You finished hooking a rug, but there is still work to do to complete the project. The next step is to press the finished hooked rug. I learned to do this with a damp pressing cloth and my iron set to the wool temperature. Steam press the rug and then let it dry on the ironing board. Let me show you how.
Watch the Video:
Steam Iron the Hooked Rug:
Dealing with Proddy Hooking:
This hooked rug bunny’s tail was made with proddy strips. If you have any proddy hooking in your project, you want to press all around the proddy section, but don’t press on top of the proddy strips.
The Pressing Cloth:
It is possible for the dye in the wools to bleed when you steam press the hooked rug. To protect the ironing board cover, lay a pressing cloth on top of the ironing board cover – under the hooked rug.
I cut up an old 100% cotton sheet to use for my pressing cloth. Be sure to choose a pressing cloth that is white or a natural color so there is no chance of any dyes bleeding onto the rug. You could also use white or unbleached muslin fabric.
Place the hooked rug upside down on top of the pressing cloth.
Take a second pressing cloth and moisten it with water. Place the wet pressing cloth on top of the hooked rug.
Press the Hooked Rug’s Back with an Iron:
Preheat the iron to the wool setting on the dial.
Press the iron down in one spot on the hooked rug. Hold the iron there until the steam slows. Then move the iron to another spot on the hooked rug.
Don’t iron by moving the iron around while it is pressed down!
Hold it still on one spot, pick it up and move it to the next area.
Repeat until the entire hooked rug has been pressed.
Press the Foundation Fabric:
Turn the hooked rug over so the front of the rug is up.
You can press the empty foundation fabric now. You can do this without a pressing cloth as you would normally iron.
This rug was hooked onto monks cloth.
Steam Press the Front of the Hooked Rug:
Place the damp pressing cloth over the top of the hooked rug.
Use the same procedure used to press the back of the rug. Press the iron down on one spot at a time, lift the iron to move to another area. Continue until the entire rug has been pressed.
Let the Hooked Rug Dry:
Leave the hooked rug on the ironing board or on another flat surface until it is completely dry.
Then, you can finish the rug.
Be sure to check out our other rug hooking tutorials.
Blessings,
~Amy
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