Hooking 101

Welcome to Hooking 101! You will find discussions, tips and easy “how-to” suggestions to help you through your rug hooking adventure! If you have a topic that you would like to be considered for future discussions, please contact me.

BACKINGS
What are the differences? What is the best for me?

I am asked these questions quite often. Your backing (or foundation) fabric is the very backbone of your rug. It is the support for all of your beautiful work and you should always choose the best fabric that you can afford. When you realize how much time and love you have put into your creation, you will be grateful that you chose your backing wisely.

Burlap
Advantages: This is the most affordable of backing materials. There are several different grades, or varieties of burlap. For example, angus burlap is made with a flatter fiber and has a more uneven weave. Scotch burlap is woven with a rounder fiber and is therefore more consistently even. In the past, burlap was the only choice for rug hookers. Many beginners start hooking on burlap because it is affordable and easy to hook on. My first rugs were hooked on burlap.

Disadvantages: Over time, the threads in the burlap can disintegrate and crumble, especially around the edges of the rug where there is the greatest wear. Sunlight, heat and dampness will also contribute to rotting the burlap. It can be stiff and rough in your hands. It can also be very linty and can have a particular odor.

If you want to buy burlap, always purchase it from a reputable rug hooking supplier and not from a craft store. Craft burlap is often dyed, bleached or chemically treated and these processes will weaken the fibers.
  

Monks Cloth
Advantages: This falls in the “middle of the road” price range. It is 100% cotton and is easily recognized as cream-colored cloth with a white thread running through it. It comes in many widths. A room-sized rug can be hooked on 144” wide monks cloth without the worry of seaming two pieces of fabric together. Cotton is more durable and therefore your rug should wear longer. It is very soft in your hand. It can be washed before hooking (just in case you want a washable rug), but it will shrink. Many rug hookers prefer to hook on monks cloth.

Disadvantages: Monks cloth can be very stretchy. Your work can ripple or bubble, especially if the backing is overhooked (repeatedly pulling out strips and rehooking them) or if your loops are too close together. For wide strips, I recommend that you always hook in every other hole and hook your rows every third thread over from the last row. It is essential that you give your piece a good steaming when finished. You may have to steam bubbled areas more than once, applying some pressure to the offending areas.

Monks Cloth

Linen
Advantages: Linen is the most sturdy and durable of fibers. It should last for many years of enjoyment. It becomes softer the more it is handled. Linen comes in different weaves and styles, and primitive linen is easy to hook on. It has recently become more popular with rug hookers. Linen is my favorite backing and I highly recommend it.

Disadvantages: Linen is the most expensive backing in price. It can also “beard” which means little wisps of fiber can poke up to the top of your work while you’re hooking. These are especially noticeable on darker fabrics. Simply trim these fibers with your scissors. Sometimes they can be carefully picked off with a pair of tweezers. As with burlap, do not store linen folded, as folds can weaken and split the fibers over a period of time. It is best to roll it on a tube for storage.

Linen

Rug Warp
Advantages: This is also 100% cotton. It is a heavier, denser fabric than monks cloth and looks like woven string. It is also in the moderate price range and comes in a variety of widths.

Disadvantages: Its weave is tighter, so therefore more suitable for narrower strips and not for primitives or wide cut wool. I have seen this backing ripple when hooked too tight, so heed the tips for monks cloth.

There are many other backings that you could hook on: loosely woven wool, upholstery fabric, synthetics, etc. These backings are more suitable for clothing, pillows, purses, wall hangings, etc. and would never last very long as a rug on the floor!

You may find that you will want to try each of these backings to see what you like the best and what works for your style and size of strips. There is no right or wrong backing, only what works best for you. A well made rug can last more than a lifetime. So when planning your rug, give its “backbone” some serious consideration and it will be enjoyed for years to come!
  

Dyeing with Kool-Aid It’s fun and easy!

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