Everyday Folk Art: Hooked Rugs and Quilts to Make

Polly Minick's rughooking and quilting book is spectacular! Easy to follow,great instructions,great tips, beautiful patterns and amazing photos! Her book is a great addition to my hooking library!

This is a well written book on punch needle rug/art making. I loved reading it and was inspired to "get to work".

I LOVE books that have a dual purpose and EVERYDAY FOLK ART does just that! If you are a quilter, buy this book and make the quilt, then hook a rug to go along with it. And, remember the reverse, if you are a hooker, buy this book, hook a rug and then make the quilt to go along with it. Either way, you will learn a new technique. AND, if you already do both crafts, the book will keep you busy for many days and nights to come. There are eight patterns that range from stars to animals to patriotic themes to game themes to a Log Cabin and finally an Irish Chain. The quilts are made by piecing alone or with piecing and appliqué. There is even a easy technique for making a Log Cabin (not the pattern but the actual Log Cabin) that uses "ragged" fabric. The rugs are hooked to match the themes of the quilts. You could even use up all those scraps you hate to throw away as a quilter and make a "scatter" rug --- one that is just a maze of colors. Each quilt pattern has a materials list, cutting instructions and then instructions for putting the quilt together, along with graphics to help explain what you are suppose to do. If special templates are needed, they are also included. A full color photo of the finish quilt is provided. For each rug, the same things are provided as for the quilts. There are tips in special colored boxes throughout the book and each author gives a brief overview about the pattern. The chapters at the end of the book include ten pages of basic quilting how-to's, 16 pages of basic rug hooking how-to's and a page of resources in case you cannot locate any of the supplies you might need to create these wonderful folk art pieces. This sister duo sure has a knack for fabric arts.

Polly Minick and Laurie Simpson's new book Everyday Folk Art is why we just can't stop hooking and stitching! They have a way of sparking ideas from the everyday events - some things that might have passed us by as being ordinary. The constant fiber of life - family, friends, pets, country and home . . . stories - stitched and hooked - heart and hand - into heirlooms, that speak volumes about how valuable common everyday life really is. I love this book! Bonnie Smith The Wool Street Journal