A question we are asked all the time is, "How much wool do we need to cover this area?"

There are many experienced rug hookers who can casually fold fabric so many times over the pattern and give you a confident and probably accurate answer.

Unfortunately I can't do that and, as an old math teacher, I do it the numbers way: First, determine the area in square inches of foundation to be covered. Second, know which size cut you are using. For a #3 cut, a 3"-by-12" strip will fill in a 3"-by-3" square or 9 square inches. One yard of fabric will cover 486 square inches, or a space 22"-by-22".

This of course is a guideline assuming no waste, and if you hook about as high as the strip is wide and don't pack it.

Using a #4 head you will use bout 25% more fabric and using a #6 head it will take a 3"- by-18" strip to cover the same 9 square inches — and one yard will cover only 324 square inches as opposed to 486 for a #3.

The wider the cut the more fabric it takes to cover the same area.

Hope this is helpful — but if you have any questions, please don' t hesitate to call.

Terry Dorr