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Latch Hook Basics

June 12, 2018 12 Comments

Learn how to latch hook with an easy-to-follow tutorial. Make wall hangings, throw pillows, rugs, and more! Latch hook projects are a great use for scrap yarn too.
Fans of the Very Serious Crafts Podcast and those who follow the Hands Occupied Instagram are well aware of the fact that I’ve fallen hard for another yarn craft in recent months: latch hook. Last month, I rounded up ten amazing latch hook projects to highlight just how much this craft has evolved from the rug-making kits that may have found their way into your childhood craft room (and creepily often involved clowns). Now it’s time to learn the basics of working a latch hook project totally from square one so you can try this fun craft for yourself as a grown up (and use up your yarn ends in the process!). Today we’ll cover the basics of how to latch hook, and next week we’ll tackle basic finishing techniques.

A quick plug: If you’re in the Chicago area, you can take my Intro to Contemporary Latch Hook Workshop in a couple weeks.This workshop covers so much more about color picking, yarn processing, and blending than I’m able to cover in this post, so it’s a great way to really up your skills! As of this writing, there are still open spots, so visit my local yarn shop’s website to learn more & sign up. 

How to do basic latch hook

Supplies

rug canvas
latch hook tool
scissors
ruler
cardboard
yarn (scraps work great!)

Learn how to latch hook with an easy-to-follow tutorial. Make wall hangings, throw pillows, rugs, and more! Latch hook projects are a great use for scrap yarn too.

Directions

Begin by thinking about how shaggy you want your project to be.
In rug-making (or carpet/rug buying in general), pile refers to the density of your rug, and pile height is a measure of how far the tip of your yarn is from the backing of your project. For beginners, please note that the backing of your project is the grid-like rug canvas into which you’ll work your latch hook project.

Learn how to latch hook with an easy-to-follow tutorial. Make wall hangings, throw pillows, rugs, and more! Latch hook projects are a great use for scrap yarn too.
Next, prepare your yarn.
You can buy pre-cut yarn for latch hooking, but to me, that’s a little bit wasteful when you can very easily cut it yourself. To quickly cut your own latch hooking yarn, measure and cut out a rectangle of cardboard that is twice the length you want your pile height to be, plus another quarter of an inch.* Using your cardboard as a ruler, wrap your yarn around the cardboard several times, then cut the yarn at the top and bottom of the cardboard rectangle, creating the short lengths of yarn you’ll be working with.

*For example, if you want your pile height to measure 2 inches, you’ll need to cut your yarn into lengths that are 4.25″ because 2″ x 2 = 4″, and you need to add another 0.25″ to accommodate the knot you’ll be creating as you latch hook your yarn to your rug canvas.

If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, read on and come back to the first couple paragraphs of these directions. As with any new craft, there’s a bit of vocabulary involved, but once you see the photos of latch hooking in action, and especially once you try it for yourself, this will all start to click. I promise! :)

Learn how to latch hook with an easy-to-follow tutorial. Make wall hangings, throw pillows, rugs, and more! Latch hook projects are a great use for scrap yarn too.
Prepare your rug canvas.
Using a sturdy pair of scissors (rug canvas is tough – it’s intended to be walked on!), cut your rug canvas to the shape/size you’d like your finished latch hook project to be, plus an inch or two. Much like in sewing, latch hook projects require a little extra canvas past the edge of where your project borders will end. This extra functions a lot like a seam allowance when it comes to finishing your project.

Learn how to latch hook with an easy-to-follow tutorial. Make wall hangings, throw pillows, rugs, and more! Latch hook projects are a great use for scrap yarn too.
Start hooking! 
To form a latch hook knot, fold a piece of cut yarn in half around your latch hook tool, just below the latch mechanism.

Learn how to latch hook with an easy-to-follow tutorial. Make wall hangings, throw pillows, rugs, and more! Latch hook projects are a great use for scrap yarn too.
Insert the tip of your latch hook tool from front to back to front under one of the horizontal bars of your rug canvas. Wrap the tail ends of your yarn around the hook as shown above – in between the latch mechanism of your tool and under the hook part of the tool itself.

Learn how to latch hook with an easy-to-follow tutorial. Make wall hangings, throw pillows, rugs, and more! Latch hook projects are a great use for scrap yarn too.
Pull the hook tool back under the horizontal bar of rug canvas. The latch mechanism will close by itself around the tail ends of your yarn, and the hook will guide the tails back under the horizontal bar as well as through the folded end of yarn.

Learn how to latch hook with an easy-to-follow tutorial. Make wall hangings, throw pillows, rugs, and more! Latch hook projects are a great use for scrap yarn too.
As you continue to pull, your latch hook tool will become free of the yarn and your latch hook knot (also known as a lark’s head knot or cow hitch) will be formed, securing the yarn to the rug canvas backing. To tighten the knot, pull gently on the ends. If you’re working with a fiber that’s not wool, you will likely want to give the tails of your yarn a tug now and then to keep the yarn in place. This is what several finished knots look like  in an in-progress latch hooking project:

Learn how to latch hook with an easy-to-follow tutorial. Make wall hangings, throw pillows, rugs, and more! Latch hook projects are a great use for scrap yarn too.
Continue adding pieces of yarn to your rug canvas using your latch hook tool, remembering to leave a 1″ border on all sides. You can get creative and incorporate fun designs, color changes, varying thicknesses of yarn, varying lengths of yarn, different fibers, and more in your latch hook projects. Creatively combining different fiber combinations and pile heights results in really beautiful and interesting finished latch hook projects.

Learn how to latch hook with an easy-to-follow tutorial. Make wall hangings, throw pillows, rugs, and more! Latch hook projects are a great use for scrap yarn too.
You can see from looking at the back of my project here that I played with primary colors, stripes, and a few different yarns. In next week’s tutorial on basic latch hook project finishing, you’ll get to see the front of this fun little latch hook wall hanging! Don’t forget to tune in. ;)

Learn how to latch hook with an easy-to-follow tutorial. Make wall hangings, throw pillows, rugs, and more! Latch hook projects are a great use for scrap yarn too.

MORE GREAT RESOURCES FOR LATCH HOOK BEGINNERS:

  • Basic Latch Hook Finishing Tutorial
  • Looking for contemporary latch hook inspiration? Here are 9 Things to Latch Hook
  • Tiered Colorblock Wall Hanging – free latch hook pattern

Filed Under: Yarn Crafts Tagged With: cow hitch, how to latch hook, lark's head knot, latch hook, latch hook tutorial, rug canvas, wall hanging

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a knitting, crochet and crafts designer. She first learned to knit at age 8 from a grandmother who saw in her a need for something to keep her busy. She's now a full time designer, video host, blogger & teacher. You can keep up with her designs and more by following handsoccupied on your favorite social network.

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Comments

  1. Jodie

    June 19, 2018 at 11:00 pm

    Hi Heidi. Once again you’ve created a fabulous tutorial! I loved latch hook as a kid and am so thrilled it is coming back as a yarn craft. I’ve included your tutorial in our latest craft inspiration roundup. https://craftylikegranny.com/love-handmade/ Cheers Jodie :)

    Reply
  2. Joanna @DIY Project

    July 8, 2018 at 9:58 pm

    This is so awesome. Thanks for sharing all the clear DIY tutorial.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      July 9, 2018 at 12:05 am

      You’re welcome! ;)

      Reply
  3. Bianca

    October 18, 2018 at 4:34 am

    Hi Heidi
    I found your tutorial really helpful. I was wondering if you had any insight on how to attach two canvas’? I cant seem to find and helpful tips on this.

    Thanks 😊

    Reply
    • Heidi

      October 18, 2018 at 10:32 am

      Yeah! I should do a tutorial on this one of these days (no promises on the time frame – I’ve got a big old deadline coming up in January!). If you look at my latch hook finishing tutorial, you can use the whip stitch demonstrated to hold two piece of canvas together flat and sew them that way. I’m working on a sculptural project right now (more of an experiment) with latch hook, and I used fishing line to get a sturdy join at the seams. Hopefully this gives you some direction to start with! Feel free to reply here or email me at heidi-at-handsoccupied-dot-com with other ideas or questions! -Heidi

      Reply
  4. Ray

    May 4, 2019 at 4:49 pm

    Hi there,
    this tutorial is very helpful!
    I wonder what kind of yarn (how thick) are the best for latch hook?
    I bought some rug wool but they are too thin for the canvas…
    Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Heidi

      May 5, 2019 at 8:20 pm

      Hi! Thanks for the kind words. :) The size of your yarn and canvas should be complimentary when doing latch hook. You can get rug canvas in smaller (more squares per inch) or larger (fewer squares per inch) sizes. Much like you pair knitting needles or crochet hooks with appropriately-sized yarn, latch hook is like a less intense version of that. At the end of the day with most latch hook projects (most often using a 4 or 5-mesh rug canvas) worsted weight yarn will work great! Hope this helps, and thanks for reaching out! -Heidi

      Reply
  5. Jane Hamann

    May 11, 2019 at 2:58 pm

    Hi
    I recently found 100 one ounce little packages of precut virgin wool rug yarn in different colors that I had bought about 40 years ago on a close out sale. . I would like to make something but I’m wondering if you can tell me approximately how many square inches of canvas 1 ounce of four ply wool will cover? If you know this I won’t have to do a test run before I start designing.
    Either way, thanks for your time.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      May 13, 2019 at 12:08 pm

      Without the supplies on hand in person, I wouldn’t have a way of knowing that. But if it helps, here’s what I’d do to calculate this:

      • Cut a 4 or 5″ square of rug canvas, count the number of squares on your rug canvas and weigh it.
      • Then I’d latch hook that swatch and weigh the whole thing again.
      • Subtract the weight of the canvas from the weight of the finished swatch.
      • This final weight lets you know how many ounces of yarn you’re using in that swatch, so you can then divide the number of canvas squares worked from the yarn weight to determine how many ounces per stitch you’ll require.
      Reply
  6. John Kelly

    May 28, 2019 at 9:16 am

    Hi. Iam completely new to latch hook. I have a kit. But can’t work out. The canvas has colour on it. Do I go with it. To latch hook. Or. Do I use the paper. Instructions. And grid. As my guide. For colour. And where to put the wool. Your instructions are very helpful. For a beginner like me

    Reply
    • Heidi

      May 28, 2019 at 6:01 pm

      Is the color on the canvas kind of like a pattern or color by number? If so, I’d say go for it!

      Reply
    • E

      November 3, 2019 at 10:35 am

      If you want the design to be correct, go with the paper instructions. I’ve run into the issue where the stamped colors on the canvas is uneven and can no longer be followed. Good luck!

      Reply

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handsoccupied

Yarn craft designer & blogger, partial to primary colors, vintage style, & most needlecrafts. ✂️ 🎙️Co-host, @seriouscrafts podcast.

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Instagram post 18043011205209234 Happy weekend, everyone! There are several new faces today, so to you, I say welcome! 😊 I’m Heidi, the knitting, crochet and yarn crafts designer behind Hands Occupied. I’m based in Chicago, where I work out of a small studio space, the Hands Occupied Studio. Every week I host an open Craft Night and on the last Sunday of the month we have a Crafternoon. They’re all free and open to anyone who wants to hang out and craft with others (snacks are always welcome!). .
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A little about me: I’m a knit and crochet pattern designer, but I’m really about all things string, from crochet to macramé. Lately I’ve been particularly obsessed with contemporary latch hook and punch needle trends. However, in my recent handmade wardrobe projects I’ve been drawn to everything vintage. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Funny how that works! 😆.
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