Celtic Knots
Hooking words into your rugs: yarn is an excellent choice.
Celtic Love Knot, designed and hooked by Judy Taylor, Auburn, Washington, 2008.
Hooking with yarn is very similar to hooking with fabric strips. I use the same hook, the same backings, even the same frames. I even work on the finished side of the rug, which I prefer to the punch-hook style of rug hooking. Above all, the aspect of hooking with yarn that I like best is the ability to create beautiful lettering.
If you are just starting out with inscribed rugs, think big letters. The smaller you go, the harder it is to keep everything legible. Block letters are easier but take up a lot of space. Cursive writing is the most difficult to hook.
Keep in mind that yarn is malleable. The way you fill in around the letters will help correct the shaping.
This article is from the January/February 2010 issue. For more information on our issues, check out our issues page.