Binding A Hooked Rug...

There are as many ways to bind a rug

as there are wool choices...

but my personal favorite is 

whipping the edge with wool yarn.

I like to use a Chenille needle #16.

This type needle has a sharp tip 

and a large eye for threading the yarn.

Any needle that feels good in your hand 

can be used, it doesn't have to be this type.

I whip the edge using a double thickness of yarn,

so that I have good coverage.

I use 100% wool yarn to bind my rugs.

It doesn't have to be fancy, this wool was

purchased with a 50% off coupon at A.C. Moore.

I will occasionally purchase specialty yarn,

if I am looking for a certain color.

To cord or not to cord ??

I have bound rugs with cotton cord/roping and without.

Using cotton cord provides an even and consistent border.

Every time I bind a rug without cording, 

the edges are uneven and "thick and thin",

depending on how firmly I pull my yarn.

Sometimes, I like that look, 

but more often I prefer a clean 'even' look.

When you use cord/roping, as you pull the yarn snugly,

it can only tighten as far as the cord will allow,

as a result the binding is even and consistent.

( I buy my cotton cording/roping at 

my local hardware store. *cheap*)

I will cut my primitive burlap, one side at a time,

about 1 inch from the hooked edge.

(If you cut more than one side at a time,

you will have a fraying mess !)

Roll the burlap tightly, up and over the cotton cording,

towards the front of the rug.

I like simple, so I use a basic clothes pin to hold a small 

section in place, while I whip the edge. 

Be careful to go 'up to' the hooked area, but don't take your needle into the hooked loops.

(Keep the whipping close together, 

so that no burlap shows) 

Don't knot your yarn, but rather 'lay the ends', 

(I usually leave about 2 inches when starting and stopping),

into the rolled edge and bind in place as

you continue around the edge of your rug.

Corners can be tricky.

A few things that have helped me...

I make sure I won't be running out of 

yarn, as I near a corner. 

I know what you are thinking - 'well, of course', 

but I can't tell you how often this has happened !!

Corners need my full concentration, 

so I don't want to have to rethread 

my needle on a corner - it makes the corner lumpy!

Also, this is where cording can be really helpful,

as you round the corner, the cording keeps everything

moving smoothly.  Trim the burlap as needed,

so that you don't have excess bunching

of fabric, as you roll the burlap over the cord.

After the binding is complete,

I'll steam the back of the rug to make

it relax and lay nice and flat.
I'll give it a basic 'clean up' by removing any 
lint/burlap hair from the front and trimming any wool tails.

~  ~  ~  ~

Enjoy this beautiful day...

Rose