The Rug Hooker’s Bible
The Best from Thirty Year’s of Jane Olson’s Rugger’s Roundtable

Edited and Expanded by Gene Shepherd
Published by Rug Hooking Magazine
Due in Bookstores December 2005 

Signed copies by Gene and Jane will be available at www.geneshepherd.com

Gene sifts through thirty year’s of Rugger’s Roundtable issues to bring you the very best of Jane Olson’s half century of rug hooking experience.  Approaching rug hooking from different perspectives – Jane is a traditional artist who leans towards narrow cuts and 6 value swatches while Gene tends to use wider cuts and a stash of scrap wool – they have collaborated to expand and illustrate her classic designs in ways that will appeal to the full gamut of rug hookers.  The end result, The Rug Hooker’s Bible, is a complete reference guide for rug hookers at every level of style and expertise.  Spiral bound for easy use, the 180+ page manuscript is illustrated with 150 full color photos and nearly100 classic line drawings.  The nine chapters cover a wide variety of topics:

·       An evaluation of the tools every rug hooker needs.

·       Step by step instruction that starts with how to pull the first loop and continues through to specialty types of hooking like proddy and sculpting. 

·       Multiple Ways to Hook -- This chapter takes 3 classic Olson drawings and hooks each one in a variety of ways.  Seeing a rose, leaf and scroll - each hooked with swatches, dip dyes, scraps and outline & fill in a variety of narrow and wide cuts – provides the reader with a succinct evaluation of different techniques and encourages them to adapt any pattern to their own style. 

·       Hooking Prototypes is an alphabetically organized reference section for over 65 commonly used design elements or hooking challenges.  From apple to water, readers can consult a classic Olson line drawing, explanation and hooked example.  Using the work of dozens of Jane’s friends and students, these hooked illustrations represent every style, cut and level of expertise.  The chapter’s goal is to help readers adapt any drawing or design to their hooking style, not hook exactly like the authors. 

·       Finishing techniques

·       Projects other than rugs – chair seats, brick door stops, flower pins, stand-ups, rug repair and cleaning, etc. 

·       Jane Olson on her soap box – dozens of dye and hooking tips

·        Rug Categories -- A description, with photographic examples, of each distinct rug category. 

·       A brand new issue of the Rugger’s Roundtable, complete with free reproducible pattern.  Only available in this publication.