Crochet Rug Hooking...a tutorial.

After I made my rug, I was asked by several of you how I did it.  I thought of how to do a tutorial for this, since there are so many instructions, but in the end I just went for it.  This tutorial is done by me and my left-handed backwardness, so excuse me if it looks off to those of you who are of the right-handed persuasion.

I take absolutely no credit for this idea....it is apparently a very old craft used for generations.  This tutorial is how I did my rug, but there are many different ways to come up with a similar look. 

If you are looking for other instructions I found some here, here, and here  

 Tutorial....

**************************************************

Strip ripping and making fabric yarn balls.

Cut your fabric at about the 1 1/2 inch mark.

Tear the fabric the entire length leaving a one inch space at the end (this is how you will avoid having to make knots in your strips....leaving one continuous length of fabric.

Then make a cut 1 1/2 inches from the last cut. And tear to the end of this strip...leaving a 1 inch space at the end to continue your next strip.

Continue just like this until you have made strips of all the fabric.

In case you do over rip or forget about the 1 inch space at the end to continue the next strip, don't worry.  Just secure a knot with the two strips, this is also how you would change over fabric choices while you are making the rug.

Don't panic, the nub of the knot will be absorbed into the whole look of the rug, or even better, wind up on the bottom of the rug where you don't even see it.

Once your strips are torn, wind the continuous length of fabric around your hand and eventually for it into a ball.

Making the rug...

The basic stitches used in this rug.  These are right handed instructions.

Use a large hook...I used a size N for this tutorial, but I also have a size Q, you can adjust your strips to be smaller or bigger according to your size hook.  You can get your hooks at most craft stores or online.

This gets tricky, but after a few rounds, you will get the gist of the idea.  Basically it is a feel as you go sort of project.

Finally, it will begin to resemble a rug.  You want to continually check the symmetry of the rug and make sure that it lies flat.

To join a new color or fabric, knot it to the end of the fabric that you are finished working with. You can alternate colors and patterns doing just one or 4 rounds of a single fabric...it is all up to you and your preference. 

I hope that this has been helpful.  It is just my spin on an ancient craft. 

One that I am currently addicted to.  

*Grin*