Love the Tufted Look? Why Latch Hook Is the Easy Textured Craft to Try
If you've been scrolling through Pinterest or Instagram lately, you've probably seen fluffy rugs, textured wall hangings and colourful fibre art popping up everywhere.
Textured crafts are having a moment.
Tufting, embroidery, crochet and other wonderfully tactile crafts are making their way back into our homes – but there's one old-school favourite that fits this trend perfectly:
Latch hook.
And if the thought of buying a tufting gun, building a frame and finding somewhere in the house to actually use it sounds like a little too much commitment, latch hook might be exactly the craft you're looking for.
So... what exactly is latch hook?
Latch hook is a simple fibre craft where short pieces of yarn are knotted through a mesh canvas using a small latch hook tool.
That's pretty much it.
No sewing machine.
No glue gun.
No expensive equipment.
No enormous craft room required.
You simply follow your design and gradually watch it turn into a wonderfully fluffy, textured piece of art.
Our latch hook kits include the yarn, mesh, latch hook tool and instructions you need to get started, so they're also a great option if you've never tried fibre crafts before.
Why textured crafts are suddenly everywhere
After years of sleek interiors, digital everything and perfectly polished décor, we're seeing much more interest in things that actually feel handmade.
Think texture.
Colour.
Visible stitches.
Chunky yarn.
Quirky patterns.
Pieces that aren't supposed to look as though they rolled straight off a factory production line.
And that's exactly where latch hook fits in.
Pinterest's 2026 hobby trends have highlighted growing interest in tactile, hands-on crafts, including tufting and embroidery, while Etsy has dubbed the current move towards crochet, embroidery and stitched textures the “Soft Stitch Era.”
So while latch hook itself isn't the same thing as tufting, it taps into exactly the same love of soft, fluffy, touchable texture.
Tufting vs latch hook: what's the difference?
If you've fallen in love with those gorgeous tufted rugs appearing online, you might be wondering whether latch hook gives you a similar result.
Visually, there can definitely be similarities.
Both can create colourful, fluffy designs suitable for rugs, cushions and decorative pieces.
The big difference is how they're made.
Tufting generally involves pushing yarn through fabric using a tufting gun or punch tool. Larger projects can require a frame, backing materials, adhesives and finishing equipment.
Latch hook is much simpler.
You work one piece of pre-cut yarn at a time through a mesh canvas using a small hand-held tool.
It's slower – but that's also part of its charm.
There's something ridiculously satisfying about watching all those little pieces of yarn slowly turn into a finished design.
You don't need to be “crafty”
This is probably our favourite thing about latch hook.
You really don't need to know what you're doing before you begin.
If you can match colours and make a simple knot with a latch hook tool, you can latch hook.
For complete beginners, our beginner latch hook kits are a great place to start.
Once you get into the rhythm, the process is repetitive in the nicest possible way.
Pick up yarn.
Hook it through.
Pull it tight.
Repeat.
Put on a movie, podcast or your favourite questionable reality TV show and suddenly you've completed another few rows.
And you don't have to make a rug
When people hear latch hook, they often picture those big shaggy rugs from decades ago.
They're definitely still an option – but latch hook has moved on.
You can now create everything from colourful statement rugs to smaller decorative projects and gorgeous textured cushions.
Our latch hook pillow kits are particularly good if you love the textured look but don't want to commit to a large rug.
A finished latch hook cushion can add texture to a bed, couch or reading chair without having to completely redecorate a room.
And because there are so many different styles available – florals, animals, retro patterns, landscapes, bold colours and modern designs – it doesn't have to look remotely like the latch hook you remember from Grandma's house.
Unless that's the look you're going for.
No judgement here.
Want something even more personal?
This is where latch hook gets really fun.
You can also turn your own image into a latch hook project.
Our custom latch hook kits can transform a favourite photo or image into a design you actually make yourself.
That could be:
- your pet
- a favourite family photo
- a holiday memory
- your home
- a wedding photo
- a favourite place
- or an artwork or design that means something to you.
Instead of simply buying another piece of wall art or home décor, you end up with something you've spent time making yourself.
What if I like textured crafts but latch hook isn't quite my thing?
That's the beauty of the current fibre craft revival – there are plenty of ways to try it.
If you want something a little quicker or prefer working with a continuous length of yarn, have a look at our punch needle kits.
Punch needle creates loops of yarn through fabric and can be used for decorative pieces, bags, cushions, wall hangings and smaller projects.
Or, if you haven't decided what type of needle craft you want to try yet, browse our full range of needle craft kits and see what grabs you.
Sometimes that's honestly the best way to choose a new hobby.
The best part? You get something at the end
There's something particularly satisfying about a hobby that results in an actual object.
You don't just spend a few hours crafting.
At the end, you have a cushion.
A rug.
A piece of wall art.
A gift.
Or something slightly wonky that you are bizarrely proud of because you made it.
And in a world where so much of our downtime seems to involve staring at yet another screen, sitting down and making something with your hands feels pretty good.
Ready to try latch hook?
Whether you're completely new to fibre crafts or simply looking for your next project, latch hook is an easy way to experiment with the colourful, textured décor trend without investing in specialist equipment.
Start small, choose a design you genuinely love and see where it takes you.
Browse our Latch Hook Kits Australia collection and find your next project.
