Lynne Howard
We are a Canadian Rug Hooking Resource offering classes and workshops on rug hooking and wool dying techniques. We also offer rug hooking supplies including backings, hand-dyed wool, rug hooking patterns and kits and related tools and accessories.
LYNNE HOWARD
DYED IN THE WOOL CANADIAN
Lynne is a certified McGown Rug Hooking teacher who has been rug hooking, dyeing wool and teaching since the mid 1980’s. She has been teaching classes and workshops for over 30 years in western Canada, the western U.S.A. and Mexico.
Lynne teaches a Fundamentals of Rug Hooking course in her home in Calgary, Alberta.
She has a BA in archaeology and art history as well as a fascination for material culture. Colour planning, wool dyeing and the more traditional and foundational styles of rug hooking are of primary interest. She enjoys working with all cuts, but is especially fond of wide-cuts, primitive designs and story rugs. She enjoys working with students to find solutions to challenges they may encounter regarding hue, balance and contrast.
FUN FOR A LIFETIME
Lynne’s rug art has appeared in five editions of The Celebrations of Rug Hooking publication, and on two sets of cards produced from Celebrations winners.
I use hundreds of different formulas and many different dye techniques useful for rug hooking and wool applique.
Lynne wishes you could see and touch her wool in person. Unless otherwise indicated, she use’s Dorr wools woven by Pendleton Mills and an array of different brands of dyes, preferring complex dye solutions. In order to produce the most colourfast and vibrant colours, Lynne thoroughly presoaks the wool, “cooks the wool” for a minimum of 1 hour, and allows darker colours to cool in their dye bath overnight. The wool is then thoroughly rinsed and dried in the dryer on medium heat. To produce a soft fluffy wool product, she treats the wool lovingly and does not subject it to abrupt temperature changes.
Lynne is not a fast dyer, but precise in her methodology, aiming to produce wool that is worthy of the countless hours a rug hooker spends creating hooked art pieces. She is sure that you will enjoy working with her wool just as much as she enjoys creating it.
Patterns are designed for different levels of skill and expertise.
Our Rug Hooking Patterns are hand-drawn on the straight of the grain on Michele Micarelli’s natural Hairless Linen Backing, woven specifically for rug hooking with an even weave for easy loop pulling.
We stock 4 different types of backings – Linen Backing Natural, Linen Backing Ivory, Monk’s Cloth and Rug Warp.
We offer a small assortment of hooks and tools considered to be “must haves.” These tools are great to have, will enhance your rug hooking experience, and make great gifts! Nancy Miller hooks are a worthwhile investment that we’ve used for decades. The ARS scissors are the best we’ve found in over three decades of hooking – you’ll love them!
