Gene’s Rug Hooking Blog

A Reader wrote me this personal note after yesterday’s post/photo about my rug hook collection.

“Gene: When I saw your hook collection on your blog I went into fits of laughter. My hubby just asked me the other week when your hooks came to me … “What the heck do you need with another hook?” I just showed him your picture … his response … “You’re all obsessed!”

I am not sure what the big deal is as I only counted 66 hooks in my collection box. (Of course, that does not include the other 8 or 10 I use on a regular basis but they are, technically, working hooks and not in the collection.) 66 seems like a perfectly divine number of hooks and something to shoot for – after all the number was good enough for God as it’s equal to the number of books making up the Holy Bible.

Since some husbands have trouble understanding the rational need for a variety of hooks, cutters or frames, I do occasionally share “ways” to soften, or focus the discussion. For example, Rule #1 – Always discuss a new purchase in the garage … or where ever the husband being explained to keeps his tools … or fishing equipment, golf clubs, etc. Think – Location – Location – Location. It’s a little difficult to get upset about a $38 hook when standing in front of a chop saw, bass boat or matched set of golf clubs.

It’s a proven technique which works for either sex. In fact, I perfected the whole process when explaining the purchase of my first Townsend cutter to my wife. As I owned 2 Bliss cutters at the time, she questioned how a 3rd cutter could be necessary. My reply to the wife, a dedicated bread baker, was delivered leaning against the baking area of our kitchen counter: “Well, you may be right honey, and I can probably get by without it … but using the Townsend over the Bliss is pretty much like using your Kitchenaide to make bread instead of a hand held mixer.” In addition to the “Location – Location – Location” rule, I also subtly inserted Rule #2: It’s not a hook or a cutter, … it’s a valuable, time saving, fiber art “Power Tool.”

Please do not abuse this technique … it’s only intended for use with hooking tools that I sell in my web store.

After discussing hooks yesterday … and the ever present desire some fiber artists have to collect more hooks, I decided to get out my personal rug hook collection (the ones I don’t routinely use) and take a long hard look. I sort of thought I, maybe, had too many and that another hook or two for my collection would be excessive. I was ready to be ruthless and thin the collection out as a way of setting a good example for my readers.

But, as you can see, I do not have very many hooks at all! Just enough to get by. I don’t even know how I have got by with so few. In fact, there is plenty of room in the box for more, particularly if the lid is just laid on top. It was a real surprise to see how few there were in that box. Things always grow in our minds until we are confronted with the harsh truth that: “our memory inflates over time.” As you can see, I could actually be short on the next project if I don’t get some more hooks now. Just like with antiques, “the time to buy a good hook is when you see it!”

Late Saturday, the postman delivered a shipment of 6 MM bent steel hooks. I had run out of the small handle version and was glad to get them. However, that package caused me a bit of a problem.

While there is nothing wrong with the hooks, each individual handle is enough of a work of art that I could justify keeping several for my personal hook collection. After all, there are small ones and medium ones … light and dark … wood with grain and wood without grain. They are a lot like puppies in their appeal, except they don’t grow up or need to be fed. For the time being I will just appreciate their good looks … and try to make up my mind as to which one needs a good home. I also don’t mind just enjoying them while I have them since, before you know it, they will go away to homes of their own.