Each year at the Black Sheep Gathering I see Judy Taylor, of Edeldal Farm, in her trade show booth surrounded by beautiful examples of her finished projects. Gathering attendees are drawn to her creative designs, her colorful yarns and to Judy, while she is busy hooking and sharing her craft with all that will listen.
In the spring of 1996 Julie Owens, of the Black Sheep Newsletter, reviewed Judy's video, A Beginner's Guide to Traditional Nantucket Rug Hooking in issue 87. Now Judy has teamed up with Rug Hooking Magazine to publish Hooking With Yarn, a superb, spiral bound book that guides you through successful hooking. Beautiful color photographs on each page catch your eye, drawing you into the text and helping you learn the process. Several clear drawings give you full details of each step which include gauging your yarn needs, the hooking technique, how to design your backing and how to prepare your yarns for dyeing. It is obvious, from the photos in this book, that Judy loves color. She explains clearly how she uses 6" strands of dip-dyed yarn to get shading for life-like flower colors, leaves and scrolls, as well as how to blend multi-colored yarns and how to over-dye yarns.
You will learn how to utilize leftover yarns from old projects and how to finish a rug as well as how to care for, clean and repair your rug. There is also a chapter on hooking other types of projects, like stuffed sheep and holiday ornaments. The book includes detailed instructions, patterns and color photos for four projects: A sheep welcome mat, a rug with four colorful birdhouses, a shaded rose and a primitive flower mat. Judy has compiled a two-page list of resources for yarn, dyes, frames, hooks, backing and patterns. This is a well-done book that reflects Judy's upbeat approach to life with sheep and wool. If you have not tried using your wool for hooked rugs, Hooking With Yarn will motivate your imagination to plan a project and get hooking.
Reprinted with permission from Black Sheep Newsletter, Summer 2003 issue. The review was written by Peggy Lundquist. For more information, please visit www.blacksheepnewsletter.com.
