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I wanted to recreate a rug that my former teacher Irene Kemner had done years ago in a color palette of my choosing. It’s done in a very traditional style as a tribute to those in the McGown tradition.
I like the salmon-colored, dip-dyed flowers and leaves because I inherited that piece of wool from a member of our guild who passed away in 2019. It continues a legacy that connects the old with the new. It was a pleasant surprise to see how well it fit in with my other colors, though it was totally unplanned.
Through hooking this rug, I had to learn to maintain the interplay of light and dark to keep the viewer’s eyes moving along the rug without getting overwhelmed by the busyness of the motifs or too bored with all the green leaves. Hooking all those leaves so that they were related but not monotonous was a challenge in itself. This rug has a showcase binding. It was my first attempt at finishing a rug in that style.
I would like to give credit to Nancy Blood and Dianne Klamik, who mentored me. I took much of their advice and added some of my own touches, which made it a collaborative effort and a better rug. I truly believe all art is a product of many encounters and inspirations, and we all owe a debt of gratitude to the many rug hookers who have carried on the craft and shared their skills and knowledge to keep it alive. I love being able to share my craft with others and mentor new hookers as they discover the world of rug hooking.
From the Judges:
A classic rug hooked perfectly. I love the color selection; the leaves that fade to almost a white are very interesting.
Masterful Morris, 36” x 55”, #3- to 5-cut wool on linen.
Designed by Jane McGown Flynn and hooked by Pat Sahakian, Manchester, Michigan, 2024.
Pat Sahakian
MANCHESTER, MICHIGAN
Pat began hooking almost 50 years ago because her neighbor, Judy Colley, was offering classes. Little did she know how this craft would become a journey that would lead her to many new friends and experiences around North America. Not only has she learned many new techniques, but she has also discovered a new way of seeing the world around her. She has her McGown certification from the Northern Teachers Workshop. She is copresident of the Southern Michigan Hookrafters Guild in Manchester, Michigan. When she is not hooking, she can be found at Worth Repeating, a charity resale shop that she began with friends in March 2020.