Punch-Rug Hooking with Rene Lortie Saturday September 6 2025

Punch needle rug hooking originated in the late 19th century as an evolution of the American craft of rug hooking. The first punch needle, "The Griffin," was patented in 1881 by Ebenezer Ross. This invention allowed for the creation of loops similar to those made with traditional rug hooks, but the punch needle pushed the yarn down through the backing to create loops on the underside. 

In this workshop - Renee will guide you as you learn the skill of punch needle, using both loop pile and flat stitches to create a textile piece approximately 6” x 6” which can be used as wall art or an oversized coaster.  

Punch needle is a rug making textile technique where a tool is threaded with yarn and punched down through a backing fabric, looped on one side flat on the other. In our contemporary design, we will create depth and texture using both.

Students will be supplied an Oxford punch needle, a working frame with pre-drawn design on monks cloth, and a curated selection of my hand dyed merino wool yarns. To finish, we will learn to whip stitch the edge for a stable and professional finish. Students should bring a sharp pair of scissors and a darning needle. 

 About Renee:

Renee Lortie is a textile artist currently working at the intersection of art, craft and

design. Her intention as an artist is to create a visual, tactile, and emotional

experience for the viewer by thoughtfully weaving and stitching meaning with texture

and colour.

She creates contemporary art using the old world crafting techniques of weaving

and punch needle rug making. Her work is an fresh approach, pushing the

boundaries of textile art. She uses natural fibres, often hand dyeing and spinning them for each piece.

About this Workshop