[Must-see for beginners] What is tufting? An explanation of the latest craftsmanship
(Updated August 2024)
Hello. We are Tufting studio & shop RUGMATAG, a tufting workshop and equipment/materials specialist store in Morinomiya, Osaka.
This time, I have summarized what tufting is, to begin with. I hope this will be of some help to those who have the question, "I've been hearing a lot about tufting lately, but what is it?"
Tufting has recently become a common sight on Japanese television and social media.
If you search for "Tufting" on social media, you will see many people both in Japan and abroad making their own rugs in their homes, garages, or other workshops.
A few years ago, an American artist created a piece of art using a tufting gun and uploaded it to social media, where it became a hot topic and has since spread around the world.
*It started to spread in Japan in 2021
It is fascinating to see how the yarn is woven into the fabric using a tufting gun, a machine similar to a hand sewing machine, to complete the rug, and when you see the finished rug, it makes you wonder, "Can I make that myself?"
Tufting is the name of a fabric manufacturing technique.
Tufting is a technique used to make fabric. It has long been used by Japanese carpet companies to make rugs and mats, but its popularity is declining.
The tufting guns used by Japanese rug companies (sometimes called hook guns by rug manufacturing companies) are industrial grade and the machines are heavy, weighing nearly 4kg.
One of the factors that sparked this boom was the production of tufting guns that are household size and weigh around 1.4 kg, with performance optimized for amateurs .
The appeal of tufting
Home tufting is possible for anyone who has the ability to set up a work environment at home.
Some people prepare their own designs, while others create their favorite characters. Even if you can't draw, you can make a rug with your favorite design by transferring and tracing the prepared design with a projector. Some people hand-draw their designs directly onto the fabric, so people can enjoy making rugs in a way that suits their own style.
*If you create a work, please use it for personal use and at your own risk without posting it on social media.
The tufting gun used to inject the yarn weighs 1.4 kg.
Pressing the gun into the fabric while working can be quite difficult and physically demanding, to the point that you may break a light sweat.
*Some people may experience muscle pain at first because they will be using muscles that they don't normally use and are prone to using unnecessary force.
I trace the design onto the fabric, then concentrate to hammer the yarn into the tufting gun. It's an exciting feeling to see the rug I want to make and the design I want take shape.
The sense of accomplishment and joy we feel when we complete something is a great motivator for us.
Tufting can be enjoyed by a wide range of people , from those who are already involved in artistic activities and want to incorporate tufting as a new form of expression, to those who think they are not good at making things themselves.
The rug you make would look great in your favorite spot in your home, or as a piece of art to hang on the wall.
It also makes a great gift for friends, people who have helped you, or people who run shops. It will be something special for them too.
Many people also sell the rugs they make at handmade events.
We at Ragmatag believe that in Japan, where manufacturing has declined, this could be one of the opportunities to rediscover the appeal of tufting.
summary
This time, we introduced what tufting is. If after reading this article you feel even a little like "I want to give tufting a try!", please take a look at this article on how to get started with tufting . We have a physical store in Morinomiya, Osaka, where we actually sell equipment and materials, and we also hold workshops in the studio attached to the store, so if you want to "give it a try!", please feel free to join us here as well.
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.
