How to Hook a Rug

Co-authored by Lois Wade

Last Updated: December 23, 2021 Approved

Latch hooking a rug is simple, relaxing and fun. There are many easy patterns and plenty of advanced patterns to choose from. Make your own rug, pillow or wall hanging using these basic steps to get you started.

Steps

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1
Purchase a latch hooked rug kit. It should contain:
- Latch hook
- Some cut yarn
- A canvas; and
- an instruction sheet.
2
Read the instructions for the rug. Learn which colors are represented by which symbols on the chart.

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3
Sort out the cut yarn pieces by color.
4
Begin hooking the rug.
1. Begin at the lower left hand corner, or start at the lower right hand corner if you are left handed, and take a string of the first color.
2. Loop or fold the yarn around the base of the hook, beneath the swinging latch.
3. Stick the hook under the canvas bar in the bottom of the first square, so that the latch passes under the canvas bar and back up to the top side again.
4. Take the ends of the loop and put them over the canvas bar, through the latch and under the actual hook.
5
Close the latch and pull firmly on the hook handle so that you're pulling the yarn ends back under the canvas bar and through the original loop. The yarn should be neatly attached to the canvas by a slip-type knot (sometimes known as a larkshead knot).
6
Continue across the row, paying close attention to the color chart.
7
Proceed row by row up the pattern until you're done.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I make it a wall hanging when I am done?

AlankritaMahajan

Community Answer

Make a hook on the back. If it's a lighter material, it can be hung with wool; if it's a heavy material, use metal hooks.

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Question

Do I have to hook all the knots in the same direction?

Community Answer

For consistent results, yes. The knot will affect the way the pile leans, so if you go "upside down" on some and "right side up" on others (or over/under from another perspective) it will show in how the yarn lays with each other. It may look chaotic, messy, and like it has little "cowlick" or odd parts in the grain of the yarn.

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Question

Where can I buy large canvases?

Community Answer

You can find them at any good craft shop.

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Tips

Avoid the temptation to do the canvas by color rather than by row. Hooking around an already hooked area is tedious and frustrating. Going bottom to top, row by row is the simplest method.

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As you complete each row, check for loose yarn and tighten them. (It's easier to see loose yarn through the backside of the rug.

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If you mess up on the pattern and mix up some colors by accident, it's easy to pull the knots out and correct the mistake.

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Warnings

The canvas pattern is not as accurate as the chart.

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Things You'll Need

A rug hooking kit containing a pattern, a canvas, cut yarn in the colors needed and a pattern/instruction sheet.
A rug hook (if the kit doesn't come with one).