A few notes before you begin:
- Adjust the backing fabric within the hoop or frame so that it is taut. If you are
using a hoop, seat yourself so you can lean the top of the hoop against a table
edge while the bottom of the hoop rests in your lap, leaving both hands free.
- Your left hand will always hold the wool strip underneath the backing fabric. Your
right hand will always manipulate the hook on top of the backing fabric. If you
are left-handed, reverse hand positions.
- It is a good idea to just look at all the photos first. Then go back and look at
the photos again while you read the text descriptions. Next, get out your materials
and actually begin to hook step-by-step with the photos & descriptions in front
of you.
- That’s it! Now, get going!!!
Step #1
Hold a wool strip flat between the thumb and forefinger of your left hand, leaving
about an inch of “tail” hanging north of your forefinger. Hold the hook with your
right hand with the hook facing up.
Step #2
Note: This photo was taken to show what your hands will be doing as they work together...
However, when you actually are hooking, your left hand will be underneath the backing
fabric and you won’t be able to see it. When the tip of the hook is inserted down
into a hole in the fabric you won’t be able to see the hook tip either. Study the photo
to see how the hook is facing up as it is slipped under the
strip. In other words, your left hand
will feed the strip on to the hook, getting it into position to be pulled up through
the fabric by your right hand, thereby forming a loop. This will become clearer as you continue.
Step #3
Now, place your left hand (still holding the strip) underneath the backing fabric.
Hold the hook, facing up, with your right hand on top of the fabric. Poke the hook
through a hole in the top of the background fabric.
Step #4
Underneath, use your left hand to feed the strip onto the hook tip which is now also below
the fabric. On top, with your right hand, begin to pull up the strip with the hook by
manipulating it up through the hole. As it emerges, it will start to bulge up through
the hole as a loop.
Step #5
Continue to keep a tight grip on the strip from underneath with your left hand while at
the same time pulling up on the strip loop with the hook until the tail end pops out
on top. I call this a “beginning tail”.
Step #6
With your left hand still holding the strip underneath, poke your hook down into the
next hole in the backing. Feed the wool strip again onto the hook and begin to
pull up your first loop.
Step #7
As you bring up the loop, pull it slightly back (away from you) as it emerges from
the hole. This will help it to stay in place and not pull out when you make your
next loop.
Step #8
Generally, a loop should be as high as the strip is wide, but you can’t go wrong by
pulling it higher than you actually want it and then pulling down on the strip from
underneath (with the hook shaft still in the loop on top) until you have the desired
loop height. Then turn the hook and slip it out of the loop. Forming loops in this
way allows the loop to “blossom” or “plump”.
Step #9
Obviously, the goal is to maintain a fairly even loop height. Do not, however,
worry unnecessarily about this because in time you’ll fall into an even rhythm and
consistent loop height. Also, after a hooked piece is finished it is steamed and
pressed, making all the loops relax and appear even. It is a very forgiving craft!
Step #10
Next, insert the hook into the next hole. Pull up a second loop. The loops should
sit up comfortably, resting on each other, without being over-crowded. A goal for
good coverage is to have sufficient loops to hide the backing fabric but without
crowding loops or stressing the backing.
Step #11
In this tutorial, #4 cut wool strips and monks cloth backing are being used. If a
third loop were to be made in the third hole, the loops would be too crowded and
not plump. So, the loop pattern here will be to hook 2 loops in each of two
consecutive holes, then skip a hole, hook 2 more loops in each of the next two
holes, then skip a hole, etc.
Step #12
In this photo, the tip of the hook is being used to push back the second loop so
you can see where to skip over the next hole before making the next loop.
Step #13
The hook is now inserted into the next available hole after skipping a hole.
Step #14
A third loop is pulled up.
Step #15
This next section will illustrate how to end one strip and begin another.
Begin to pull up a loop as usual...
Step #16
...continue to pull up on the loop until it is about an inch high. Remove
your hook. Insert your scissors into the loop and clip it in half. This
will form an “ending tail”. From underneath, pull down on the remaining
length of wool strip with your left hand to remove it. Note: There are
specially made scissors for rug hooking but as a beginner you may not wish
to make the investment as yet. A sharp scissors of any type will
work for now.
Step #17
This is how the “ending tail” will look.
Step #18
In the same hole as the ending tail, pull up a new beginning tail
from your next wool strip.
Step #19
This photo shows a side view of several more loops of the gold
followed by an ending tail.
Step #20
Now, clip off the tails even with the height of the other loops. The
loops & tails resting upon each other keep the loops in place. They
will not pull out unless you intentionally pull them out.
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