State Line Rug Hookers

The chapter meets monthly on the second Saturday of the month in the Schneeberger Hall at the Lenexa United Methodist Church, 9138 Caenen Lake Road, Lenexa, KS 66215. Meetings start at 10 a.m., and are a combination of business, education, and hooking. There is a themed Rug Show Out Back (rugs on the floor in the back of the room) as well as Show N Tell of rugs members are currently working on or have recently finished. We have officer reports, announcements, and may discuss and vote on certain issues. In addition, we have a 5-15 minute Spotlight on Techniques, where rotating members share rug hooking tips, tricks and techniques.

Each month we have a program. This includes members relating their experiences attending a class or event, educational programs, and the occasional Rug Hooking with Friends, where there is no formal program. Meetings usually are over by 12:00. We have the room reserved until 2:00 for committee meetings, visiting friends, hands-on programs, or simply enjoying the time to sit and hook with each other. Refreshments are provided.

Our July and December meetings include a potluck lunch.  The July program is Swap N Shop and there is usually a game or two at the Christmas party. We also have a philanthropy project around the holidays. This year we donated food to the food pantry.

Each year, we work together to complete a philanthropy rug project in which free-will donation tickets are sold to fundraise for a charitable/non-profit organization selected by a vote of our members. The winning ticket is drawn at the Kansas City Hook-In in March. The 2025 recipient of the net proceeds will be Gift of Life, an organization involved in recruiting organ donors and working with persons waiting for and receiving organ transplants.

Our chapter also offers a 3-day workshop from a nationally known teacher each year. There are 2 sessions put on by the same teacher: M-T-W and Th-F-Sa to accommodate different schedules and allow more people to attend.

Each year, we have an optional rug hooking challenge. The 2023-2024 challenge was to hook a project relating to the Flint Hills, a geographic area near us. The projects were displayed at the Kansas City Hook-in, the Texas ATHA Convention, and will be featured as a group exhibit during Sauder Rug Hooking Week in 2025. For 2024-2025, the challenge was a little closer to our hearts. We lost a dear friend and fellow hooker, who died suddenly in September. She had suggested that we do a grid or hit and miss rug for this year’s challenge. Instead of exchanging presents at our annual Christmas party, each member received a paper bag of worms which we are incorporating into a small rug (along with a few worms of our own). Members will then exchange the completed rugs for a Christmas in July.

Each January we have a retreat, from Friday at noon until Sunday at noon. If our quota of rooms is filled, we offer a Saturday-only option as well. In addition to hooking, this year’s retreat featured two educational presentations: Dyeing Wool and Corded Rug Finish. The retreat is currently held at the Heartland Retreat Center in Parkville, Missouri.

For more details, send an email to kcrughooking@gmail.com or contact a chapter officer.

Magazine Articles:

Jun/Jul 2021 State Line Rug Hookers Chapter Challenge

Chapter History:

State Line Rug Hookers was formed in April 2007, comprised of members of several rug hooking groups and classes in Kansas and Missouri, who had been meeting in homes. The purpose of creating the chapter was to promote rug hooking and have speakers or programs suggested by members. The chapter was formed to provide an opportunity for the sharing of ideas and camaraderie in the local rug hooking community.

Our first chapter meeting was held in June 2007 at the Blue Valley Library in Overland Park, Kansas. In the beginning, postcards were sent out to members and prospective members with information about upcoming meetings. Flyers were given to local rug hooking teachers to distribute to their students to recruit new members. By September of that first year, we had 22 members. In October 2007, we had our first workshop. From the very beginning, members were actively completing surveys as to what programs they would like to see, as well as planning local retreats and rug displays. Members hooked nametags and a banner identifying our chapter. They shared practical tips and brought unfinished projects for group suggestions. In 2008, members began entering hooked rugs in the Johnson County Fair.

Over the years, membership has grown, and the meeting location has changed a few times. As of January 2025, we have 77 members. A number of the original members are still a part of our chapter.