How to Latch Hook Tutorial: A Beginner's Guide
This guide will walk you through how to latch hook, step-by-step. If you've ever wanted to turn a bunch of yarn into a fluffy masterpiece, you're in the right place. Grab your hooks, your yarn, and let’s get hooking!
Whether you're a seasoned crafter or just starting out, latch hooking offers a satisfying way to express your creativity and produce beautiful textured rugs, cushions, wall hangings and more.
Here at The Crafts Collective, we make latch hook kits to make crafting easy - no fussy planning or lists of supplies you need to get. Simply open the kit, settle down and off you go! Mindful relaxation in a box.
This guide will walk you through the essential steps and top tips to master the art of latch hooking, whether you’re using a kit or not. From selecting the right materials and tools to mastering basic techniques and completing your first project, we’ve got you covered. Watch the video below or read on for the full guide.
What You Need
Instructions & pattern (if using)Latch hook
Gridded canvas
Pre-cut yarn
Sharp scissors for trimming
Preparing To Start
Find a comfortable place to sit - it’s easiest to latch hook on a flat surface to begin with, but a lot of people end up working on a cushion on their laps too. If you do work on a flat surface, it can also be helpful to weigh the canvas down to stop it from moving while you work.
If you’re using a kit, compare each colour yarn with the design chart and canvas so you know which yarn corresponds to each section of your design.
Start by using the instructions below to familiarise yourself with how to use a latch hook and try a few practice knots on the canvas (we also have a video above if you find it easier to learn that way).
Choose a spot and use the coloured canvas and visual guide to choose the corresponding yarn colour to practice with. It’s easiest to practice in the middle of the canvas as there’s less tension than at the edges.
How to Latch Hook
- Fold your piece of yarn in half.
- Place your yarn around the bar of the latch hook
- Push the latch hook through a horizontal section of your canvas grid (ensuring the latch is open).
- Hold both yarn ends together and place them diagonally over the open latch hook
- Pull the hook back through the canvas, closing the latch and catching the yarn inside it.
- Keep pulling the latch hook through and you’ve made your first latch hook knot!
- Pull gently to tighten the knot.
- Rinse and repeat across the row.
Latch Hook Your Piece
Once you’ve got to grips with the technique (the knots don’t have to be perfect!), you’re ready to start working on your piece.
Ensure your canvas is facing the right direction (in line with the visual guide if you’re using one).
You will see that the pre-printed canvas matches that of the visual guide - so you can cross-refer to the guide as you’re hooking to match the correct yarn colour.
Choose your starting point, take out the corresponding yarn colour and start hooking. Be sure to only work on the horizontal bars of the grid, not the vertical ones.
Don’t worry if you’re slow at first, this really is a craft where practice makes you speedier - and there’s no hurry anyway!
Continue working on your piece - in most cases, the yarn colour will be clear from the printed canvas, but you can always cross-refer to the visual pattern guide to check.
Finishing Up
Once you’re finished, it’s time to get a-trimming!
Grab a pair of sharp scissors and trim any long straggly pieces of yarn to achieve a relatively even surface. Don’t overdo it though - the beauty of your latch hook cushion is its shaggy texture.
Aaaand you’re done. Now all that’s left for you to do is enjoy your own cosy creation.