In this rug hooking tutorial, I am going to make a hooked rug shaped pillow with a cotton fabric backing. I have made shaped hooked rug pillows before, but I have always used a wool backing. The process used when adding a cotton backing is similar, but a few modifications must be made so there are no raw edges visible.
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Prepare the Hooked Rug Shaped Pillow:
I like to use monks cloth when hooking shaped pillows as it is softer and easier to manipulate.
As with all hooked rugs, you want to start by steam pressing the finished project and letting that completely dry.
Then, cut and serge all the way around the outside of the hooking, leaving around a 3/4″ border of empty foundation fabric.
Clip slits in the foundation fabric on each of the inside corners up to the hooking but not into it. This will allow you to easily turn the foundation fabric to the back. Unfortunately, the foundation fabric will unravel easily so apply some fray check to each of the clipped slits. Let that completely dry.
After it is dry, you can press the empty foundation fabric to the back, being careful to keep your iron out of the fray checked areas. Steam pressing helps keep the backing down better than dry ironing.
If desired, you can baste the backing in place.
Adding the Cotton Backing to the Hooked Rug Pillow:
Now it’s time to get the backing ready. Place the backing fabric face down and the hooked rug over the top, face up. The wrong sides will be together. Draw around the hooked rug onto the cotton fabric.
Cut out the shape, adding an extra 1/2″ all the way around the outline you drew. Press the 1/2″ seam allowance to the back of the fabric.
Pin or clip the hooked rug and the cotton backing wrong sides together.
Use a thread to match the backing and whip stitch the backing to the hooked rug. Stitch through the backing fabric and the folded over edge of foundation fabric. As you sew, you can turn under more or less seam allowance on the backing fabric as needed. Leave an opening for stuffing.
Stuff as desired and finish sewing closed.
Be sure to check out our other rug hooking tutorials.
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