The act of yoinking a fiber through a hole, or 'hooking', is an ancient craft. When did early humans start making fish hooks or sewing needles? We think that it was sometime around 20,000 years ago. Hooks are literally some of the most rudimentary implements used by humans. There is compelling research that tool-making and language development go hand-in-hand when it comes to our brain development as a species. Some time around the 14th century, we learned how to make real hot fires and our ancestors were able to manipulate metal into needles and hooks. I continue in this tradition by also making hooks.
The first one that I built was out of necessity. My hands are big and I found that the available rug hooking tools were too small, causing finger cramps and fatigue. Since I spend my days in a workshop, and I know a little about metallurgy, it wasn't too much of leap to forge a a functional hook out of an old screwdriver. I first heated it up to red hot to anneal or 'normalize' the metal. Once the metal was softer and more pliable, I ground and pounded it into a point and then heated again and carefully folded it over. Finally, I reheated to a straw yellow to temper it hard into it's new shape. After cooling, I filed it straight and clear of sharp edges and burrs, and tried it out.
Sometimes, I am lucky and get something totally right the first time. The metal was unpolished after all that treatment, but repetition through use made the silver shaft shine. That first Mastercraft screwdriver hook lasted through about 25 rugs. Thousands of loops were pulled before the rubber on the handle wore off.
I've since made a few more old implements into usable rug hooking hooks. Vintage tools are the best. They come with a story and a patina that tells it. Grandad's hands thoughtfully turned the screws on his old Ford with this one, and I am just adding the next, more artistic phase of life to the tool.
Recently, I started making handles out of fine woods. This is really fun, but involved. I cut, glue and clamp pretty combinations of wood and then hand shape each handle. For some hooks, I use crochet hooks on the business ends. If making the actual metal hook, I do a combination of turning on the lathe, forging, and smithing. Making hooks is an extension of what I already do - making functional and beautiful art. Further, it makes me think of all of the new rugs that other hookers will make using these tools that I have lovingly and thoughtfully crafted with my own hands.
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