Rug Hooking Kits

Rug hooking is a great hobby that is simple to do and allows you to craft some wonderful creations. Learning to hook rugs is very easy, especially if you start off with a rug hooking kit for beginners that provides some step-by-step instructions.

These beginner kits typically use less complicated patterns. As you get the hang of it, you can move up to more detailed patterns.

Like anything else, this hobby can be as cheap or as expensive as you choose to make it. You can utilize recycled wool to save some expense, or opt to go with new wool, which will be a bit more expensive. There are a number of low-cost beginner kits available, so the cost of getting started will not be a barrier. This is one hobby that you can start with very little up front expense.

(Image credit to noricum - licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution to the author.

So, you don't know how to rug hook and you are not sure where to start? Have no fear. The rug hooking video below by Gene Shepherd will introduce you to this great hobby and teach you everything you need to know. It shows you step-by-step instructions on how to hook your first rug, and even offers some advanced tips.

The video is approximately 9 minutes long. So sit back, relax, and learn everything you need to know about how to get into hooking your own rugs.

Rug hooking is a really simple process of pulling a strip of wool (or other fabric) up through the holes in the backing material. A special rug hook tool is used to make this process easy. The rug hook kind of looks like an ice pick, but it has a small barb near the point used to hook the strip of fabric.

There are several options that you can choose for your backing.

1. Back in the colonial times, burlap was used and many people still make use of this today to make primitive style rugs. Colonial women often used burlap feed sacks for their backings, but they were not durable and many have not withstood the test of time. Angus burlap is an inexpensive backing option that can be purchased for about $3.00 per yard.
2. Scottish burlap is a better choice than Angus burlap, because the treads and spacing are uniform and very stable.
3. Most rug hookers will use Monk's cloth, which is a very soft, pliable, and even-weaved cotton fabric. It is a bit more expensive at around $15.00 per yard, but it is much more enjoyable to work with.
4. One of the more expensive options is Scottish linen. It is very strong and flexible, and is probably the easiest to work with. Scottish linen will cost around $25.00 per yard, but will most likely outlast any of the other backing materials you may choose.

So to start your rug hooking project, you simply:

1. Insert your rug hook tool through one of the holes in your backing.
2. Then with your other hand you form a loop around your fabric strip on the back side of your backing.
3. Then you hook the loop with your rug hook tool, and pull the loop through the backing material. What you should be left with is about a 1/4 inch loop on the front side of your backing.
4. You then skip a thread or two in your backing material, insert your rug hook tool through the backing again, and repeat the process to form another loop. All of your loops should be uniform.
5. Continue repeating this process until you have looped the entire strip of wool or fabric through the backing. Then continue with your next fabric strip.

You can transfer a pattern or design onto your backing and use it as a template for creating a uniquely designed rug by using different colors of fabric strips. Or you can purchase a backing in a kit that already has the design imprinted on the backing. These kits will contain the backing, fabric strips, and a color picture of the design to help you take your project from start to finish.

So what do you think about Rug Hooking?