Floral Tangle Rug Hooking Pattern -How to hook tips

Floral Tangle rug hooking pattern by Cindi Gay

Floral Tangle -LARGE and SMALL

Floral Tangle was a result of spending a few weeks exploring Zentangles. I found the process to be calming and really creative. There are no erasers, no measuring. You just doodle. To turn a doodle into a rug hooking pattern, it has to be greatly simplified, unless you plan on using a #3 cut. I’ll explain more about this process below.

This pattern is offered in two sizes:

  • SMALL: 29.5″ X 44.25″
  • LARGE: 36″ X 54″


Floral Tangle Rug - SMALL
A doodle inspired rug hooking pattern with lots of places for color. Comes in two sizes, this is the smaller one: 29.5" x 44.25"
Price: $68.00

Backing: :

Floral Tangle Rug - LARGE
A doodle inspired rug hooking pattern with lots of places for color. Comes in two sizes, this is the larger one: 36" x 54". It is sized for SUPER WIDE CUTS but can be hooked with any size.
Price: $85.00

Backing: :

Tips on how to rug hook this pattern

Wool requirements will be posted here when available.

Both sizes can be hooked in a #8 or smaller. The larger is ideal for the super wide cuts. Consider hooking the large pattern with a #8 or smaller and doing your own zentangle doodles inside the areas.

Value study for Floral Tangle with dark background

Value study for Floral Tangle with light background

I colored value studies for light and dark backgrounds. This is not the only way to layout the colors for this rug, but it might help you get started. To color in these line drawings I used a Copic pen, my favorite new luxury. I prefer the C5 for the medium tone. I also used a black for the dark. You can use a Sharpie, but the brush tip is a joy to use and these pens do not bleed through as much as Sharpies do. A silver metallic Sharpie works well for medium also (and is a lot cheaper) but it does not scan for the internet as well – so you see, owning these pens became necessary.

Hit and miss edge on large room sized rugI see the lines in the border on this rug hooking pattern as hit and miss, but you may see them differently. Hit and miss usually works out to appear as medium. The extra few rows around the outside edge will help to straighten the edge of your rug. When you have rows of hooking that hit the outside edge at different angles, they will pull and tug on the backing differently. The extra rows allow space for the tugging to relax, giving you a straighter edge on your hooked rug.


Inspiration doodle by Cindi Gay

Inspiration doodle by Cindi Gay

The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas and is copyrighted. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com

This doodle was the inspiration for this pattern.

I a prefer Micron 08 pen and a drawing book with watercolor paper. It is usually thick enough to prevent bleed through. If you enjoy other crafts such as scrap booking you may already have this pen.

Most doodlers prefer the 03 pen which has a much smaller tip. My eyesight is terrible at close range so the 08 makes lines small enough for me.


Have you hooked this pattern?

I would love to see a photo. Please let me know if it is OK to share it on this website, if not I will keep it private. Be sure to include your full name and home town. If you have any questions or comments, contact me using the Contact Me link in the menu above.

I would love to get feedback on how much wool it took TOU to hook one of my patterns. I plan to have wool requirements for all patterns. To help me set priorities, please ask about wool requirements for any pattern you cannot find listed.

Rug Hooked Footstool – Finishing the Upholstery

This entry is part 8 of 8 in the series Footstool Construction

This post does not have all its images in place yet. I need to shoot the rest of the video before I can get these images. I will place the images (and videos) into the posts as soon as they are available.

Stapling the backing into place

Pull the hooked cover into place for the final time. It should be snug. Check the fit. The four corners usually need a little extra padding. I use a 2 foot dowel rod to push the stuffing into the corners. You can use whatever you have on hand or buy polyfill. This will take some time, be patient.

Turn the footstool over and pull the backing tight. One way is to have someone lean heavily on the footstool to press the foam down. Starting at the center on one side staple the backing in place. Place the staples a few inches apart until you have the entire backing stapled down. Neatly fold the backing at the corner. Think about wrapping a gift. Once it is in place, add additional staples to securely hold the backing. Trim the excess backing if necessary.

Cover the bottom

If you are going to attach a label – and I recommend that you do – sew it to the lining fabric now. This is the step I always forget in my rush to get the footstool done. You can use the sewing machine if you do it now. There are instructions on my website about how to print your own labels.

Cut your chosen fabric for the bottom about an inch bigger than the bottom of the footstool. Be sure to measure this. Be sure this fabric is something very thin. The dimensions will have changed now that the hooking is in place.

Fold under the center on each side and staple into place. Work your way from the center to the corners. The staples will show until we cover them. Keep them in a straight line so your gimp will cover them completely.

Once the stapling is complete, glue the gimp over the staples.

Attach the feet

Cut the lining with an “X” using a razor blade where the feet will be attached. You can feel through the fabric to locate the predrilled holes. These holes are necessary so that the cover will not get caught and twisted when the feet are screwed in place.

Screw on all four feet. Attach a rubber screw on tip if desired to the bottom of the footstool to protect your floor to prevent slipping or a plastic for felt pad tip to protect your floors. Which one you use will depend on your needs.
Attach feet.

Now go put your feet up and relax.
Video unavailable

Make your own rug hooked footstool

Annie's Flower Power rug hooked footstool by Cindi GayI have several footstool patterns available. I am posting complete instructions (videos are still being edited) on how to build your own using simple 2x4s, plywood and foam. There is a complete cutting diagram for the wood and the foam. I also have instructions on how to finish your hooking so you can complete your rug hooked footstool.
Here are the list of instructions available so far:
  1. Footstool Construction Material List
  2. Footstool Feet - Where to Get Them
  3. Footstool Feet - Staining
  4. Build the Box
  5. Adding the foam
  6. Preparing the Backing
  7. Sewing up the Sides
  8. Upholstery and Finishing Touches

These instructions are still a rough draft. If you have any questions be sure to ask. I will be adding the videos and updates as I can. Be sure to visit again before you dig into your project so you have the latest information. A PDF with all the instructions in one place will be available for download once I have everything written up and finalized. It is not ready yet.

Rug Hooked Footstool – Sew the side seams

Sewing the side seams on a rug hooked footstool

This method of sewing the seams is the easiest ever! I will always be grateful to Kim Nixon for showing me this technique years ago. It made me fearless about sewing seams for any three dimensional hooking such as footstools, purses or dolls.To … [Continue reading]

Rug Hooked Footstool – Prepare the pattern for finishing

Square pocketful hooked by Gail Soileau

If you haven't built the footstool yet, get it built and attach the foam BEFORE you cut the edge off your hooking. Test fit your hooking to your stool. There are so many variables that could throw the fit off. If you need to add a row or two, do it … [Continue reading]

Rug Hooked Footstool – Adding the Foam

Foam added to rug hooked footstool frame

You gathered the materials, ordered the feet, stained them and built to box. Now you need to add the foam. I used the green high density foam because I think my older footstools have gone a bit flat. I'm hoping the higher quality foam will hold up … [Continue reading]

Rug Hooked Footstool – Build the Box

Completed frame for your rug hooked footstool. Ready for the foam.

Review the material list to cut the wood to size.The construction does not need to be perfect. The box will be covered with foam and then covered with your rug hooking. If you stain the feet before you construct the box you can use the 2x4's to … [Continue reading]