Never use a ruler to draw straight lines on your backing. While the ruler may be straight, the backing probably isn’t. I prefer rug warp and this technique works best on that backing. Rug warp has a very straight and even weave making your success with straight lines even easier.
Determine where you want your mark and place your pencil between the threads. Point the eraser of the pencil in the direction you want to draw the line. Put a finger on the backing near your pencil lead. While pressing down slightly, drag the pencil across. You will feel the pencil jump if it leaves the correct row.
Redraw the line with a marker so that the pencil does not fade or rub off.
A perfect straight line. Great for borders, aligning lettering or drawing rectangular shapes for buildings, geometrics, etc.
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Thanks for the great explanation and directions! Someone gave me some of these hints, but not all. I’ll have to look into the rug warp. Sounds good. Can you hook wide cuts with it too? Does it cost less than linen? That’d be a plus! I’m pretty new at hooking, but having lots of fun with it!
I hook up to 9’s in the “new” rug warp. Smaller cuts are easier to pull up, of course. Dorr Mill revised the threads per inch many years ago and the new design makes larger cuts easier to hook. Use a floor frame, pull the backing tight and use a wide shank hook.
Yes, it costs less than linen. The best part – it is consistent. With linen, you never know for sure what you are getting until you get it. You can order blank rug hooking backing to draw your own pattern or try a stair riser. The stair riser patterns are small and within a week you will know if you like it or not.
Thank you Cindi for the reply! Great tips once again. I’d love a floor frame and a fat shanked hook, but no money for those right now. I just have a little lap frame and I use tacks & a medium hook. Really need to upgrade when I get some extra cash! It’s working for now. Wanted to see if I liked hooking first, then ran out of cash!
I’ll have to try the rug warp though when I can. It sounds good.
Just brainstorming — Try attaching your frame to a small table. If you have one that is just the right size this will work. IKEA has many choices that cost around $20. You could clamp it if you did not want to damage the table. I think having your frame anchored to some support (no longer on your lap) makes a huge difference.
What a good idea! I never thought of it. Thanks for passing that idea past me! I could even try to clamp it down with something like a belt. Or those car rooftop type straps!
I actually kind of like hooking standing up at the kitchen counter sometimes. I was thinking of getting a counter height square table for my room one of these days. I like sitting on my knees too, but they go numb after a while!
I find I turn my frame too. I wonder if I could learn to hook OK without turning it? I’ve tried, but get frustrated. I guess you’re not really supposed to turn it.
Hi Tanya
We have several groups around the Cleveland area. If you contact me I will send you a list.
Teri
Dear Cindi. I am hurting due to not having a rug hooking group in Cleveland Ohio. They are all around, outside of Cleveland, but not in the city, or at least where I can have a short trip to get there. Do you know of any group or one person that I could get together with in my area. I very much enjoy you page. Thanks, Tanya
What is rug warp? How wide is it? How much is it? And what color is it?
I want to make my own pattern to hook. And put it up in front of my
sink in bathroom. Would it be durable? Barbara
Just search for rug warp in the search box on this website. I wrote an article about why I like it and I offer it for sale. It is white like monk’s cloth but much heavier and not prone to stretching like monk’s cloth. It is as durable as linen. With any rug you will want to avoid getting it wet. Mold will grow at the base of the rug if it gets damp and will actually eat the wool fibers destroying your rug.
I want to try my own designs and your site is so helpful.
Would you explain /advise how to put a design onto the plastic type rug backing please?
I’m not familiar with a backing that is a plastic type. Can you tell me more, or give me a call at the phone number listed on the Contact Me page?