From Sunderland to Sarnia: A Tradition Preserved
Joyce Smy learned traditional rug hooking from her grandmother in Sunderland, in the North of England. She came to Canada in 1956 at age 24, bringing those Northern English techniques with her.
By the 1970s, Joyce was teaching rug hooking—from her home studio in Ontario, through local colleges and craft stores, and as an active member of the Sarnia Traditional Hook Crafters Guild. For decades, she prepared her own materials: hand-dyeing wool with a focus on color and quality, cutting and preparing fabric for her students.
Castle Tyne Studio is no longer actively producing new materials. Joyce is now 93, and the studio inventory represents what remains from over 40 years of teaching and personal work. The wool, patterns, and supplies offered here were prepared to her standards—traditional techniques, careful preparation, finite availability.
Shipped from Ontario, Canada
Castle Tyne Studio operates from Sarnia, Ontario, where Joyce taught rug hooking for decades through the Sarnia Traditional Hook Crafters Guild and local community programs. This is Canadian craft heritage—traditional techniques brought from Northern England and practiced and taught in Ontario for over 40 years.
For Canadian customers, ordering from Castle Tyne Studio means:
* No cross-border shipping delays
* No surprise customs fees
* Supporting Canadian craft traditions
* Canadian dollar pricing
We ship throughout Canada and to the United States. All materials are shipped from Ontario.
