[Must-see for beginners/Check before purchasing] How to make handmade rugs!? How to get started with "tufting"
(Updated August 10, 2024)
Hello. We are Tufting studio & shop RUGMATAG, which operates tufting workshops and specializes in equipment and materials in Morinomiya, Osaka . This time, we have put together a guide on how to get started with tufting. We hope this will be helpful for those who want to start tufting but don't know what to do first.
If you are wondering "What is tufting anyway?", please read this article " What is tufting? " first.
Preparation of the necessary environment for tufting
1. Sound issues
The tufting gun (AK-1) we carry is about 80 decibels (compared to other companies' products, which are about 90 to 100 decibels). It is similar to the noise of a hair dryer, so if you live in an apartment or near neighbors, you should refrain from using it at night. It can be used without any problems during the day.
* Most people who come to our store because they are concerned about noise say, "It's much quieter than I expected" when they hear the sound of our tufting gun. Please be aware that there are tufting guns from other companies that are louder.
2. Securing space
Although it depends on the size of the tufting frame you are making, securing a working space is the most important thing. You will also need a place to store your yarn and tools. Also, since yarn scraps will come out during the work, you should avoid working in a room with pets or small children.
③ Location of tufting frame
A popular way to set up the machine is to fix the frame on a desk. The desk and frame are fixed with a vice, but make sure the desk you plan to use can fix the frame with a vice. There is also a method we came up with to fix the frame by creating a pillar with 2x4 and a tension adjuster, so find the best method for your environment. Tufting requires the gun to be pressed firmly into the fabric, so a normal desk will move. It is best to place the desk against a wall or use weights.
*When using a projector, you must also consider where to install it. Please note that the installation location and distance will vary depending on the projector you use.
④Securing a place to dry the rugs we made
Rugs made with wool woven in must have adhesive applied to the back to prevent the wool from coming loose. They will take 1-2 days to dry in the summer and 2-3 days in the winter, so make sure you have space on a balcony or somewhere similar. Also, some types of adhesives can have a strong odor, so you need to be careful of the surrounding environment.
Once you have completed steps ①, ②, ③ and ④, you will need to gather the necessary items.
Gather the equipment, tools, and materials
*We recommend purchasing equipment and materials once the environment is ready.
⑤ Prepare the equipment and tools
Tufting requires a few tools. It can be a little difficult to gather them all, but once you have them, they are all things you can use for a long time, except for the yarn, fabric, and glue.
☆ is on sale at RUGMATAG
・Tufting gun ☆ ( cut pile or loop pile or 2-in-one model )
*Tufting guns can break down. We recommend purchasing from a tufting specialty store that offers solid after-sales support. Related article: Types of tufting guns and how to choose them
・Oil for tufting guns
・Tufting frame ☆ Reference article: How to make a tufting frame
・ A vice used to install the frame
・Tufting cloth (basic cloth) ☆
・Glue gun (for the back edge)
・Drafting pen
・Scissors ☆ (for arranging yarn)
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Useful things to have
・Hair clippers (for finishing) ☆
・Oil for hair clippers
·projector
We also have starter sets available for sale so you can start tufting the day it arrives!
Start making rugs
⑥ Stretch the tufting cloth onto the tufting frame
When attaching wallpaper to a frame, tension is very important. If the tension is not enough, the design will become distorted, so make sure to attach it firmly. We recommend attaching it in the order of top and bottom, then left and right for a smoother application.
7. Create 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 refer to it. The design is created using a drawing app on an iPad. The completed design is transferred to a projector and a rough sketch is made. *When transferring the design, do not forget to flip it.
⑧ Rug production begins
Once the draft is complete, you can start tufting the yarn. Once that's done, apply glue to the back and stick the backing cloth on, then let it dry for 2-3 days. (At this point, the fabric is still attached to the tufting frame.)
Once the rug has dried, the fabric is removed from the frame and the edges of the finished rug are cut off, leaving a few centimetres. The edges are then trimmed and the back side is neatly finished. Finally, the front side is neatly trimmed with clippers and scissors to complete the rug.
summary
This time, we introduced how to get started with tufting. It may take a little time to get used to it, but once you do, it's all yours. Make lots of rugs and create the best rugs.
About new information notifications
Thank you for reading to the end. RUGMATAG plans to continue posting various articles about tufting. We plan to regularly announce the latest information on Instagram , Twitter , our official LINE account , and our email newsletter (see below). If you are interested, please follow us on social media, add us as a friend on our official LINE account, and subscribe to our email newsletter.
