First you will stretch the burlap in the wooden hoop frame so that the weave is on the straight grain. With the reusable pattern behind the burlap, use a sunny window to help trace the design with a permanent marker.

To begin hooking, the left hand holds the wool strip between thumb and forefinger underneath the burlap.

The right hand reaches down with the hook and lifts the strip end to the top. Continue to lift a series of little loops to the surface of the rug. The loop height should be equal to its width.

It is NOT necessary to hook into every mesh of the burlap. Consistently skip a couple spaces between each loop and subsequent rows of loops. Be persistent. It gets faster and easier with every stitch!

Do details first . . .

. . . then outline and fill each shape in the design.

The background is outlined too, and filled in last.

The back of a hooked rug should be smooth, with no overlapping strips or dangling ends.

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