Finding Quality Hooked Rug Patterns

Ever since I was little, I've loved the idea of making rugs. I can remember my grandmother taking out her hooked rug patterns and working on the most amazing designs, stitch by painstaking stitch. I grew up watching her -- watching her settle in with her beautiful hand-dyed yarns, her hook, and her canvas -- and seeing something beautiful come together right before my eyes.

Now that I'm older and have a place of my own, I've got the chance to make some beautiful rugs and mats to decorate my home. But finding the quality hooked rug patterns that my grandmother used to make hasn't been as easy as I thought it would be. It's safe to say that this is a bit of a lost art! Living in a small town, I don't really have access to a large craft store. There's a terrific small shop about half an hour from me that carries all kinds of wool yarns and appliques, as well as dozens of pattern and design ideas, but the items are a bit pricey.

Another problem I've encountered has been finding hooked rug patterns that were actually designed to be used as floor coverings. Some of whats available out there now is intended to just be decorative, and that's not what I'm looking for. I need hooked rug patterns that are a decent size and can really be used on the hardwood floors in my house. So I decided to try my luck on the Internet.

There's so much information out there, and so many different options available that I feel like I've hit the jackpot! I've found that there are lots of online stores that offer gorgeous area rugs that have already been completed, all available in a wide variety of fibers. And it's pretty tempting when you see competitive pricing and sometimes even free shipping. But looking for actual hooked rug patterns so that I can dive into making my own has been a little more elusive.

Thankfully, I've found a couple of great websites on the net that offer everything from felted wool to design advice to original hooked rug patterns. I'm actually waiting for shipment on a kit that includes yarn, canvas and a pattern, so I'll be able to get started on my first really large project. I couldn't be more excited! And it's going to be great fun to share all of this with my grandmother. I know she'll be as glad as I am to learn that there are still some terrific hooked rug patterns out there, as well as people like the two of us who still love hooking rugs by hand!