Rug Hooking Patterns • Penny Rug Wool • Rug Hooking Supplies
Guidelines: Choosing Wool Fulling Wool Cutting Strips
What Wool is Right for Rug Hooking?
Weight
The weight of the wool chosen for rug hooking is important not only for the "loo k" of the finished product but for the "ease" of actually creating the loops. Wool flannels and wool suitings usually retain their soft hand and firmness after fulling. Most wool coating has a thickness and/or napped finish that makes it prohibitively heavy after fulling. While beautiful, a wool challis is usually too lightweight and flimsy even after several fulling treatments.
Denverfabrics.com has invested in sophisticated equipment to determine the per square yard weight of each fabric we sell. While this information helps a seamstress compare fabrics and determine which is suitable for the intended garment, this weight is especially important for rug hooking. As a general rule weights of 5.5 oz. to 10 oz. per square yard are suitable. However, yardage slightly over or under this suggested range can be a perfect choice after it is fulled. Note: Denver Fabrics is now listing the liner yard (running yard) weight in addition to the square yard weight but only for those wools suitable for rug hooking.
Finish and even dye color can effect how a wool reacts in the fulling process. Weight alone can not be the only guide to suitability for rug hooking. Any wool choice whether recycled or new, is an experiment until fulling, stripping and hooking is complete.
Weaves & Textures
Novelty weaves and textured wool can make wonderful additions to a rug. The design that is so noticeable on the bolt is softened, sometimes even disappearing in the fulling process. A plaid carefully cut, can produce strips with several very different colors.The changing colors within each strip can create a pleasing shading or mottling effect in a rug. Plaids, herringbones and tweeds are great choices for over dying, which will further extend the uses for a single piece of wool.
Crepe, gabardine and twill weaves are normally unsuitable for making hooked rugs as they are too firm to full and hook properly. But for a tiny accent or art rug, even these might be considered.
What Wool is Right for Rug Hooking?
Continue to next page
Buying Wool for Rug Hooking
The original hooked rugs were created using recycled wool usually from deconstructed garments. However since the advent of synthetic fibers, there are fewer outgrown and worn out wool garments in our closets. Today, the craft of rug hooking is heavily reliant on new wool.
"As a general rule weights of 5.5 oz. to 10 oz. per square yard are suitable for rug hooking." Information on fulling wool at home can be found on page 2 of our Guidelines.