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Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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Square Latch Hook Finishing Tutorial

July 1, 2020 2 Comments

Square latch hook finishing tutorial: Learn how to do finishing in latch hook projects with square corners. This is a work-as-you-go method that helps you save time during the finishing process in latch hook rug making. #latchhook #rugmaking #rughooking #rugbinding

Last winter, I spent most of my time writing an introductory latch hook book. (More on that here!) During the design and writing process, several requests came via comments and emails for more latch hook tutorials on Hands Occupied, and for the folks who have patiently waited, thank you! Today we’ll be getting back into the swing of things by tackling how to finish a square latch hook project. Something easy to get us started, but a useful technique that I wish I’d known as a latch hooking beginner!

When hooking a square latch hook project – that is, a latch hooking project with square/straight edges, you may elect to finish your canvas as you work, rather than saving all finishing and binding of your rug canvas edges for after your project has been knotted.

Lost? Let’s talk vocabulary.

Seam allowance in latch hook is not unlike seam allowance in sewing for sewists in the room. Seam allowance is the excess canvas beyond where the knotted portion of your work ends. In the photo below, it’s the canvas that remains plain all around the edges of the knotted work.

Square latch hook finishing tutorial: Learn how to do finishing in latch hook projects with square corners. This is a work-as-you-go method that helps you save time during the finishing process in latch hook rug making. #latchhook #rugmaking #rughooking #rugbinding

Finishing vs. Binding in Latch Hook

In my book that’s coming out this fall and on this blog, I differentiate between finishing and binding processes in latch hooking. At some point, project seam allowance needs to be folded to the back of your work and secured in place with hand stitching or knotting. This is called finishing.

Square latch hook finishing tutorial: Learn how to do finishing in latch hook projects with square corners. This is a work-as-you-go method that helps you save time during the finishing process in latch hook rug making. #latchhook #rugmaking #rughooking #rugbinding
A latch hook project with square finishing done, but not yet bound. You can see how the canvas is secure, but without binding, the edges aren’t as crisply defined or structured as they could be. The corners aren’t completely secure yet either.

In quilting, binding is the process makers use to finish the raw edge of a quilt, preventing fraying and securing layers together. In latch hook, binding refers to finishing the raw edge of a seam, preventing fraying but largely done to hide and reinforce the folded canvas edges and help prop up yarn strands at the edge of a project. The binding process can vary a lot from project to project (or be skipped entirely).  When it is done in latch hook, binding occurs after finishing.

Square latch hook finishing tutorial: Learn how to do finishing in latch hook projects with square corners. This is a work-as-you-go method that helps you save time during the finishing process in latch hook rug making. #latchhook #rugmaking #rughooking #rugbinding
A completed latch hook project with square finishing and an edge bound with yarn and whip stitch.

Square Latch Hook Project Finishing

You may knot an entire latch hook project, leaving your seam allowance intact and untouched. (If you’re hooking a project without square corners, that is the only way to do it- but that’s a subject for another tutorial!)

Square latch hook finishing tutorial: Learn how to do finishing in latch hook projects with square corners. This is a work-as-you-go method that helps you save time during the finishing process in latch hook rug making. #latchhook #rugmaking #rughooking #rugbinding
An example of a very non-square latch hook project that has been knotted, but no finishing or binding work has been done.
Square latch hook finishing tutorial: Learn how to do finishing in latch hook projects with square corners. This is a work-as-you-go method that helps you save time during the finishing process in latch hook rug making. #latchhook #rugmaking #rughooking #rugbinding
An example of a square latch hook project that has been knotted, but no finishing or binding work has been done.

If you’re hooking a project with square corners, you may finish your project as you go, saving yourself needing to stop to finish edges by hand after the fact. You may also use this finishing technique on part of a project if you’re working on a rug with a combination of square and non-square corners.

How to accomplish square finishing as you knot

To finish a square edge, fold the unhooked seam allowance to the back (non-fuzzy side) of your work, aligning the grid of your canvas to avoid a twisted edge.

If you haven’t already knotted the rows of canvas stitches that your seam allowance will be folded over, please do so now. When folding back seam allowance, I recommend using clothespins or sewing clips to hold it in place as you work to maintain canvas alignment. (Similar to straight pins in sewing, but better suited for working a rug. 😉 )

The actual finishing is simple. With your grid aligned, hook your latch hook knots around two layers of rug canvas: the canvas comprising the body of your latch hook project and the folded back seam allowance canvas. Doing this holds back the raw canvas from the right side of your finished project, in addition to providing some strength and structure to your work.

When square finishing the edge perpendicular to your first square finished edge, you’ll notice something. There will always be a small rectangle of unnecessary canvas at each corner. Simply cut out or fold under the unnecessary piece of canvas before finishing its perpendicular edge. “Unnecessary canvas” isn’t an official latch hook vocabulary word – it’s just canvas that needs to be removed to avoid excess bulk at the back of your work. At the corner of a square project, you could end up with up to 6 layers of overlapping canvas because of how the canvas must be folded to create a corner.

Pro tip: If your canvas is falling apart or fraying at the edge, you may want to knot through two canvas layers to reinforce an edge that’s feeling/looking weak to you. Often by “weak” I mean literally shredding before your eyes – lock it down by working through more layers of canvas.

Square latch hook finishing tutorial: Learn how to do finishing in latch hook projects with square corners. This is a work-as-you-go method that helps you save time during the finishing process in latch hook rug making. #latchhook #rugmaking #rughooking #rugbinding
In this sample, I’ve done square finishing, removing excess canvas in the corner, as well as whip stitch binding my edge. As you can see in the corner especially, I’ve knotted 2 and even 3 layers of canvas together to secure my canvas edges and prevent fraying.

About the Rainbow Latch Hook Project Featured in this Tutorial

If the rainbow in this tutorial looked familiar, that’s because it’s from the teaser my upcoming latch hook book. The Rainbow Back Patch pattern will be exclusively available in the book, coming out this fall. Never fear, though! If you’re impatient like me, but also like my design style, I have a few fresh patterns headed to the blog this summer – stay tuned. 😊

The teaser image for Heidi Gustad's new latch hook book, publishing fall 2020 with Leisure Arts
Read more about my upcoming book here.
Image credit: Jason Masters, Photographer / Lori Wenger, Stylist
Square latch hook finishing tutorial: Learn how to do finishing in latch hook projects with square corners. This is a work-as-you-go method that helps you save time during the finishing process in latch hook rug making. #latchhook #rugmaking #rughooking #rugbinding

All images featured in this post are by me save for the book teaser image.

Filed Under: Latch Hook, Yarn Crafts Tagged With: finish a rug, latch hook, latch hook binding, latch hook finish, square finishing, square latch hook corners, square latch hook finishing

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

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Comments

  1. steve snyder

    August 20, 2021 at 3:28 pm

    My wife is having troubles with a project that’s she’s finished. The edges of the rug are curling slightly backward distorting the image around the edges. I’m pretty sure it’s the stiff canvas. She’s tried looser and tighter stitches, but it’s still happening. I though that given time it might relax flat, or maybe we could press it flat under books. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Heidi

      August 31, 2021 at 3:39 pm

      Sometimes curling happens because the yarn is too thick. Sometimes curling can be the result of how it’s being finished. Doing both finishing and binding (as defined in this post above) can help, and also backing the rug. I like to use cheap non-skid rug padding cut to slightly smaller than my rug. Sometimes the rug grip can help encourage those edges to lie flat. I hope these suggestions are helpful, best of luck!

      Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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How to to knit throwing (a.k.a. English) style . How to to knit throwing (a.k.a. English) style 
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In knitting, there are a few common knitting styles. Most often you’re going to encounter continental style and English (throwing) style on your knitting journey. I recently had an old video teaching continental style get a lot of views. Based on the comments, it was clear the people wanted to also see a throwing tutorial, so here you go! 🧶
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Please note that there is a LOT of variation in knitting styles, and one isn’t necessarily better than another. Most often, I’ve found it comes down to two things: how you were taught and whether or not you’re really into colorwork knitting (which can involve a mix of styles). 
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Longer-term knitters who’ve made it this far: do you prefer one over the other? And why? 
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#handsoccupied #englishknitting #learntoknit #knitting #howtoknit #knittersofinstagram #knitting_inspiration
How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on / a.k.a. crochet provisional cast on, scrap yarn cast on
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I read recently that tiktok and Instagram are being used as search engines more and more. 🤔 I thought since I’m going to all the work of making tutorials on YouTube, I should experiment with making a quick version of them for other platforms. There are obvious teaching limitations to vertical video, short-form content like this, but I think I covered the gist of this cast on in a minute. The YouTube version also covers how to unzip this cast on because there was time for it 👍🏻 L1nk is in my profile. 
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I’m very much looking for feedback as I continue to make instructional knitting & craft videos. Sometimes good tutorials are hard to find, and (ideally polite) feedback helps me improve. 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #knititngtutorial #knittersofinstagram #crochethook #knittingtutorial
For the first time in a long time, there’s a new For the first time in a long time, there’s a new tutorial from Hands Occupied! 🎉 The video is live on YouTube & the blog. 
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I learned several names for this method while researching this video & post. Crochet provisional cast on, one-step cast on, scrap yarn cast on - if you know even more names for this technique, please share! 
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Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
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What’s on your needles this week? 
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Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
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Peg boards and craft room organization go together Peg boards and craft room organization go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, as you can see, do latch hook tools and screwdriver organizers! 🪛 
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I think this trick translates to any tool with a thick handle, so leather working tools, punch needles, print making tools, etc. should work! What other tools am I, a needlecrafter, blanking on right now? 
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