Grenfell Hooked Rugs

 

                                                                                                                             Watch Appraisal: Grenfell Missionary Rug,ca.1915 on PBS. See more from Antiques Roadshow.

            I was introduced to Grenfell hooked rugs from the above segment of Antiques Roadshow.

It was an immediate love of the colours and folk patterns, along with the story behind the women involved in the rug making.

Here are examples found on a Pinterest board:

Grenfell Rugs

and another unrelated board of photographs of women at work:

Olde Time Hooking

A very detailed blog post with many good examples of Grenfell rugs can be found here:

Paula Laverty on “Grenfell” Hooked Rugs

She is the author of a book called, Silk Stocking Mats,

and also runs her own site: Grenfell Hooked Mats

Inspired by the Grenfell rugs, I recently completed my own rug hooked wall hanging, and I actually used the legs of old stockings for the figures! (though not silk)

The background is filled in with second hand yarn, which is another reason (possibly the biggest) I love this medium - the use of scrap fabric and yarn.

See also an inspiration of mine: Suzen Green who teaches "traditional craft practices of Newfoundland and Labrador". An exceptional rug hooker and knitter.

Posted By: Sam