rug hooking classes

& Hook-in's

2008 Class with Trish Becker

In 2008, we invited Trish Becker to our studio to teach us how to hook animal portraits with wide-cut woolens. We had a small class that ran for three days. We each worked on a pattern of our pet that was drawn for us by Trish.

Here's what we worked on...

Sarah - Otter

Jeni - Daisy

Diane - Buddie

Sharon - Rhiley

Alicia - Sammy

Here is what people who have taken a class with Trish had to say:

Trish taught a two day workshop for the Old Barn Rug Hooking Guild in July of 2007. I don't think any of the girls had ever worked with a #9--even an #8! I was amazed at how Trish could capture the personality of the individual pets without ever having met them...only working from photos! One lady actually broke down in tears when she saw the pattern Trish had drawn for her. Trish's wools are just gorgeous. I fancy myself a bit of a dyer...but I can not resist her wools! I could never even begin to create the colors and the variations of colors that she puts together over the most gorgeous textures! She is a kind and generous teacher, a great encourager. I know that anyone who takes her class -- and keeps an open mind!-- will come away a bit more joyful, more confident and with a very meaningful rug! Go for it!! Here's a photo or two of The Boys--the rug Trish created for me! It was about 72" X 24"... - Janet

I remember seeing Trish Becker’s “Tilly’s Spring Time Bonanza” Rug displayed at the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Show in Shelburne Vermont a few years back and thought to myself, WOW, I loved the wide cut aspect of the rug, it worked really well. I photographed the rug and thought some day…

Well that someday came this last fall at Shelburne Museum during the Hooked in the Mountains Rug Show. Trish Becker taught a class called “It’s Raining Cats and Dogs”. I have to say Trish’s enthusiasm for the content was over whelming. It started with a phone call prior to the class. She made herself available to everyone to individually draw a one of a kind pattern with help of photographs and other ideas thrown at her from her students. That enthusiasm continued on throughout the class with instruction on; technique on pulling nine cut wool loops, information on other types of hooks to help reduce fatigue, fingering of wool loops to blend color, use of color values to create depth, tucking of ends so they are not a distraction, critiquing of work done to help improve our eye to the creative process, finishing techniques, approximating wool amounts for rugs and much more. Trish’s eye for color was well honed. This could be seen in the elaborate piles of dyed wool she brought with her, dyed in mind for each of the rugs being worked on. This planning on her part was so helpful to get a clearer picture of the values needed to finish the rug. Each student was given invaluable time and patience, a much needed commodity in trying to wrap your head around this truly unique type of hooking style. Any one who would like to hook animals, this is the class to take. - Kathy

I took a class from Trish Becker in the Nov. 2007 Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild Show/School in Shelburne Vermont. I have taken many classes and over the years have had so much enjoyment from learning new approaches to rug hooking. I have always loved hooking primitive cuts - mostly 6 and 8 cuts since I began hooking about ten years ago. I have had the experience of hooking animals in fine cuts with such frustration in the past so was interested in trying to do it in wide cut. Trish has wonderful results with her animals in wide cut- wider than I had ever used. She really has the artistic ability to capture each animal's personality, as was seen, I believe, by everyone in our class. We had a large class, and much to my surprise most everyone had Trish draw their animals. Trish has wool ready for students if they need it in the appropriate colors for their animals. She has prepared her own, beautifully dyed wool. Trish has captured so accurately, but simplistically, animals in her rugs and shares her knowledge with her students. For anyone who would like to hook animals, Trish's class is as good as it gets. - Sincerely, Bonnie

I took a class from Trish Becker at the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild show in Shelburne Vermont. The class involved hooking animals in a wide cut. I choose to hook my cat in a 9-cut. Trish drew a wonderful pattern from pictures I sent her. I was very pleased with the rug design. During the class Trish was able to get around to everyone to offer advice and support. She was able to give suggestions but let the hooker ultimately decide whether to take her advice or not. I choose to take her suggestion to add some blue to my black and white cat-she was right! As she worked with us individually she took moments to share with the whole group the techniques and color suggestions she was making to others. This enabled me to learn more about color and technique. I finished my rug and it has become my favorite. It amazes me that I could work with a 9-cut and end up with a rug that looks just like my cat. I enjoyed Trish's class. I would take another class from her in the future! - Jane

Our studio is open by appointment, please call and stop by to browse through our large selection of patterns, or drool at our luscious hand dyed wools. We will be happy to give you a free rug hooking demonstration.

Directions to the Crow Hill Primitives studio:
From the Maine Turnpike (I-95)--Coming from Portland (North):

Exit 32--Biddeford
Once off the Turnpike, go straight through the light onto the Biddeford Spur. Travel about 3/4 mi.
At traffic light, turn RIGHT onto Rt. 1 towards Kennebunk. Drive about 3.5 miles to traffic light.
At traffic light, turn LEFT onto Log Cabin Road. Drive about 3.5 mi. You will encounter several roads converging into an intersection. (Towards your upper left you will see a cemetery.)
Turn LEFT onto Walkers Lane. Less than .5 miles on Walker's Lane you will get to a stop sign.
Go straight through, as Walkers Lane then becomes Old Cape Road. About 1+ miles you will arrive at Route 9. The sign says Main St/School Street. The Police Station is across the street.
Turn left onto Route 9/Main Street and drive about a quarter of a mile.
Turn left onto Westvale Road. There will be a sign for "Sanborn's Vegetables" at the corner of Westvale and Rout 9.
Crow Hill Primitives is the last house on the left (#4).

Directions from Wells or from Maine Turnpike (I-95) from the South (Boston):

Exit 19--Wells/Sanford
Once off the Turnpike, turn LEFT onto Rts 9/100 towards Wells.
Travel about 1.5 miles until you hit a stop light. This is Route 1/9. Turn LEFT at light, you will be headed north towards Kennebunk.
Drive on Route 1 about 1.5+ miles. Just past the Maine Diner, the road will split.
Take Route 9--it is a slight right off Route 1--Towards Kennebunkport. This leg will be about 4.5 miles. You will go through the center of Kennebunkport (through "Dock Square") and get to a stop sign. In front of you will be the Knot House.
Turn RIGHT--Route 9.
Drive by about 8 houses, where Route 9 will turn LEFT. This is School Street. Drive about 1.5 miles. You will go past the Police Station. When you see a sign for "Sanborn's Vegetables"
Turn LEFT onto Westvale Road.
Crow Hill Primitives is the last house on the left (#4).

Directions from Kennebunk:

From Route 1, (either from the North or South) take Route 35 towards Kennebunkport.
Stay on Route 35 about 3.5 miles until you get to "Lower Village"...where Route 35 meets Route 9.
Turn LEFT onto Route 9. You will drive about a half a mile, going through "Dock Square" (center of Kennebunkport). You will come to a stop sign with the Knot House in front of you.
Turn RIGHT--this is still Route 9.
Drive by about 8 houses, where Route 9 will turn LEFT. This is School Street. Drive about 1.5 miles. You will go past the Police Station. When you see a sign for "Sanborn's Vegetables"
Turn LEFT onto Westvale Road.
Crow Hill Primitives is the last house on the left (#4).

If you want a map, you can go to Map Quest and input information. Just type in the address and click the 'search' button. See you soon!

Sharon and Alicia