How to start the rug production technique “tufting”
Hello. We are Tufting studio & shop RUGMATAG, which operates a tufting workshop and a specialty store for equipment and materials in Morinomiya, Osaka . This time I have summarized how to start tufting. I hope this will be helpful to those who want to start tufting but don't know what to do first.
If you are wondering, "What is tufting?", please read this article " What is tufting? " first.
Preparing the environment necessary for tufting
① Sound problem
The tufting gun (AK-1) that we carry has approximately 80 decibels. (Approximately 90 to 100 decibels for other companies' products) The sound is similar to that of a hair dryer, but if you live in an apartment or next door, avoid using it at night. You can use it during the day without any problems.
*When people who come to our shop because they are concerned about noise hear the sound of our tufting gun, most of them say, ``It's much quieter than I expected.'' Please be aware that some tufting guns made by other companies are noisy.
②Securing space
It depends on the size of the tufting frame you are creating, but securing a working space is most important. You will also need a place to store your yarn and tools. Also, you should avoid working in a room where there are pets or small children, as the yarn will come out during the process.
③Tufting frame installation location
A popular installation method is to fix the frame on a desk. Use a vise to secure the frame to the desk, but make sure you can use a vise to secure the frame to the desk you plan to use. There is also a method devised by our shop to secure the frame by making pillars using 2x4s and tension-type adjusters, so find the best method for your environment. Tufting involves forcing the gun into the fabric so forcefully that it will move if used on a regular desk. It is best to place the desk against a wall or use a weight.
*When using a projector, you need to consider the installation location. Please note that the installation location and distance will vary depending on the projector you use.
④Securing a place to dry the rug you created
Rugs made with yarn must be coated with adhesive on the back to prevent the yarn from falling out. It will take 1-2 days to dry in the summer and 2-3 days in the winter, so make sure you have space on your balcony. Also, depending on the type of adhesive, it may have a strong odor, so be careful of the surrounding environment.
If you can clear ①②③④, then you can collect the necessary items.
Gather equipment, tools, and materials
*We recommend purchasing equipment and materials after the environment is in place.
⑤ Prepare equipment and tools
Tufting requires several tools. It's a little difficult to gather all the necessary materials, but once you have them, you can use them for a long time, except for materials such as wool, cloth, and adhesive.
☆ is on sale at RUGMATAG
・Tufting gun ☆ ( Cut pile or loop pile or 2-in-one model )
*The tufting gun is a product that may break down. We recommend purchasing from a tufting specialty store that has good after-sales follow-up. Reference article: Types of tufting guns and how to choose them
・Oil for tufting gun
・Tufting frame ☆ Reference article: How to make a tufting frame
・Vise used for frame installation
・Tufting cloth (basic cloth) ☆
・Glue gun (for back edge)
・Draft pen
・Scissors ☆ (for aligning yarn)
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Convenient things to have
・Oil for hair clippers
·projector
Starter sets are also on sale so you can start tufting from the day you receive them!
start making a rug
⑥Place the tufting cloth on the tufting frame
Tension is very important when attaching the cross to the frame. Be sure to attach it firmly, as the design will be distorted if there is not enough tension. We recommend stretching it in the order of top and bottom, then left and right, which will make it smoother.
⑦Create the design of the rug you want to make
There are various methods (freehand, digital), but this time we will describe the method we use, so please use it as a reference. The design was created using a drawing app on the iPad. We transfer the completed design using a projector and create a draft. *When transferring the design, don't forget to flip it over. 
⑧Start of rug production
Once you have finished the draft, it's time to type in the yarn. Once the stamping is complete, apply adhesive to the back side, apply backing cloth, and let it dry for 2 to 3 days. (At this time, the cloth is still attached to the tufting frame.)
Once dry, remove the fabric from the frame and cut out the rug, leaving a few centimeters of the edge. Process the edges and finish the back side neatly. Finally, use clippers and scissors to clean the surface and complete the rug.
summary
This time we introduced how to start tufting. It's a little difficult to get used to, but once you get used to it, you'll love it. Let's create a lot and create the best rug.
Regarding notification of new information
Until the end Thank you for reading. RUGMATAG plans to continue posting various articles about tufting in the future. We plan to regularly notify you of the latest information on Instagram , Twitter , LINE official account , email newsletter (see below), etc. If you are interested, please follow us on social media, add friends to our official LINE account, and sign up for our email newsletter.
