A World of Wool at The Harvest Hook-In
In September, I was invited to give a slide talk about Maine’s fiber community at The Harvest Hook-In held in Brewer. The talk included photos of fiber farms, artists’ studios, collectors’ homes, sheep shearing events and fiber festivals, and was well received by attendees. Fourth generation rug hooker Stephanie Allen-Krauss of Green Mountain Hooked Rugs in Vermont sponsored our slideshow and the day’s gathering. Maine artist Allegra Kuhn brought the group together.
As a spinner and a knitter, of course I love wool, but at The Hook-In I found a whole new level of goodness. Gorgeous wools were on the bolt, cut into strips, hooked into paintings, and being made into projects by a roomful of enthusiastic craftspeople. There were hooked pocketbooks, book jackets, rugs, vases, and articles of clothing. Vendors sold yarns, dyed fabrics, embroidery books, hooking patterns and tools. I was introduced to beautiful hooked artwork within the room and beyond. Three amazing portraits by Stephanie’s daughter Mariah Krauss, a fifth generation hooker living in Maine, appear on Green Mountain’s website.
I traveled home at the end of the day having met a wonderful group of people and with three yards of pristine golden wool I sewed into an overshirt this past winter. Good times.
—Photos and text by Christine Macchi
