The original hooked rugs were a matter of thrift. Yet they left a legacy rich in personal history and storytelling.

In this two-day workshop, students learn the basic rug-hooking and finishing techniques needed to make their own hand-hooked rugs and accessories. The class will hand-hook fabric strips onto a linen backing.

Each student receives one-on-one attention from the instructor. Students may select from one of three designs provided by the instructor or are welcome to create their own. They will leave the workshop with a completed, hand-hooked, 20 cm x 20 cm sampler. Topics covered in the workshop include fabric selection, backing, the sourcing of supplies, and the history of hand-hooked rugs in Canada.

This two-day workshop is ideal for those who are beginners as well as those who have not hooked in awhile and want to refresh their skills.

Michelle Sirois-Silver is a McGown-certified instructor who teaches rug-hooking workshops on design and colour planning in Canada and the United States.

Her work has been exhibited at fibreEssence, Contemporary Craft in BC, Surface Design Traveling Exhibition, FibreWorks Gallery, Convergence, Gibsons Fibre Arts Festival, and the Silk Purse Arts Centre. She has a Creative Arts Diploma from Vanier College, a BA Specialization in Communications from Concordia University, and a Public Relations Certificate from the University of Toronto. She studied colour theory with Michele Wipplinger and at BC Open University. Ms. Sirois-Silver first began teaching rug-hooking in 1998 and formed Big Dog Hooked Rug Designs in 2004. 

www.michellesirois-silver.com