How to Make a Latch Hook Rug

Purchase a Latch Hook. The most important part of making a latch hook rug is the Latch Hook itself. Basically, a hooked piece of metal with a latch attached to a wood handle, this tool is what will allow you to easily and quickly create your rug. Available at most craft stores, they come in a variety of sizes and your use depends on the project, weight of yarn and size of canvas you will be using.

Cutting your own yarn may be time consuming, but is a great way of getting rid of all those small quantities you may have left over from other projects. Yarn size can vary according to the project you wish to complete. It can also be varied within the rug project itself, giving it a more 3 dimensional feeling. Keep in mind that your yarn will need to be folded in half when you are considering the size you wish to cut. Each cut yarn piece should be no less than 1 1/2 " for a standard rug. While it could be an exciting project to cut your own yarn from your leftover yarn scraps, pre-cut yarn specifically for latch hooking is available In a wide variety of colors and lengths, your choices are varied and will largely depend upon your project and how "shaggy" you wish it to be.

Examine the canvas backing you will be using to create your latch hook project. While it is recommended to use a cotton-based canvas, there are also rubber and other materials available. The benefit to the cotton is that your finished project will be softer and best of all, washable. The canvas itself is made up into a series of small squares, much like grid paper. For most latch hooking, you will use the horizontal strands in each square. Keep this in mind if you are designing your own project. Use of graph paper will allow you to plan your design much more efficiently. When beginning your project, leave about 2” of canvas materials bordering the edges if possible. With this extra, you will be able to seal the edges of the project, keeping the yarn tight.

Start your project by taking your latch hook tool and place one strand of yarn over the stem, just under the movable latch. Take your hook down and bring it back up so that you have “woven” the tool under one horizontal strand of the canvas.

Take the yarn and bring it around and through the hooked end of the tool. You will effectively have made a loop. Gently pull the hook back through the canvas, keeping a hold of the ends of the yarn. The movable latch will close over the hook, trapping the yarn and bringing it back through the loop. Continue to pull gently until the ends of the yarn have been pulled through. You have made a knot over one horizontal strand of your canvas. Pull the ends of the yarn gently to tighten and continue the project until done.