First Rug

I was looking through some old photos recently and found some pictures I had taken in 1995 at the Green Mountain Rug Camp. It was my very first rug camp, and I was a new hooker. Took class from Patsy Becker and had lots of fun watching her dye wool during the week I was there. Also learned about binding rugs with yarn, points on stars, color selection, etc. I think the best part was the rug show at the end of the week. I saw a caliber of rugs that I never had seen before, and it made me want to try all sorts of techniques. I'm sure a lot of you experienced the same thing as you began hooking.

Anyway, included in the packet of photos was a photo of my first real rug. I completed a chair pad when I first learned to hook, but this was the first rug that to me was actually a rug. At the time I started this rug my niece was planning her wedding, and I decided to give the rug to her on the occasion of her marriage. I often wonder how I ever decided to give away what was basically my first rug.

Dick LaBarge was my teacher at the time, and he walked me through all the color choices, dyed wool for me, and really encouraged me that I could do this rug and complete it on time.

Here is the rug:

I don't know who the designer of the rug is, but what I remember most about the rug is that my hooking was very tight. At times, it looked three-dimensional!! I have to say though, I had a lot of fun working on the different objects in the rug.

Sadly, the couple who received the rug have divorced, and I'm not sure where it is. I'm sure is rolled up and stored for now. Hopefully, it will see the light of day some day.

Do you know where your first rug is? Did you learn a lot from that experience?

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