Guide to LATCH HOOKING
A Training Manual
By: Jamie Fried
Copyright © 2017 Jane Doe.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.
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License
ISBN: 978-0-000000-0 (Paperback) ISBN: 978-0-000000-0 (Hardcover) Library of Congress Control Number: 00000000000
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III Table of Contents Table of Contents Introduction .................................................. IV Rug Hooking vs Latch Hooking - A Brief History ..... 1 Motivation ...................................... 5 Preparation ...................................... 8 Steps for blank canvas and pre-stenciled canvas ..... 13 Helpful Tips ........................................ 17 Works Cited ......................................... XX Index......................................... i Glossary ....................................... ii
Introduction
Welcome to the wonderful world of latch hooking, where decorative rugs are made by pulling short pieces of yarn through a canvas or mesh backing with the use of a tool called a latch hook. Although this guide is aimed at beginners, it will provide even the most experienced crafters with a brief history of latch hooking while allowing them to draw inspiration from the beautiful imagery of latch-hooked rugs. Whether you are using a pre-stenciled canvas or are creating your own unique design from scratch, this guide is for you. Join me as I lead you through the creative process!
IV Introduction
Chapter 1
Rug Hooking vs Latch Hooking- A Brief History
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Rug Hooking vs Latch Hooking - A Brief History
Chapter 1
Rug Hooking vs Latch Hooking- a brief History
Many people confuse rug hooking with latch hooking. Although both crafts are used to create rugs, they differ in materials and technique. While rug hooking has been around for centuries, it is believed that rug hooking as we know it today developed in the mid 1800’s in New England, the Canadian Maritimes and Newfoundland and Labrador. After 1830, factories started to produce machinemade carpets for the rich and had them shipped from Europe. In order to have the comfort of rugs in their homes, poor women who could not afford machine-made rugs would make their own hand-made rugs using leftover scraps of cloth. They would use burlap for the base of the rug which they took from the burlap sacks that held livestock feed and grain. Since yarn was too precious and had to be saved for knitting and weaving, women would use any kind of cloth that was too old for wearing or making into quilts. In the 1930’s, rug hooking spread to Denmark where it flourished. In rug hooking, loops of yarn or fabric are pulled through
Rug hooking a stiff woven backing with the use of a crochet-type hook that is set in a wooden or plastic handle.
Latch hooking began with the invention of the latch needle in 1847, a curved hinged hook that swings on a rivet that is set on a handle. The latch needle was initially used as part of a knitting machine that wrapped yarn around the latch and pushed it through a canvas. The latch hook was created in the 1920’s by combining the hand hook with the latch. Latchhooked rugs became popular during the 1930s and rose in popularity in Britain right after World War II when it was dominated by several companies based near the textile mills in Northern England and used by convalescing soldiers, hospital patients and home-care residents. Latch hooking became more popular in the 1970’s and 1980’s with the use of synthetic yarns. The latch hook tool is also set on a wooden or plastic handle.
Latch needle
Contrary to traditional rug hooking which uses a backing made of burlap or natural fiber, latch hooking involves knotting small pieces of yarn to a specially woven rug canvas backing. These rug canvases may be blank, allowing artisans to create their own pattern or may contain a pre-stenciled pattern, similar to a needlepoint pattern, which users can follow. Rug canvases range from 3.3 holes per inch to 5 holes per inch. Latch hook yarns may be bought pre-cut (usually 2.5 inches) or cut to the desired length.
20th century latch hook
2 Chapter 1
Natural fiber canvas Yarn Burlap canvas Rug hooking tool
Hooking vs Latch Hooking
Rug Hooking Materials 3 Rug Hooking vs Latch Hooking - A Brief History
Rug
- A Brief History
Chapter 1
Grid canvas Plastic latch hook Wooden latch hook Latch hook yarn Rug Hooking vs Latch Hooking- A Brief History Latch Hooking Materials 4 Chapter 1 Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Motivation
5 Motivation
Chapter 2
Motivation
Latch hooking is a fun and relaxing activity. Its repetitive motions may help relieve stress and anxiety. There are pre-stenciled latch hooking kits that can be followed by beginners or blank canvases that allow users to create their own one-of-a-kind unique patterns and designs. The main skill that is needed is learning how to use the latch hook tool to attach your yarn to the canvas. With a wide variety of latch hook kits available in stores and online in different designs, color themes, patterns and sizes, all you need is a latch hook tool, yarn, a pattern and a canvas and you are ready to begin. It is a fun and inexpensive craft that does not require a lot of tools to get started. Patterns range from flowers, to animals, to beautiful landscapes and abstract designs, to name a few. There are latch hooking kits geared for young children with images of cartoon characters and youthful designs. You may decide to use your finished project as a rug, a hanging wall decoration or a pillow. You may decide to give it as a gift or keep it for yourself. Latch hook kits are readily available at retail stores and online. Small latch hook kits start at approximately $25 and upwards. The creative possibilities are at your imagination!
6 Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Some Examples of Different Latch Hooking Designs
Mario latch hook Dory latch hook
Daisies latch hook Bird latch hook
7 Motivation
Chapter 3
Preparation
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Chapter 3
Preparation
As a beginner, I would recommend purchasing a latch hook kit with a prestenciled canvas and instructions that the user can follow. The kit should include a pattern separated by color on a pre-stenciled canvas grid and pre-cut strips or segments of yarn. Some latch hook kits do not include the latch hook tool which you may need to purchase separately. Intermediate or advanced crafters or those experienced with latch hooking may prefer to use a blank canvas without a pre-stenciled pattern and create their own pattern and design.
9 Preparation
Chapter 3
Preparation for Blank Canvas
A blank canvas is a canvas without a pre-stenciled pattern. If you want to prepare your own latch hook kit and create your own pattern and unique design, you will need to buy canvas and yarn, make your own pattern and cut your own yarn segments. Alternatively, there are latch hook kits that contain pre-cut strips of yarn in various colors along with a canvas that has no pattern and allows the user to create their own design using the yarn provided in the kit.
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Tools Latch hook tool Scissors Permanent marker Materials Canvas grid Yarn segments Or latch hook kit containing a blank canvas without a pre-stenciled pattern. Tools and Materials for blank canvas 11 Preparation Chapter 3
Latch hook kit containing: oPre-stenciled canvas grid; oInstructions; o Yarn segments separated by color. o Latch hook 12 Chapter 3
3 Tools and Materials for pre- stenciled canvas ToolsLatch hook tool (some kits do not include and require separate purchase). Materials-
Chapter
Chapter 4
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Steps for blank canvas and pre stenciled canvas
Steps for Blank canvas and Pre-stenciled canvas
Chapter 4
Steps for blank canvas without a pattern
Step one
Figure 1
Measure 1 ½ inches on all four sides of the canvas grid. See Figure 1
Since there is no pre-stenciled pattern on the canvas, the user will decide color choice and placement of yarn segments on the canvas.
Figure 2
Draw a border around your measurements with your permanent marker. See Figure 2
Follow steps 1-7 for pre-stenciled canvas below.
Step Two 14 Chapter 4
Step three Step four
Chapter 4
Steps for pre stenciled canvas
Step one Step two
Fold a piece of yarn in half to make a loop. See Figure A
Step three
Figure A Figure B Figure C Figure D
Put the hook through one square with the open latch above the square’s bottom line. See Figure C
Steps for Blank canvas and Pre-stenciled canvas
Insert the open hook through the loop of yarn and turn the hook to the left. See Figure B
Step four
Pull both yarn ends up across the open latch. See Figure D
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Chapter 4
Steps for pre stenciled canvas
Step five Step six
Figure E Figure F
Turn the hook upright and pull the hook down through the square. See Figure E
Step seven
Pull the two yarn ends down to tighten the knot. See Figure F
After hooking several rows, verify that the hooked yarn segments are even. Uneven pieces can be trimmed with scissors.
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Chapter 5
Helpful Tips
17 Helpful Tips
Start at the bottom left square of the canvas and work across the row.
Chapter 5
Helpful Tips
tip one tip three tip four
tip two
Complete an entire row before moving up to the next row.
On a pre-stenciled canvas, if a square has more than one color on it, choose the color that you see the most printed on the line.
On a pre-stenciled canvas, match the yarn with the color printed on the grid square.
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Start with the first row of full squares. If the canvas has a row of partial squares on the bottom or sides, skip that row.
Helpful Tips
tip six
If your canvas has partial squares on the top row, you may still hook them.
tip five tip seven tip eight
If your two yarn ends are uneven after hooking, pull the shorter strand as you tighten the knot to even them out. You can also trim uneven pieces with scissors after the knot is tight.
If you make a mistake, you can loosen the knot from the back and carefully pull the piece of yarn out. Try again using the same piece of yarn or a new piece.
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Helpful Tips Chapter 5
Works Cited
https://www.britannica.com/technology/latch-needle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rug_hooking http://messybeast.com/rugmaking/rugmaking-1-history.htm http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/wi_rughooking.pdf https://www.dorisleslieblau.com/the-short-history-of-rug-hooking/ https://trinitycreativetutorials.com/reasons-why-you-should-take-up-latchhooking https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Latch-Hook/
XX Work Cited
i Index B blank canvas 17 border 17 burlap 2 C cloth 2 G grid 17 Grid canvas 4 grid square. 22 K knot 23 L Latch hooking 7 Latch Hooking Designs 8 Latch hook kit 14 Latch needle 2 M Materials 13 O open hook 18 P Pattern 14 R row 22 rug 7 rug hooking 2 T Tips 22 tool 7 Y Yarn segments 14
Glossary
Latch hooking: A craft where short segments of yarn are tied to the horizontal strands of a canvas grid. Latch hooking can be used to make small rugs, wall hangings or pillows.
Latch hook: a hand-held tool similar to a latch needle that is used for drawing loops of yarn through a canvas or similar material to make rugs.
Latch needle: a hand-held tool composed of a curved hook, a latch, that swings on a rivet just below the hook and a stem.
Rug hooking: An art or craft where rugs are made by pulling loops of yarn or fabric through a stiff woven base including burlap, linen or rug warp. The loops are pulled though the backing material by using a crochet-type hook mounted in a handle (usually wood) for leverage.
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