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The Quabbin Chapter of ATHA
The Association of Traditional
Hooking Artists

The Quabbin Chapter of ATHA was formed in 1996 to bring together rug hooking enthusiasts in western Massachusetts. Our membership extends outside Massachusetts to Vermont, Connecticut, and beyond. All are welcome.

Our Goals
To develop and promote interest in rug hooking.

To maintain high standards and promote creativity in the craft.

To provide the means for an exchange of ideas and information among the members.

To promote educational activities to improve the quality of rug hooking.

Activities
We usually meet once a month (except in July and August) at the Jones Library in Amherst. Programs vary and may include a guest speaker, an educational program or a field trip related to some aspect of rug hooking. Members usually bring their rugs in progress to work on at meetings. It is inspiring and encouraging to see other projects underway, share tips on technique and hear about sources for wool and tools. Annual Exhibit:
We host an Annual Exhibit, open to the public, where members show their work, demonstrate hooking techniques and raffle hooked work by members. Vendors offer hard to find hooking supplies including wool, tools, kits, dyes, patterns, etc.

Join Us!
Contact Diana O'Brien, Membership Coordinator
by email: diana (at) galaxy (dot) net
or by telephone: 413-625-9403
or by mail at PO Box 310, Shelburne Falls, MA, 01370

ATHA, The Association of Traditional Hooking Artists
The Association of Traditional Hooking Artists (ATHA), founded in 1979, has a large international membership, annual rug schools in the spring (by the sea) and in fall (in the mountains), and a biennial national conference. The bi-monthly newsletter/magazine includes educational articles, information on rug schools, exhibits, events, suppliers, teachers, and news of what other individuals and chapters are doing. Members are invited to submit photographs of their work as well as articles about hooking techniques, inspiring instructors and projects.

When you join the Quabbin Chapter of ATHA, you join the national organization of ATHA at the same time. Check out their website.

Traditional Rug Hooking
Rug hooking has strong roots in the past. Remember your grandmother hooking scraps of old clothing into cozy rugs for the floor? Grandma's rugs were wonderful, and we continue to cherish them.

But rug hooking has changed with the times. Hooking is more than a way of recycling old clothes to create warmth underfoot. Rather, it's an art form which allows tremendous freedom of expression. Rug hookers love to create works which please the eye and tickle the fancy of people who see them. Rugs are lovingly made by hand and feature bold geometrics, charmingly simple primitives, pastoral landscapes, photorealistic images, contemporary abstracts, and virtually anything else you can imagine.

Many hookers create their rugs from strips of wool fabric. Others use woolen yarn to create rugs. Still others use any type of fabrics and fibers they wish. Regardless of the type of materials used, rugs made by hand have a warmth which no commercially manufactured rug can match.

Intrigued by the possibilities of rug hooking? Join our guild of rug hookers. Western Massachusetts has an active rug hooking community, with hookers at all levels of experience. The Quabbin Chapter of ATHA brings together hookers for educational programs and fosters a strong sense of community. Members practice a variety of forms of rug-making, including traditional fine-cut, primitive and wide cut, yarn hooking, punchneedle, penny rugs and more!