About Keith Kemmer

Keith started making rugs back in the 70’s with store bought punch needle rug kits. It wasn’t until the mid- 90’s when he found his way to the more traditional style of rug hooking. As his knowledge of the craft grew, he realized the early primitive rugs were the ones he loved and wanted to emulate. Over the years he has pushed himself to achieve a primitive hooking style by attending workshops with many of the top teachers, including Barbara Carroll – whom he is honored to call a good friend. Keith designs patterns available through Spruce Ridge Studios and worked with Barbara Carroll on her coverlet pattern collection. Recently he has been teaching locally in the southeast Michigan area and selling his rugs through word of mouth and a shop in Ligonier, PA. His work has appeared in Designs for Primitive Rug Hookers by Jenny Rupp and Lisa Yeago and Pictorial Hooked Rugs by Jane Halliwell Green.

Keith has a BFA in graphic design and works as an Art Director creating marketing materials for national clients. He took up weaving in the late ‘80s and continues to weave. His focus for the past 20 years or so has been with fiber arts, including hooking, weaving, knitting and even spinning. He attributes his interest in fiber to his grandfather – a tailor in Chicago during the first half of the last century.