Latch Hooking

1.      Purchase a latch hook kit. It should contain some cut yarn, canvas, a pattern, and an instruction sheet. Purchase a Latch Hooking Tool if needed

2.      Read the instructions for the kit and learn what colors the symbols stand for on the chart.

3.      Sort out the cut yarn pieces by color.

4.      Begin hooking the kit.

      1.      Begin at the lower left hand corner of the marked off area and take a string of the first color.

     2.      Place yarn around the shaft below the swinging latch. Fold/loop the yarn around the shaft. Loop/fold it around the base of the hook, beneath the swinging latch.

     3.      Push the hook under a horizontal canvas bar and back up to the top. Stick the hook under the canvas bar in the bottom of the first square so that the latch passes under the canvas bar and back up to the top side again.

     4.      Place ends of yarn between the latch and the hook. Pull on the hook to close the latch over the yarn

ends. Take the ends of the loop and put them over the canvas bar, through the latch and under the actual hook. Close the latch and pull firmly on the hook handle so that you're pulling the yarn ends back under the canvas bar and through the original loop. The yarn should be neatly attached to the canvas by a slip-type knot (sometimes known as a larkshead knot).

     5.      Continue across the row, paying close attention to the color chart.

     6.      Continue, loop by loop, row by row up the pattern. Proceed row by row up the pattern until you're done.  Or with my patterns I complete the 10X10 squares.

 Working With My Patterns

How to read My patterns: (most are in the color symbol style now)

  The design is shown in chart form. Each colored slash or Box with color & symbol (Depending on the type of pattern you receive) on the chart represents one stitch or knot.

  The Pattern has Black and gray lines. The gray represent individual canvas lines, the black lines outline a 10x10 grid area.  Starting at the bottom left , work across in rows from left to right ( if you've done latch hooking before and have another way of doing it by all means do what’s comfortable for you). Complete one row at a time, or a 10X10 grid area instead using yam colors corresponding with the pattern color code.

  The Graph N Latch canvas has been woven with a blue grid line every 10 lines, to insure ease in hooking  & Pattern alignment (because the latch and graph lines don't always start or end where I want them to I remark the canvas for each pattern to match my pattern) Left to right stay between the lines, Top to Bottom each line including my marked top and bottom lines receive knots.

   I mark the top of the canvas, and the bottom left as the start point (your choice though).

 A color & symbol key accompanies each pattern chart. This key  indicates the color & symbol of yarn to use for each knot on the chart.

  A few of the more complicated patterns are still in the slash style but most have been converted to color & symbol.

FINISHING

For a more finished appearance, rugs and wall hangings should be bound. You can use either use a sew on binding or an iron on.

To finish without binding, cut canvas at least 3 holes beyond the outside edge of the design, then cut the corners diagonally, fold to back of rug , match mesh and baste in place.

To finish with binding, cut canvas at least 3 holes beyond the outside edge of the design, then cut the corners diagonally away from the pile. 

Then with right side facing you, sew one edge of the binding as close as possible the knotted edge. Turn so the back is facing you, then fold back and sew the other edge of the binding to the back of the rug. Miter corners and stitch down.

 I also suggest that you use a rug backing such as saf-t-bak or they sell a fabric backing in most craft and fabric stores for  non slip  or limited slipping.

Finishing a Wall Hanging

Start at upper corner, sew on binding around both sides and bottom of the rug Then with right side facing you, sew one edge of the binding as close as possible the knotted edge of the top of the rug, turn over so the back is facing you, then sew down making sure you will have enough room to insert a rod or piece of dowel through.

Alternatively you can just bind the rug in the normal manner, then to hang, sew on large wooden curtain rings, slide over a wooden rod, add wooden finials to the ends of the rod and hang.  They also sell clip on hooks or you can sew Yarn Hoops or, when basting the folded over canvas to the back leave the ends on the top flap open so you can slide a rod through.