This post and photos may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. If you purchase something through any link I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.
So I started this whole latch hook rug project a few weeks ago and spent about 4 hours a night hooking my new rug. You see, I’ve always loved Neo-Plasticism of Piet Mondrian and recently decided that I wanted to make my kitchen into a cubist’s dream. I started with knocking off my own Mondrian inspired painting over at Mom Spark. Part two of this wave of primary colors is a new rug for my kitchen door which you see here!
I had a whole reason for wanting to learn how to make a latch hook rug (because I lost my most favorite rug ever and want to recreate it) – but I needed a practice go before I work on something that big. This seemed just the ticket and worked up pretty quickly – I’d say about 24 hours worth of hooking (about 4 hours a night for 6 nights). I liked latch hook because I could very easily follow what was on the television and there was little thought in it. Now if you went for a crazy chart, that’s going to be totally different, I’m sure.
But before we go on too much further – would you like to learn how to latch hook? or would you like to download the free Mondrian inspired chart? Shall we move on?
For this project you will need:
- a heavy duty (or regular doubled) matching color of thread & needle
- scissors
- thimble
Take your canvas and cut so that you have 2-3 rows of squares left around the edge of the rug. (and sorry for the not so great pics – my camera took a trip to everything is too freaking Blueville and I’ve had a hard time trying to fix them!)
Fold the canvas over and begin stitching on a diagonal hooking the bit of canvas underneath to the folded over bit on the top.
This is what it looks like a bit closer up… It’s easier to work in lengths of string that are about 1.5 feet, knotting off and starting up again.
Yay! Here’s one side done – but now what do we do with those pesky corners?
Cut a square out of the corner and…
Fold over the other edge and tack down really well. Continue stitching and attaching your canvas down for the rest of the rug.
Now when I asked around a lot of people actually finish their rugs by sewing a piece of felt onto the backside. I chose not to do this because felt is a fur magnet and I have a whole mess of cats. Can you say the underside of your rug is grody? But this canvas stuff is wicked slippery so I bought some non-skid rug padding.
I trimmed it to size and went ahead and tacked it down with spray adhesive. It’s going to keep it in place for now, but over time it’ll come off so no worries when it’s time to wash it… it will peel right off.
Bam! There it is! My first latch hook rug! It’s really soft and I’m afraid that Marla has claimed it so no cute pictures of Max trying it out because she just wouldn’t have it.
I’m totally in love with this rug for several reasons:
- it mimics the style of one of my favorite artists
- no one I know has anything that looks like it
- I made it all by myself
- it’s sooo soft (kind of surprised by that)
So, will you be making your own latch hook rug?
I actually sew a binding tape over the etch in the back of my latch hook project.
Is there a product for using on the back of the latch hook work to keep it in place so it won’t unravel?
They do sell rug binding that you can use on the edges. I’ve used this one with good success. (affiliate link)
Thank you for sharing. I am just about done with a kit (lion face) that I was given over ten years ago, by a friend who had it for over fifteen years before that! I was concerned about how to finish it; your idea of adding a nonslip mat is fantastic! glad I found your site!
im actually working on a christmas tree skirt right now and didnt know if or how to finish it. thank you for the info! i was thinking of just taking mod podge or something to seal it. glad theres a better option!
Thank you so much for this!! All the other sites I looked at made finishing off the rug seem like a federal project! My latchhook rug is just a small one that I made for my house rabbit to sleep on, it isn’t going into the Oval Office or anything! I am grateful for the excellent instructions, photos and method so simple that even I can do this!
Thank you for your easy way of sewing a finished latch project,I had trouble until I saw how you did this.I have my finished latchhook hanging on the wall.
Good day, can I buy thread and cut it myself as I don’t see it anywhere in Namibia or should I order online
please help and how long will it take to arrive in Namibia?
Absolutely you can cut it yourself! I’ve cut my own by hammering 2 nails into a junk piece of wood half of the distance that I wanted the strings to be. Wrap it around both nails a few times and then snip in the middle and you’ll have pieces really close to the same size. The more you wind, though, the bigger the outer pieces will be so I’d keep the number of rotations low so you don’t have to trim your rug after. You can also use your fingers or hand!
Thank you so much, My mom made a lovely latch hook quite a few years ago and it just got put away somewhere until I moved. I am not sure how it happened but even with the tape backing some of it unraveled. I want to restore the rug and rather than replacing the tape backing, I think your finishing would be better,
This is wonderful and I can’t wait to try it out. I’ve been latch hooking since I was little and have never been able to figure out with to do with them. This is great!
thanks for you info on the latch hooking,i am on my second rug,and this time I am using a rug canvas, so I needed to know what to do with the edges,and pesky corners.I am using my own handspun wool,cutting it all to the right length by hand,it might take me a while!!!
I want to thank you for a real awesome tutorial in finishing the latch hook.
Believe me I went to some sites ( video )and it was no help.I’m making an area rug for my daughter in law,my xmas gift for there house.I was apprehensive and doubted my new hobby.
Well,since you were so awesome i.m buying more latch hook kits.
This is absolutely amazing! I’m a big Mondrian fan, I’ve seen his art on nails, boats, clothing, but never as a rug – what a great idea! May I ask what kind of yarn you used making this? Was it pre-cut? I have never attempted doing latch hook before, but after seeing this I just might!
I did use pre-cut yarn, the brand was MCG Textiles in the colors 301 white, 302 black, 304 yellow, 360 blue, 368 ruby. You can buy directly from them online if you cannot locate them in a store around you: http://bit.ly/14qnPVc
I hope you do make the rug. It was so much fun and such a neat thing to have as a Mondrian lover :)
Thank so much you for the info! I think I will give this a shot! May I ask about how much yarn I will need for this? I live in Norway, so I’ll have to order it online! :-)
I hear ya, Maria! While I had written down the number for my list, I didn’t think to hang on to it, which was silly :) I bought one extra of each color which is good because I lost so many black pieces (or perhaps the cats stole them!) that I only had 2 pieces left over when I was done with the rug in spite of having several hundred extra!!
FYI there are 320 pieces per package.
Blue – 2 packages (need 619 pieces – you’ll have 640)
Yellow – 5 packages (need 1523 pieces – you’ll have 1660)
Red – 5 packages (need 1448 pieces 1660)
Black- 5 packages (need 1338 pieces 1660)
White – 10 packages (need 2959 pieces 3200)
cool latch hook
Great idea and performance!
Kisses
Magda and Agnes:*
Why thank you!