Rug Hooking & Punch Needle — Contemporary Textile Studio Co-op 

$155.00

Saturday March 21, 2026
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Instructors: Tania Martin & Yvonne Iten-Scott

Materials Fee: $55 (paid directly to the Instructors)
Students: 12

Rug-making was historically a necessity to keep floors warm in people’s homes, although today many rug-making techniques are used for decorative and functional purposes such as wall hangings, table runners, pillows, as well as floor rugs. 

In this workshop we will learn two techniques that repurpose unusable garments, those that are no longer mendable, and yarns leftover from knitting or crochet projects: punch needling and rug hooking. 

In punch needle work, yarn is pushed through to the front while looking at the back. Whereas in rug hooking, yarns and strips of cloth are pulled from the back through to the front while looking at the front. 

During the workshop, we will make two pieces - a punch needle mug rug and a hooked hangable or frameable artwork. Participants will learn to:
Prepare the foundation cloth
Draw their own pattern
Punch and hook the pattern
Choose appropriate fibres to achieve textural variation
Finish a piece to lay on the floor or table and to hang on a wall 

Alternative techniques such as sculpting, proddy, and quilling will also be introduced. After the workshop, participants will have acquired the knowledge needed to create their own rugs, tapestries, or other types of work.

Please bring a pair of scissors as well as any items of well-used clothing (e.g. jersey knit i.e. T-shirt, nylon or wool tights, linen or cotton sheets or pillowcases, or remnants from sewing projects) that you would otherwise throw out. We will be cutting them into strips for rugmaking. Also bring scraps of yarn leftover from crafting projects. 

Please bring photographs or images for inspiration, as each participant will design their own pattern or motifs. Choose subjects that can be translated into very simple colouring-book style line drawings. 

Rug hooks and punch needles will be provided for use in class; however, participants are welcome to bring their own. Those who are new to rug hooking or needle punching and who have enjoyed learning these rug-making techniques will be able to purchase these tools at the end of the workshop.

To register please go to www.textilestudio.ca/current-workshops/p/rug-hooking-punch-needle