Rug Hooking Wool

Cutting Strips to Hook Rugs

The width of the strips can vary depending on the style of rug hooking desired, the base or backing fabric used and the type of wool. Very lightweight wool of a perfect color might be used if cut double wide and folded in half. Experiment!
Rug hooking strips are based on 32nds. Rugs hooked with 1/4th inch strips often have instructions that state the strips be 8/32 of an inch. They may also designate #8 strips (8/32).
Strips are cut parallel to the selvedge or along the lengthwise grain. Cutting on the straight of grain is very important, even a slight angle or bias will cut critical warp threads and negatively impact the actual hooking process.
Strips should be cut at least 10”-15”, though with experience a perfect wool strip as short as 4” can be used.
Strips can be cut by hand with scissors, with a rotary cutter and matt, or with a machine cutter. The latter, while much easier and more accurate, does require an investment.
It is easiest to tear a length of fabric into manageable pieces before cutting the strips. The weight of the full width tends to pull and distort making cutting on the grain difficult. Tearing also assures that the true grain line is reestablished frequently. Snip then tear a length slightly wider than 3-4 times the width of the finished strips. There will be some loss but it pays off in accuracy.
To Cut

Stripping Wool For Hooking Rugs

Wool fabric needs to be cut into strips before the rug is hooked. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways.