Gwinnett Daily Post

Special Photo — Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center opens its “Off the Hook” exhibit Monday.

BUFORD -- Beginning Monday, the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center welcomes a new exhibit, "Off the Hook: Exploring Our Rug Hooking Heritage" to its campus.

For those who aren't familiar with the technique, it is when artists and crafters make rugs by pulling loops of fabric (usually strips of woolen cloth) through a tough woven base. The practice has been around since the early 19th century and the design can be anything from patterns to flowers to a scene in the park.

For the exhibit, attendees learn about the history and development behind the technique, the materials used in the process and how to make the rugs.

"Off the Hook" also has hands-on activities for groups (that register a time in advance), which include a scavenger hunt, designing a rug and trying your hand with a hooking sample.

There are hundreds of rugs on exhibit from the past to the present, beginner's classes for adult and students and advanced workshops for those who have practiced hooking before.

On Saturday, guest speaker Gail Dufresne, National Association of Traditional Hooking Artists President, will take the stage presenting "The Heritage of Hooked Rugs" at 11 a.m. To save your spot, call 770-904-3500.

The exhibit will run through June 30.