Needle felting class
Gail Hock, President
The Rug Hookers of PebbleCreek (RHPC) is a small group dedicated to the art of wool rug hooking. Wool strips are cut with a cutter and pulled through linen to make rugs. Members buy patterns or design their own rugs to create beautiful pieces. Rug hooking is one of many art forms that fall under the category of “fibre art.”
On Jan. 29 of this year we decided to try needle felting, which is a creative and versatile fibre art form. While there are several different types of felting, needle felting is the easiest to try out and perfect for all skill levels. Needle felting allows you to create any number of shapes and designs using just felting needles, a felting mat, and wool; no sewing or patterns are needed. The technique can be used to create incredibly lifelike 3D sculptures, as well as 2D designs on the surface of fabric.
Brenda Pedden-Boyce, a member of RHPC and an experienced felter, offered to teach our group the basic needle felting techniques of making different shapes. Brenda is one of our snowbirds from Canada and is well versed in many different wool art forms, as she and her husband raise sheep on their farm in Canada. Half of our membership turned up and everyone enjoyed making a Valentine’s Day bracelet, complete with a heart and beads.
If you’d like to learn more about rug hooking, please stop in to the Creative Arts Center any Monday from noon to 4 p.m. in room 104. We usually have a small group that gathers and works on their latest projects. If you’re interested in learning to hook rugs, we offer a class with all the materials you need to complete a small project. The class is taught by one of our experienced “hookers.”