Jennifer Ryan Horan 
Friendship Rug, designed and hooked by Jenn Ryan Horan, Poughkeepsie, New York, 2009.
Long before written words, man used symbols to communicate. Symbols, universal or personal, can be used in rug designs to communicate without using words. Universal symbols are easily identified and understood by many people. Crosses to symbolize Christianity or horseshoes to symbolize good luck are examples of universal symbols. Personal symbols are only recognized by a few people. For example, pumpkins may remind you and your daughter of the times you used to refer to her as your “little pumpkin,” but to others, pumpkins will appear to just be pumpkins.
Rug hookers enjoy designing and hooking rugs to commemorate a birth, wedding, anniversary, or other special occasion. Many of these rugs include names and dates. What if you were able to hook a rug that conveyed a personal message without using letters and numbers?
Planning a Symbolic Rug
Regardless of how you choose to work symbols into your rug, the design always begins with an idea or something you are trying to convey. Do you want to design a rug as a memorial for a beloved pet? Think of the places you traveled together or the memories you shared. Do you want to commemorate a wedding anniversary? Think of the couple’s heritage—a Celtic knot, a shamrock, a Swedish horse—or images of their life together, such as their home and children. Perhaps your rug will have a symbolic signature more subtly and carefully placed in the design, something that doesn’t serve as the entire theme for your rug. The possibilities are endless.
To read this complete article, please see the September/October 2009 issue of Rug Hooking Magazine.
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