Cats and Turtles and Coyotes...Oh, My!

Coyote, 24" x 24", #8- and 6-cut new and recycled wool on unbleached linen. Designed by Spencer Ellingham and hooked by Norma Press, Geneva, New York, 2012.

I learned to rug hook in 2000. The greatest pleasure I’ve gained and given through my rug hooking has been turning my grandchildren’s paintings and drawings into rugs. If this idea appeals to you, I can give you a few hints on how to make this a satisfying experience for both grandparent and grandchild.

When Max, the oldest of three grandchildren, was in fourth grade, he showed me a drawing he did in his class study of American Indian culture. He drew Turtle surrounded by geometric design elements. As soon as I saw the drawing, I thought rug.  Max was enthusiastic about my hooking a rug based on his drawing. He already had one of my rugs, given to him for his third birthday.

From there, it became simply a matter of taking the grandkids’ creations and translating them into wool.

This article is from the June/July/August 2014 issue. For more information on our issues, check out our issues page.