Tutorial Tuesday - Addy Walker Craft - Hooked Rug/Latch Hooking

Even though I do not have the book or kit itself, looking at the American Girl Wikia lets us know what Addy Walker's craft book contained tutorials on. One of the crafts was a hooked rug 1, which is a craft I remember from my childhood as being a LOT of fun. Now a days, you can find hooked rug kits at your general stores or online.

I was looking through a book in my collection, "The Book of Arts and Crafts" by Marguerite Ickis and Reba Selden Esh when I stumbled across several of Addy's crafts! One of them is hooked rugs. The name hooked rugs is deceiving since it can be used to make wallhangings, stair pads, mats, chair seats, pillows and of course rugs can all be made this way! It is also called latch hooking, but Addy's craft and my book both call it 'rug hooking'.

If you wish to forgo the premade, my book book says to make a frame of soft pine in the dimensions of your rug. I don't think this is neccesary because none of the kits I had as a kid included a frame of any kind and none of the kits I've seen have one. If you want to make a doll-sized rug, you'll most likely want the following measurements: square - 6 inches width, 6 inches length, rectangle - 6 inches width, 12 inches length (of course, if these measurements don't feel right, feel free to change them). Use a good quality of burlap so it will actually not break when you hook the 'thread' into it. Any soft yet strong material is good for use to make your hooked item. Yarn will probably be the easiest to use. You can make any pattern you want! Geometric, floral, historical... Whatever your heart desires, you can make. Trace your designs onto the burlap with colored crayon then fill them in with your filling.

The way the book explains getting your hook in leaves much to be desired. So I will include a YouTube video that explains and shows it better. There's a 60 minute version available if you need more help. The tool used to cut up the fabric is a fabric cutter and you don't really need it for most latching/hook projects.

Gallery

Found through Pinterest

Beginner Rug Hooking Kit - Daisy - $47 - Found on www.woolery.com

I'm working on a kit version right now, so I will get back to you on that eventually.