The process of binding a rug

As with most hookers, I enjoy the hooking process but not particularly fond of the binding process ~ yet it needs to be done to give your rug the longest possible life.  There are many ways to bind a rug and I have tried several ways.  With this particular rug "Brave Hunter" by Woolley Fox, I have decided to whip the edges with the same wool strips as in the border.  I will use up some of the strips I've already cut and they may be in either #8 or #8.5. 

This is the rug Brave Hunter which I hooked with Barb Carroll this past November.  The rug has been completely hooked for several weeks now but as I mentioned I love hooking and binding is not my fav thing to do, so I immediately started working on my Magdalena Eagle again.  But, I really do want to enjoy this rug and I can't until it is bound.  In case any of you wonder..... those flecks of white in the middle hills (not the trees) is the white section of the textured wool I used for that area.

It is very important to do a row of straight stitching about 1/4" away from the last row of hooking.  This helps prevent stress on the weave of the foundation during movement, thus keeping the loops firmly planted.  Then I drew a line about 2" away from the rug and did a row of straight stitching.  Then I usually do two rows of zig zag on top of that to keep the ends from fraying, but this time I did the straight stitch, one row of zig zag and since I have a serger thought I'd serge the edges also.

I will roll this 2" margin forward and whip it with wool strips without a cording.  Some people use cording wrapped with the backing, and I have also done that, but I've also had great success whipping a rug without the cording to fuss with. 

As I progress in this task I'll be sure to post pictures of the next stage.

Again I'd like to say how very important it is to take the time to properly bind your rugs; and that isn't just cutting it and covering it up with binding tape or whipping it.  The raw edges of the backing should also be well protected from raveling because even covered up, with the rug hanging, being walked on and moved, the weave will undoubtedly unravel with time.  And what a shame it would be to spend all those hours hooking and money spent on wool for a beautiful project just to have the wool loops pull out or shift.