Hooked Chair Rugs: The Art and Stories of Annie Kennedy | Jane Hutcheson (PRE-ORDER)

Rug Hooking Magazine

Hooked Chair Rugs: The Art and Stories of Annie Kennedy is a one-of-a-kind celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and sisterhood. Through richly detailed rug designs—ranging from Santa Claus and Lady Liberty to a witch, snowman, pig, Kachina spirit, and many more—author Jane Hutcheson showcases the joyful artistry of her sister, Annie Kennedy, a prolific rug hooker whose imagination knew no bounds. Each rug is accompanied by the story and inspiration behind the character. Additionally, Jane provides practical, in-depth descriptions of the materials, techniques, finishing methods, color planning, and creative decisions that go into making a chair rug. Whether you’re interested in sprucing up your home seating, adapting the designs into other types of home decor, or turning your own whimsical characters into hooked mats, Jane will lead you through it, providing instruction and a template for rug hookers of all levels.

Interwoven with the stories of the rugs themselves is the moving tale of Jane and Annie, identical twins who hooked rugs side-by-side for decades, sharing an unbreakable bond that shaped their art as much as their lives. Their partnership—rooted in childhood mischief, adult adventures, creativity, and mutual support continued through family joys, heartbreaking loss, and new beginnings. When Annie passed away suddenly in 2023, Jane continued what they started together, completing unfinished pieces, researching their origins, and writing the stories behind each rug. The book becomes not just a catalog of fiber art, but a portrait of a sisterly bond stitched loop by loop into every design.

Hooked Chair Rugs invites readers into the warmth, humor, history, and heart behind Annie and Jane’s creations. You’ll meet characters who come alive in wool—sparkly-booted Uncle Sam, a sunflower-loving cow, a light-headed jack-o’-lantern, even a ghost inspired by games with a beloved grandchild. Each chapter blends artistry with narrative, showing how hooked rugs can hold memories, reflect personal stories, and create community. Whether you are an experienced hooker seeking fresh inspiration or a newcomer drawn to the charm of chair rugs, this book will teach new skills, spark your imagination, and remind you that handmade art—like sisterhood—endures.