I found this blog in the archives from 2013.
I tweaked it a bit and thought it would be fun to repost.
I tweaked it a bit and thought it would be fun to repost.
Rug hooking should come with a warning label. It’s addictive and highly contagious. Named appropriately, you will become “hooked” and things will never be the same again. There isn't any cure, so once you’re infected it keeps coming back, time and time again, although at times, as life gets in the way, it can lay dormant in your system for periods of time before the next flare-up occurs.
Some may be stricken with a mild case of the hooking bug. They find it to be a casual enjoyment, a filler when there’s nothing else going on, while others will be severely bitten, consumed to such a degree that excess rugs, the by-product of this addiction, are forced into trunks and closets, hidden away as not to shock any observer with the degree of our condition. Fortunately, this bug is not life threatening. No one has died from too much hooking, the most serious injury would be indirect such as tripping over a rug that doesn’t lie flat on the floor.
There are symptoms to this compulsion that vary in intensity. Everything from the extreme high of seeing and sharing our latest project finished…to the low of having nothing currently on our frame…..to the elation of finding a new style of hook….. to the hyperventilating panic that our stash is getting low.
The first sign that you’ve been touched by this all-consuming malady is the presence of random thoughts. Your mind skips all over the place until it settles on a project, making you dizzy from the excitement of it all. Some find relief by purchasing a ready-made pattern while others prefer self-dosing and sketch their own design. Getting this out of your system as quickly as possible is a must, because you can experience feelings of 'bursting at the seams' which means it’s now too late, you’ve reached second stage.
Luckily this stage doesn’t last long and as soon as your idea is laid to paper there will be a sense of release before a new symptom wells up to take its place. For this, visit a rug shop and take one to two yards of linen, this should provide some relief. Once your pattern is on the backing, along comes stage three, the overwhelming desire to hunt down and secure the wool. This can be the most feverish stage and be warned, there could drool. Your eyesight may falter as you stare half delirious at yard upon yard of wool, while your brain plays tricks of indecision and screams silently, "I want it! I need it! Why can't I have it all?"
Forth stage is the actual hooking, the longest stage before the inevitable end. Try not to get distracted so you can get through it quickly. Don’t let it lie around and fester, prolonged delays can lead to anxiousness, sleepless nights and subject you to a barrage of comments from annoying, over-achieving rug hookers who brag they can hook a rug in two week so what’s the matter with you? Remember, all stages are highly contagious and meeting in groups will spread it rapidly. Unfortunately, being exposed does not build immunities and you will experience the same symptoms for every project you do. It’s a lifelong ailment, but be prepared for a long and delightful convalescence.
Side effects might vary from hooker to hooker:
1. Totally engrossed in your project and not aware of surroundings. Do not operate heavy machinery or drive while rug hooking!
2. Anal retentiveness, far better than anal leakage but can be just as frustrating.
3. If you think your floor stand will be erect for more than four hours, immediately call your friends and make an evening of it.
4. Be prepared to experience erratic behavior in rug shops; drool may occur. The impulse to fondle, caress and spend money for wool that you hide from your husband can overpower you.
5. Hyperventilating can occur from the sight of a piece of wool that someone found on the store shelf seconds before you arrived and won't part with it.
Carry a small paper bag for such an occasion.
6. Insomnia may occur. Hooking in bed is dusty and will keep you sneezing and itching for a fitful night.
7. Stiffness in joints from prolonged sitting in one position.
8. Skin Irritations from gripper rash.
9. Drowsiness. Falling asleep at work from hooking past midnight the night before.
10. Irritability. When housework, husbands, meal preparation and dishes get in the way of completing your rug.
11. Anxiety from taking on higher doses of projects than you can handle.
12. Dry mouth may occur, take 1 to 2 glasses of wine.
13. Lack of sexual drive. Lust is only for ruggy not huggy!
14. Experiencing highs and lows in loop height.
15. Confusion when you can’t decide what colour looks best in a particular area, ripping it out, trying something else and then ripping that out and putting the first choice back in.
16. Hyperactivity. Rushing to meet deadlines of Guild meetings and hook-ins.
17. Excessive sweating. Already hormonal with debilitating hot flashes, don't you think a wool rug on your lap in 30 degrees Celsius temperatures, with 100% humidity could be a cause not a symptom?
18. Disinterest in other aspects of life such as going to work, participating in outside activities, entertaining family or non-rug hooking friends.
19. Addictive behaviors of hoarding and hiding wool in cubby holes, basement crevices, nooks and crannies, car trunks, closets and attic.
20. Dishonesty. Lying to hubby, “Oh, I’ve had that bundle of wool for a long time, I told you about it, you’ve just forgotten.”
21. Lapse in judgement. You want to buy wool and consider a bolt....to the car that is, with it tucked under your arm while screaming at hubby, "Start the car! Start the car!"
22. Panic Disorder from the fear that we may not have enough of particular wool to finish our project and there’s no more available!
23. Incontinence. When you are too busy hooking to get up and go to the bathroom after all that wine.
24. Racing pulse. Excitement at scoring a perfect piece of wool or finding a $5.00 cutter at a flea market.
24. Impatience. Brought on from hours of whipping and moaning, "Will it ever be done?"
25. Bleeding. From sewing on rug binding with a sharp needle too small for big, clumsy fingers.
26. A strong desire for herding. To meet in groups of like-minded people so we can feel justified and appear normal in our addiction.
27. Depression. Can occur if you sit heavy furniture on your rug for long periods, but don’t worry, the loops should spring back once the object is removed.
A support group is held at 7:00 pm, the 1st and 3rd Wednesday evening of every month, and the 2nd Wednesday afternoon from 1:00 – 4:00 at Encompassing Designs Rug Hooking Studio. All hookers are welcome. Help for all stages are available. You are not alone! No sponsor necessary.
Some may be stricken with a mild case of the hooking bug. They find it to be a casual enjoyment, a filler when there’s nothing else going on, while others will be severely bitten, consumed to such a degree that excess rugs, the by-product of this addiction, are forced into trunks and closets, hidden away as not to shock any observer with the degree of our condition. Fortunately, this bug is not life threatening. No one has died from too much hooking, the most serious injury would be indirect such as tripping over a rug that doesn’t lie flat on the floor.
There are symptoms to this compulsion that vary in intensity. Everything from the extreme high of seeing and sharing our latest project finished…to the low of having nothing currently on our frame…..to the elation of finding a new style of hook….. to the hyperventilating panic that our stash is getting low.
The first sign that you’ve been touched by this all-consuming malady is the presence of random thoughts. Your mind skips all over the place until it settles on a project, making you dizzy from the excitement of it all. Some find relief by purchasing a ready-made pattern while others prefer self-dosing and sketch their own design. Getting this out of your system as quickly as possible is a must, because you can experience feelings of 'bursting at the seams' which means it’s now too late, you’ve reached second stage.
Luckily this stage doesn’t last long and as soon as your idea is laid to paper there will be a sense of release before a new symptom wells up to take its place. For this, visit a rug shop and take one to two yards of linen, this should provide some relief. Once your pattern is on the backing, along comes stage three, the overwhelming desire to hunt down and secure the wool. This can be the most feverish stage and be warned, there could drool. Your eyesight may falter as you stare half delirious at yard upon yard of wool, while your brain plays tricks of indecision and screams silently, "I want it! I need it! Why can't I have it all?"
Forth stage is the actual hooking, the longest stage before the inevitable end. Try not to get distracted so you can get through it quickly. Don’t let it lie around and fester, prolonged delays can lead to anxiousness, sleepless nights and subject you to a barrage of comments from annoying, over-achieving rug hookers who brag they can hook a rug in two week so what’s the matter with you? Remember, all stages are highly contagious and meeting in groups will spread it rapidly. Unfortunately, being exposed does not build immunities and you will experience the same symptoms for every project you do. It’s a lifelong ailment, but be prepared for a long and delightful convalescence.
Side effects might vary from hooker to hooker:
1. Totally engrossed in your project and not aware of surroundings. Do not operate heavy machinery or drive while rug hooking!
2. Anal retentiveness, far better than anal leakage but can be just as frustrating.
3. If you think your floor stand will be erect for more than four hours, immediately call your friends and make an evening of it.
4. Be prepared to experience erratic behavior in rug shops; drool may occur. The impulse to fondle, caress and spend money for wool that you hide from your husband can overpower you.
5. Hyperventilating can occur from the sight of a piece of wool that someone found on the store shelf seconds before you arrived and won't part with it.
Carry a small paper bag for such an occasion.
6. Insomnia may occur. Hooking in bed is dusty and will keep you sneezing and itching for a fitful night.
7. Stiffness in joints from prolonged sitting in one position.
8. Skin Irritations from gripper rash.
9. Drowsiness. Falling asleep at work from hooking past midnight the night before.
10. Irritability. When housework, husbands, meal preparation and dishes get in the way of completing your rug.
11. Anxiety from taking on higher doses of projects than you can handle.
12. Dry mouth may occur, take 1 to 2 glasses of wine.
13. Lack of sexual drive. Lust is only for ruggy not huggy!
14. Experiencing highs and lows in loop height.
15. Confusion when you can’t decide what colour looks best in a particular area, ripping it out, trying something else and then ripping that out and putting the first choice back in.
16. Hyperactivity. Rushing to meet deadlines of Guild meetings and hook-ins.
17. Excessive sweating. Already hormonal with debilitating hot flashes, don't you think a wool rug on your lap in 30 degrees Celsius temperatures, with 100% humidity could be a cause not a symptom?
18. Disinterest in other aspects of life such as going to work, participating in outside activities, entertaining family or non-rug hooking friends.
19. Addictive behaviors of hoarding and hiding wool in cubby holes, basement crevices, nooks and crannies, car trunks, closets and attic.
20. Dishonesty. Lying to hubby, “Oh, I’ve had that bundle of wool for a long time, I told you about it, you’ve just forgotten.”
21. Lapse in judgement. You want to buy wool and consider a bolt....to the car that is, with it tucked under your arm while screaming at hubby, "Start the car! Start the car!"
22. Panic Disorder from the fear that we may not have enough of particular wool to finish our project and there’s no more available!
23. Incontinence. When you are too busy hooking to get up and go to the bathroom after all that wine.
24. Racing pulse. Excitement at scoring a perfect piece of wool or finding a $5.00 cutter at a flea market.
24. Impatience. Brought on from hours of whipping and moaning, "Will it ever be done?"
25. Bleeding. From sewing on rug binding with a sharp needle too small for big, clumsy fingers.
26. A strong desire for herding. To meet in groups of like-minded people so we can feel justified and appear normal in our addiction.
27. Depression. Can occur if you sit heavy furniture on your rug for long periods, but don’t worry, the loops should spring back once the object is removed.
A support group is held at 7:00 pm, the 1st and 3rd Wednesday evening of every month, and the 2nd Wednesday afternoon from 1:00 – 4:00 at Encompassing Designs Rug Hooking Studio. All hookers are welcome. Help for all stages are available. You are not alone! No sponsor necessary.
RSS Feed
