Hooked

They’re bright, marine themed, woolly and wonderful.  They’re hooked pillows!  A stylish addition for your home decor and…rich in New England arts & crafts hisory.  Ladies and gnetlemen, it’s the catch of the day.

The beautiful rug making technique of hooking arrived in pillow form at Boutique Fabulous and, what a catch!  Ranging from 18 to 16 inches squared, these charming cushions of hooked, vibrant multi colored wool and soft cotton velvet backing have traditional maritime inspired designs.  Featuring bright red coral, a Boston themed pattern, anchor & chain, and various colorful marine creatures; these pillows are a charming addition to any couch or loveseat.

This particular type of craftsmanship swam upon our New England shores and other nautical locations in North America at the begining of the 19th century.  Hooked rugs were wildly popular at that time and…as time goes on, so does the hooked rug phenomenon!  They rose in popularity once again in the 1970′s as textured wall decor, hung on display by or for the proud crafter.  Our nautical New England pride and tasteful hooked designs still thrive today in pillow form for the modern home.

The vibrant colors are obtained through an over-dyeing technique where a slight variation of one color creates a beautiful pallet for shading incredible detail work.  A pattern is then printed on loosely woven material where thin strips of the dyed wool are pulled through to create a textural design. 

While writing this post, I found myself reminiscing about home ec. classes, deep sea fishing, and the few hooked projects I’ve done in the past.  Don’t be surprised if you find me practing a little embroidery or a tiny hook project on break here at the shop!

Until then,

Renee