Tufting,
within reach.
You can make your own rug.
Tufting is a craft where you shoot yarn into cloth with a special gun. It looks difficult, but
getting started is surprisingly easy.
Learn what it is, try it at a studio in Japan, or start at home — everything you need to
know is here.
What is tufting?
Tufting means shooting yarn into cloth with a tufting gun.
It's closer to painting than to knitting: you follow the lines and fill in the shapes. No
embroidery or sewing experience needed.
An A4-sized piece takes about 1–2 hours to tuft.
- 01 Pull the trigger and the gun punches yarn through the cloth from the back to the front.
- 02 Tuft the outlines first, then fill in the shapes. It feels a lot like coloring in a picture.
- 03 Finish the back with glue, trim the pile on the front, and it's done.
Find a workshop in Japan
Make your own rug in a few hours. Studios provide all the tools and materials, so you can
turn up empty-handed.
Some people come back again and again, others just enjoy it once. Find a studio near you.
* How your piece is finished and handed over varies from studio to studio.
Starting at home
All you need is space for a frame and a set of tools. It's a big purchase, so we recommend
trying it once at a studio before you decide.
What to buy is covered in
Choosing your first tools.
Yarn fibers fly around while you tuft, and you use glue to finish the rug. Choose a well-ventilated place to work.
Tools and materials
Tufting gun There are cut pile and loop pile guns, and guns for different pile heights. Most people start with a cut pile gun. From ¥27,800 
Frame A frame to stretch the cloth tight. Many people build their own from wood. From ¥18,000 
Tufting cloth The backing cloth you tuft into. Materials vary, but you need cloth made for tufting. From ¥2,900 
Yarn (for tufting) Yarn comes in many materials. Depending on its thickness, you thread 2–5 strands through the gun together. From ¥979 per ball 
Rug glue Spread on the back to hold the yarn in place. Leave it to dry for about a day. From ¥1,980 How a rug is made
Five steps from start to finished rug. There is a step-by-step guide with photos, too.
- 01 Stretch the cloth on the frame Pull it tight enough to make a sound when you flick it, with the weave running straight up and across. It's the most physically demanding step, but it makes all the difference to how easily you can tuft.
- 02 Draw the design You tuft from the back of the rug, so draw the design mirrored. Don't press down hard with the pen — glide it along, moving your whole hand.
- 03 Tuft the yarn Hold the gun at 90 degrees to the cloth and move it along with its foot pressed flat against the cloth. For each color, tuft the outline first, then fill in the inside.
- 04 Glue and finish the back Spread glue evenly over the back to lock the yarn in place. Once it's dry, add a backing such as mesh or felt.
- 05 Trim the surface Shave the pile lightly with clippers, several times over, to even it out. This makes the edges between colors crisp and clean.
FAQ
Can a complete beginner do it?
Yes. The basics of using a tufting gun take very little time to learn, and you'll get the hang of it quickly. At a workshop, the instructor shows you how to handle the gun and lets you practice first, so even people who don't think of themselves as handy soon feel comfortable.
How long does it take to make one piece?
It depends on the size, the design and the number of colors, but an A4-sized piece takes about 1–2 hours and a 40 × 40 cm piece about 2–4 hours. After that, the glue needs about a day to dry before you finish the rug.
Is the noise a problem in an apartment?
If you're considerate, for example by working during the day, it rarely causes trouble, even in an apartment building. Heard from 1 m away, the gun is about as loud as a typical vacuum cleaner. From 4–5 m away, it's about as quiet as a kitchen exhaust fan or a heater.
Can I wash the rug I made?
It's best not to wash the whole rug. We recommend vacuuming it gently and wiping only the dirty spots with a little diluted mild detergent.
Can I take part with my children?
Age limits and whether parents and children can take part together vary by studio. If you'd like to go with children, check the studio's website or social media for its rules before you book.
I started this site to be the first place people turn to when they get curious about
tufting or want to give it a try.
Everything here is based on the tools I have used and my own experience.
— MakeRug Ojisan