How To Hook A Rug – Photo and Video Tutorial

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to hook a rug, this photo and video tutorial might just be for you.

10 years ago I wrote a blog post about rug hooking for beginners. I went over the basic supplies I use for rug hooking and how I draw patterns.

About a week after that blog post, I shared my technique for how to dye wool for rug hooking. I had planned on doing a simple post on how to hook a rug the following week, but you know… Life.

Every few months or so someone would ask when I was going to post the rug hooking tutorial. And then, 10 years went by. And I STILL hadn’t put together a tutorial on rug hooking.

How that’s even possible, I don’t know. 

Yada yada yada…

One of my goals this year was to take all new pictures and videos of the 400+ items in my Etsy shop. And while I was doing that, I decided to make a quick little video on how to use a rug hook.

Why not, I was already making quick videos of my products for Etsy anyways, right?

And well, one thing led to another and yesterday I again set up a tripod and filmed myself hooking a rug {I also took a bunch of pictures for the blog tutorial as well.}

And so finally, after 10 YEARS I now have a video AND a picture filled tutorial on how to hook a rug on the blog. Hooray! I think this deserves a special trip to the pastry shop, don’t you? 😉

Fact: I am no editing expert.

I just learned how to use a Mac 2 months ago. My video is not perfect and honestly, didn’t really even turn out the way I envisioned it would.

But hey, you’ve got to start somewhere, right? And if the goal was to show people how to hook a super basic rug, then I think between the video and this blog post I have achieved that.

The video I made on rug hooking for beginners has no music. No narration.

I’m a person who doesn’t like a lot of noise and I’m happiest either listening to an audiobook or just being in utter silence.

So if there’s just one weirdo out there like me who just wants to watch someone hook a rug without all the talky talky, well then I hope they find my video.

For everyone else who just wanted a picture tutorial and a step by step breakdown on how to hook a basic rug, well then keep on scrolling, this blog post is for you.

~Mavis

P.S. Want to see another tutorial of something I make all the time? Put in your requests now! It may take me another 10 years to get to it… But hey, you never know. 😉

Here we go!

How To Hook A Rug

Supplies I Used

• Folk Heart Rug Hooking Kit by Mavis Butterfield {wool, linen & pattern}
• 14″ wide 2″ deep quilting hoop {rug hooking frames are popular too}
• Rug hook {I recommend a “primitive” hook for beginners}

Most beginning hookers use a simple embroidery or quilting hoop to start with. You can pick one up at any fabric or craft store for a few dollars.

I use 2” handmade hoops made by Etsy seller Barnett’s Hoops. They are wonderful hoops and worth every penny in my book.

First things first. You’ll want to secure you rug hooking backing in your frame. 

The key is to keep your rug hooking backing as taut as possible as you hook. 

Holding your hook as you would a pencil, poke the tip of the hook through the backing. Wrap the wool strip around the hook.

Pull the wool strip back through the backing about 3/8″ inch. Repeat. 

Sounds easy, right? 

Here’s what it looks like under your hoop or frame.

If you go to the 00:46 timestamp on my how to use a rug hook video, you can see this in slow motion.

One loop on top of the linen.

And underneath.

See how the loops are pretty even and about 3/8″ high? That’s what you are aiming for. I generally poke my hook through every second hole when I am hooking. Sometimes every third hole. 

Here’s what a few pulled loops look like underneath the hoop. 

I typically work from the center of a design out. First I outline the design. In this case, a heart.

See those {wool strip} tails sticking straight up? After you finish hooking one strip, you poke your hook down through the same opening and pull up another wool strip.

Keep hooking. Keep filling in. Don’t get discouraged. It takes practice. 

After I have filled in an area I will go back and “snip” the “tails” so they are level with the loops.

Here is what the backside of the rug looks like with the heart all hooked. See those spaces between the rows? That’s a GOOD thing! You want that. It means you are not crowding your wool strips. 

If you crowd your wool strips your rug can turn out funky and lumpy and likely won’t lay flat. You don’t want that. 

View from the top. {Save those wool bits! You can use them to stuff a pillow.} 

Now let’s hook the border of the rug.

And fill in the background.

Round and round we go. 

This rug is done!

See, it was easy! I have no idea why this tutorial took me 10 years to write. Maybe you want to see me hook something else? Maybe you want to see what goes into hooking one of those giant whale rugs I like to make? That could be interesting. 

Or we could all just go buy some glitter and go clubbing or out for tea and pastries or something. That would work too. 

Note to self: Never write a tutorial at 1 am. 

How to hook a rug by Mavis Butterfield.

The End.