About rug hooking

So many incidents stand out in my memory from that experience. One was the cleverness of one patient. He asked for a plain piece of burlap and said he was going to make a valentine for his wife.

Asked if he had hooked before, he said: "No, but I think I can manage." At first we were skeptical, but after we had provided the various hues he asked for, we watched him take a snapshot from his pocket and sketch a few lines on the burlap from it. The first few loops he awkwardly pulled into the burlap, but he soon caught on.

Then gradually we saw something happen to that burlap. A large heart was drawn to form a frame, and the area around it was hooked in red. Within, a face of delicate light tones began to take shape.

Dark brown formed the hair. Dark shadows fell upon the neck. Deep blue eyes and subtly shaded lines gave character to the face. A fuchsia lower lip and an orangey upper lip made us gasp!

But, lo and behold, when completed and hung upon the opposite wall, every detail was perfect, and the orange of the upper lip became a highlight. We later learned he was a most accomplished photographer. I don't think any sweetheart received a more unique valentine!