Between the covers
HOOK, PROD, PUNCH, TUFT
BY LYNNE STEIN
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How did Hook, Prod, Punch, Tuft come about?
My editor proposed a new edition of Rag Rug Creations:An Exploration of Colour and Surface (published by Bloomsbury, 2014). I felt it might be nice to reference both older and more recently used textile processes and tools, such as latch-hooking and the punch needle, which have gained visibility because of social media platforms. Hook, Prod, Punch,Tuft (2023) includes new projects and looks at how tools and techniques can be combined to create sumptuous surfaces.
These processes have gained popularity since the pandemic. Why do you think this is?
When the pandemic took hold in 2020, our lives became disrupted, restricted and transformed. Creativity and crafting were coping mechanisms for many people; they were a way of trying to restore equilibrium, but they address the basic human need for selfexpression too. Choosing colours, exploring tactile and patterned surfaces, and expanding one’s vocabulary of stitch through repetitive soothing motions give people solace.