2024 Rug Hooking Week
August 13 - 17

Join us for the 28^th Annual Rug Hooking Week at Sauder Village 

For 28 years, Sauder Village has been pleased to organize the largest annual rug hooking event in North America. Come and be inspired!

Exhibits:  500–600 contemporary and historic fiber art works displayed gallery style in Founder’s Hall. In addition to hooked and punched work, the exhibit also includes a variety of other fiber arts. Exhibitors typically represent 40 U.S. states and a wide variety of countries around the world. The exhibits include:

• Feature Exhibits – pay tribute to the work of outstanding contemporary and historic artists. Each of these extensive collections offers a wonderful and rare opportunity to admire and study closely the techniques, colors, designs, materials, and the in-depth story of talented artists. Collections are on loan from artists, or gathered from private collectors and museums.
• Special Exhibits – present innovative and original works done by an individual or group of artists which represent contemporary or historic themes, concepts, ideas, techniques, and educational and regional projects.
• Celebration of Hand-Hooked Rugs Exhibit – culmination of the annual competition sponsored by Rug Hooking magazine. Each year the artists are invited to exhibit their award-winning work in this exclusive exhibit. The Celebration publication debuts at Rug Hooking Week.
• Main Exhibit – invites EVERYONE to submit their work to this exhibit, divided into categories, and includes all skill levels. Beside rug hooking, this exhibit also includes other fiber arts such as braiding, proddy, punch needle, quilling/standing wool, wool applique, fusion, and multi-dimensional work.
• Group Exhibits – collections of work done by groups or guilds with a common focus.

Classes: 30–40 offered each year. Something to suit everyone’s interest and schedule, in a wide variety of topics, techniques, and skill levels. Besides hooking and punching, an assortment of other fiber arts classes are offered, along with dye classes, gallery talks and presentations. Classes range from beginner to advanced and are taught by outstanding teachers from across the country & around the globe. Class (Retreats and Workshops) online registration is closed for 2024 but Gallery Talks are available during Rug Hooking Week - stop by the information table to sign up.

The types of classes include:

• Retreats - 3 & 4 days of study with one teacher, who sets the focus and goals, and teaches in a group format, as well as providing time for individual project guidance.
• Workshops - evening, 1, 1.5 & 2 day classes, in a wide range of topics, techniques, projects, focuses, skills, and mediums. This also includes dye classes in our commercial kitchen.
• Gallery Talks – mornings & evenings. An opportunity to meet the artists, curators, or authorities, ask questions, and learn more about specific exhibits. Gallery Talks are listed under workshops. Gallery Talks are available for purchase during Rug Hooking Week. 

Vendors:  15 - 20 new and returning businesses are hand selected with the help of our attendees’ input; these vendors represent industry standards as well as cutting-edge innovators. Vendors offer a wide variety of fiber art supplies, tools, materials, and equipment, plus peripheral, fun, and creative merchandise too. Shopping during Rug Hooking Week is the perfect opportunity to meet the artists, suppliers, designers, and manufacturers - and learn how these products can be used to create your optimum fiber art. In addition to hooking and punching merchandise, other types of fiber art tools are available. We offer a class, “Savvy Shopper”, to teach you how to best shop our vendors. These Vendors are open Wednesday – Saturday 10am-5pm, during the same hours that the Exhibit is open to the public. Pop Up Vendors are open to the public only during our Friday night Hook-In from 6-10pm.

Each year, thousands of attendees and exhibitors come to Sauder Village from around the globe. Whether you're just spending a few hours browsing the exhibit or taking the whole week to enjoy all we have to offer, we're glad you're joining us for North America's largest and most inspiring homage to the art of rug hooking.

Below are some helpful tips to get the most out of Rug Hooking Week.

Sign-up: Be sure to sign up for both: Rug Hooking Week mailing list (to receive email announcements & postcards) & Facebook (to receive updates).

Pre-register: Pre-register early for classes, as they fill quickly, and also pre-register to exhibit your work. You can find much more info here on our website.  

Make reservations: There are two lodging options right on the property: Heritage Inn & Campground. If our lodging is full, the Heritage Inn can put you on the waiting list and they can also provide info on nearby lodging options. 

Check the schedule:Check the schedule on our website. You don’t want to miss a thing! Stay an extra day to visit the wonderful Historic Village.

Admission: Rug Hooking Week is open to the public Wednesday – Saturday and does not require pre-registration to view the exhibit and shop the vendors. Click for admission info. If you are an exhibitor, pick up your complimentary admission pass on Monday at Exhibit Check-In or Wed-Sat at the Founder’s Hall – Admission Desk.    
  

We can’t wait until your arrival…..Be Amazed, Be Inspired, Be at Sauder Village in August!