Once again this year, hookers descended on Southampton on the shore of Lake Huron for their annual ‘hooking workshop’ at the Chantry Centre 55+.
For almost 30 years, the rug hookers have been coming from far and wide to not only socialize and catch up but to also learn new techniques.
Joan Rigby, a former Southampton resident, was again among the hookers this year. Rigby, a long-time volunteer with the Southampton Marine Heritage Society/Propeller Club, was one of the first volunteers at Chantry Island Lighthouse to take on supervising the cleaning crew of the historic lighthouse and Keeper’s quarters. Both she and husband, John, were involved with the organization from its inception until recent years when they left Southampton to be closer to family and grandchildren. However, she has been returning each year to the ‘hooking workshop’.
“There is always something new to learn when it comes to hooking,” said Rigby. “This workshop is wonderful as there are experts here to learn from who have been hooking in a variety of techniques for many years.”
One of the long-time experts is Sybil Mercer, first President of the Chantry Centre, and past-President and co-founder of the ‘Rug Hooking’ chapter.
This year, Mercer exhibited only a small part of her own collection, each piece telling a personal story.
Photos do not do justice to the exquisite needlework and techniques used by Mercer, and her work lines the walls of the Chantry Centre for a limited time.
For anyone interested in learning more about rug hooking, the Saugeen group meets Monday mornings at the Chantry Centre on Grey Street in Southampton, where you can drop in and learn more … newcomers are welcome.
