Locker Hook Tutorial: Finishing Touch

Now you have seen my Locker Hooked tutorial on the Basic Locker Hooked Preparation and Hook-Loop-Lock, and probably have finished all the hook loops instructions up to this point (pattern here). In the next step, I am going to show you how to tidy up the locker hooked project. The process involves hiding away all the ends (fabric strips and locking yarn) and cover up the back of the work.

I am so proud of myself to come out with these locker hooked coasters with the hook loop technique! I brought them to Starbucks one afternoon when I needed a coffee kick to get my brains going. Took some photos of them with the coffee mug for the keepsake as I am going to mail this to Diana, the lucky winner who won them in my January Giveaway Draw. Well, I can always reproduce them, but the feeling will be different.

I hope you enjoy these 3 parts of the hook loop tutorials. Just like all my handmade and tutorials, I have put a lot of effort into them because I believe beautiful crafts are meant to be shared and not to be kept to myself. Please throw in any questions or comments as it is always opened for you. I will try my best to answer, if I can’t, I believe Theresa would be happy to help.

Also, you should get a copy of Theresa‘s “Hook, Loop ‘n’ Lock: Create Fun and Easy Locker Hooked Projects” she has plenty of beautiful locker hook projects and patterns there.

Part 1: Basic Locker Hook Preparation
Part 2: Let’s Hook And Lock The Loops!!!

Hiding The Ends
Turn to the back, bring all the ends to the front by using a tapestry needle. Insert the needle to the next square of the end, pass the end through the eye of the needle and pull it over to the front. Never use the same square when passing the ends from back to front as you will undo your last loop.

the back of the coaster is so tidy…

The front is full of “ends”.

Just like looping the ends of the border in the previous post, traverse the end by using the tapestry needle and bring them into the loops and hide it there. Trim off the excessive length. If you are afraid that end will come off for some heavy usage project eg. rug, you can apply some glue to the end.
Do the same to the locking yarn ends.

After all the ends are hidden!

Handling The Back
Iron on a piece of interfacing with the size smaller than the border. The loops will be extra secure if you do this step. The interfacing will glue the fabric in place and hence further lock it there.
Cut a piece of lining fabric for the back of the coaster with the size exactly to the dimension of the coaster. Fold the 4 edges in so that it is slightly smaller than the coaster, iron it to fix the fold.

Place it on the back of the coaster and secure it with pins.

Stitch them up with slip stitch. Stitching on the coaster.

Stitching on the lining.
You can use heatnbond double-sided adhesive interfacing for non-wash projects, in that case, you don’t have to fold the edges and stitch them up, just cut the lining to the exact size you want, iron it with heatnbond onto the coaster’s back.
Personally, I like to stitch them up though it is more time consuming, I like everything to be long-lasting and flexible, as I never know if I will wash the project one day even though it is just an ornament, it will cover with dust over time, right!

The locker hook coasters are ready to get into service!!!!