Traveling Rugs
If you are like me, you don't like to be without a rug hooking project for long. My husband, my two daughters and I have been fortunate enough to get to travel in Europe a few times, each trip lasting about 6 weeks. I really wanted to be able to hook on the trip, but didn't like the idea of carrying many pounds of yarn around, so I decided to bring a simple "hit or miss" pattern and a hook, and we found yarn everywhere we went.
When we came to a new town, it was a bit of an adventure trying to track down a yarn store, or even better, an illusive handspinner ("they're thin on the ground," we were told in Ireland!). Then in the evenings, I relaxed while hooking my rug, incorporating my new treasure found that day. Often, my rug was a "conversation starter," as curious onlookers wondered what I was doing. Some even recalled their mothers or grandmothers hooking.
The best traveling rugs are easy "hit or miss" designs, like quilt patterns, geometrics, penny rugs, etc. Something that could use a wide range of colors, textures and weights of yarn, since you never know what you're going to find. I would leave my frame at home, and enjoy the convenience of being able to hook anywhere that I can sit down.
Our traveling rugs are full of memories; of all the people we met, friends we made, sheep we petted. They are the best souvenier I could ever have brought home!
