
Note: Consider this post a quick-start guide to latch hook finishing for beginners who aren’t ready to work slowly through a more advanced tutorial. For in-depth latch hook finishing tutorials, check out my tutorials on Square Latch Hook Finishing, Non-Square Latch Hook Finishing (coming July 2020), and How to Finish Hard Nooks & Crannies in Latch Hook (coming July 2020).

The pattern featured in this tutorial is the beginner-friendly Tiered Colorblock Wall Hanging – get the free pattern here.
How to: Basic Latch Hook Finishing
Supplies
your nearly finished latch hook with ~1″ of empty rug canvas on all sides
(sturdy) scissors
tapestry needle
yarn or strong thread
Directions






If you’re loving the latch hook project pictured in this and last weeks’ basics tutorials, tune in Wednesday for the free pattern to get you latch hooking like a pro!


More great resources for latch hook beginners:
- Latch Hook Basics Tutorial
- Looking for contemporary latch hook inspiration? Here are 9 Things to Latch Hook
- Tiered Colorblock Wall Hanging – free latch hook pattern
Thank you Heidi Brilliant explanation. I bought a hook at a wool fair ages ago and forgot how to use it . Thank you
Thank you for the very clear explanation and pictures of how to finish a rug or hsngibg. It’s very simple, so I understand that’s why it’s glossed over in most articles, but if you’ve never done it, it can still be hard to visualize. Plus you had the tip of trimming the bulk at the corners. That may have occurred to me, but without someone with experience telling me it worked,I would have been afraid it would have encouraged unraveling or something. So excellent post!
Hi! What size tapestry needle and what size thread (if I don’t use yarn) do you recommend for binding a latch hook rug? I have a Christmas tree skirt i finished last summer and would like to finally bind it. Thanks!
It depends on the gauge of your canvas and the finished look you’re going for. I often like to use yarn because it better covers the raw canvas edge than thread. As far as tapestry needle, I just buy whatever says tapestry needle on it. If it’s too big for my yarn or canvas, I look at what needle options in my notions drawer until I find what works. I’d just recommend a blunt tip since you don’t need to sew through fabric, just run yarn around strands of rug canvas.
Best of luck!
Heidi
Hi, I am finishing a 6×9 rug started 35 years ago and have come to a torn thread in the canvas. Can you tell me how to repair it. One of the threads in the hole is ok but worn. I was hoping to run a new thread through the canvas to hook. Please advise. Thanks
If I run into a torn piece of my canvas, I like to patch it like a pair of jeans. You can hand stitch a patch of canvas onto the back of your work (lining up the grids) and hook onto it as normal. I also like to hook through the patch canvas and main canvas surrounding the torn strands to reinforce everything. Hope this helps! -Heidi :)
Hi…do you have any experience using “iron-on” binding? I have a 28” by 36” Santa to finish, then bind but seeing is foreign to me !!! If possible, a brief explanation would help. Thank you.
I haven’t used iron on binding before, but I just did an in-depth tutorial on binding latch hook projects with whip stitch that could help: https://www.handsoccupied.com/whip-stitch-binding/ Cheers! :)
I need your help!!! I didn’t think about leaving a 1 inch trim on my project before I started…as a matter of fact, I lined it up with the blue lines in the pattern and now have only one row if that on the bottom of my beautiful rainbow for my Grandson’s wall. It is actually in danger of fraying along the bottom. I don’t know what to do! It is so gorgeous. Hopefully you can help me.
Thank you,
Kathy Little
Shooting you an email now! -Heidi :)