After the edge of the rug is prepared, folded and secured in place with some simple basting it is time to whip the edge of your hooked rug. I like a whipped finish because it gives the hooked rug a stiffer edge and some added protection from the vacuum. Yes, I vacuum my hooked rugs. I use rug warp backing so my rugs are sturdier and stiffer than linen rugs. I do have one linen rug that I vacuum often but I have to be extra careful to not catch the edge into the beater bar.
What type of yarn should I use to whip my hooked rug?
Use 100% wool yarn. Anything less will begin to pill up and get fuzzy in a short time. Nothing wears as well as wool. In this example I used a thick single ply but I’ve also used 3-ply needlepoint yarn, Paternayan. It can create an interesting edge because you can separate it and combine it with other colors. This is often the only solution when you cannot match a color. For instance, if you can’t find the perfect green, use several greens that are a close match. Take the plys apart and reassemble them into a 3 to 6 ply yarn and whip the edge with the new combination. Including one strand of an accent color makes a nice look also. After several years, I don’t think the needlepoint yarns holds up quite as well as my new favorite, Cascade. I love the brown/black color because it seems to go with everything. It is dark, but not a harsh cold black. One skein whips over 500″ or one rug about 10′ x 12′.
100% wool.
Available Qty: 59
100% wool.
How much yarn will I need to whip my hooked rug?
Make a sample whipping using a scrap of backing that you cut off. Start whipping with a length of yarn a comfortable length. I like about 5′ or 60″. Secure the ends of the yarn the same way you will on the rug. While this test will help you to determine how much yarn you will need it also gives you a chance to test the color. You can hold the test edge up to your rug and verify that the color is just right. If you whip the edge and then have to take it out, that process can be hard on the edge of your rug.
When you have finished the test, measure the length of whipping you accomplished with this length of yarn. Measure the length and the width of your rug. Enter the numbers into the calculator on this page..
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About Cindi Gay
Hi Cindi,
Hope you had a Merry Christmas.
In the above calculations for whipping yarn, I do not understand what “Number of whipped inches” is. You have 4.5, what is this? I love this calculator, I always buy or dye too much yarn for a project. I can’t change the figures until I understand what the 4.5 refers to. Thanks for your wonderful help. Happy New Year!
God bless,
Lynn
I made a small change and added a comment to remind you that the 4.5 inches is the amount of whipping you got done using a length of yarn. Reread the paragraph under “How much yarn will I need to whip my hooked rug?” Does this make sense now?
Cindi,
I am getting ready to finish a round rug. I think your instructions for a square/rectangular rug are pretty clear & easy to follow–but I’m scared of the round rug ;-) Do you have any tips on folding the edges in for a round rug?
thanks! Jen
Be sure to do the straight stitching explained the the Zig Zagging the Edge article. When I am finishing a round or curved rug, I’ll make an extra row of straight stitching just inside where I will cut off BEFORE I cut it off. This keeps the bias edge from growing especially when you start to do the zig zagging.
I am a new rug hooker. Need instructions for whipstitching corners! Article not found. Help!
The corner article is now posted.
I’m not finding the yardage calculator mentioned in “mow much yarn…”
There is just a picture of the heading of the website. Not sure what when wrong. Probably needs to be rewritten. Things change so fast on a website it is hard to keep up. I’ll look into it. Thanks for letting me know.
Hi Cindi, I used to use your calculator for yarn needed for whipping the edge but can no longer find it. I tried all the suggestions on this page, including the scrolling box but no luck. Wish I knew how to do the math. Any suggestions on that?