Latch Hook: Another 5 Helpful Hints and Tips They Don't Tell You!

Welcome back to yet another 5 hints and tips they don't tell ya! I'm your host... just kidding :p. If you haven't, check out our first blog post of this series here. On that note, let's jump right in!

[TIP] 7. You want a new, wooden handled, reputable latch hook.

DO NOT BUY A CHILD’S SIZE OR PLASTIC HANDLED LATCH HOOK. Wooden latch hooks shouldn’t be over $10-$15. You can always snag a vintage one, just make sure it’s NIB (New in Box). There is a play on the hook (hook should wiggle freely) that goes bad when used over time (or if it gets crud in it!), so buying a used one is a no-go.

[TIP] 8. Take creative charge!

Do the instructions say that the strawberry has a face? No, but BOOM! Now my strawberry pillow is an anthropomorphic strawberry pillow + it’s now, one-of-a-kind! Another thing I do before starting a kit — Spot out the things on the colored photograph of the completed latch hook you don’t like or could be done differently. Change it!

[TIP] 9. Don’t be afraid to try something, but be careful.

You can always pull out the yarn latch and re-latch with a different color. Just don’t constantly do this — a lot of kits only offer just over enough of each colored yarn to complete the kit — and when you pull out your yarn latch, there is a good change you will unwind the yarn; ultimately ruining that yarn piece. You’ll learn to remove the yarn pieces with grace... :•).

[TIP] 10. Not all kits are made the same...

Not all yarns are the same length (some yarns are not even cut!), some kits incorporate felt work or additional accessories (like googly eyes or a hair clip) + some kits don’t even come with instructions! If you’re looking for a great brand to begin with, i’d recommend snagging a vintage Bucilla kit from eBay or your favorite vintage dealer! (You can also quickly check our stock of diy kits here.)

[TIP] 11. You could be latching wrong.

Ever latch and the hook snags a bit, but the latch still completes? Look at the ends of your yarn and if it’s frayed / the yarn plys have unwound, you probably unintentionally slid the hook during the latching process INSIDE the piece of yarn rather than AROUND. Simply remove the latch, toss the yarn and begin again. Remember, make corrections as you go.

Well there we go! I hope you guys learned yet a little bit more about making the best out of your latch hook projects <3. Oh, and happy latching :•).