per year for our local Chapter and $26.00 per year for the national ATHA membership include both our monthly newsletter and the Bimonthly ATHA magazine, a colorful publication filled with how-to articles, news of rug hooking schools, camps and exhibits around the country as well as advertising from suppliers from around the continent.  A $2.00 donation is collected at each meeting.

In beautiful Rincon Valley

The Wine Country Rug Hookers meet on the second Saturday of each month, (except August) from 10:00am to 3:00pm at the Friends House, 684 Benicia Drive, Common Room B, in Santa Rosa, California. The business meeting begins at 11:00am and we break for a sack lunch at noon. Coffee and dessert are provided. After lunch, there is usually a program presenting a subject of interest to rug hookers.

Call for more information: