The finish makes the piece

Attending the 20th Annual Rug Hooking Week at Sauder Village I studied the 700+ works looking for different, effective finishing techniques.

The border of a rug design, fringe on an oriental pattern, embroidered fabric edge on a primitive composition all enhanced the time-consuming handwork rughooking entails. Here are some highlights. I realize my focus was on the details and not capturing the completed image for comparison……all the better for inspiration I hope.

: Barbara Branch used flexible piping on a SteamPunk piece

: Kathy Gaul, Meetinghouse Hill Designs manipulates fabric

: Paty Parish Pitts applied hooked words on stretched fabric surface

: Sandra Hall applied “double linen” thick fringe

: Sandra Hall added embroidery stitching to fabric wrap edge

: Marsha Hockaday mounted work on fabric with an accent line

The purpose of a “frame” is to enhance the subject and introduce it to the environment. These techniques completed each design, emphasizing the style (steam punk), drawing attention to the subject (bulky natural linen fringe on colonial design), providing interest (the rippled tail of eagle by Meetinghouse Hill Design).

Learn to select the right finishing technique and your work will rise beyond completed. See Finishing Hooked Rugs for step-by-step lessons from experts and select the right technique so your work will be more than just done.