About Tufting Classes
To participate in tufting, you need to be at least 16 years old. If you’re under 18, it’s important that a parent or guardian attend with you. Both the adult and the minor must be registered for the tufting class.
A tufting gun, while easy to use, is still a complex piece of machinery. It’s always best to stay safe and focused while tufting to avoid any risk of injury. For this reason, we do not allow guests in the shop if they are not taking a tufting class.
For the safety and comfort of all our guests, only one person per frame is allowed.
Depending on the type of tufting class you choose, a single class can take up to 4.5 hours long. We ask all guests to arrive 15 minutes prior to their reservation so we can start class promptly and ensure everyone can complete their design within the allocated time frame.
You’ll want to wear something comfy that allows you to move easily about and won’t obstruct your view as you tuft. You’ll also be standing for up to 4 hours, so comfort is key. We recommend closed shoes. Oh, and if you have long hair, make sure you bring a hair tie!
We have complimentary filtered water available, and we suggest that you bring your water bottle that you can refill! We also offer a range of snacks and drinks for purchase, and you’re welcome to bring small bites and eat in our lounge. There are also lots of great places to grab a bite within walking distance. We recommend checking them out before class. Alcoholic drinks are not permitted.
When you book a tufting class, you’ll choose your design before you come to the studio and have a few options saved on your phone. Once you arrive for your class, you’ll go through the check-in process. We’ll set you up on a projector to trace your design on a canvas, and after a short demonstration, you’ll choose your colors and then do some fun demo tufting to get familiar with the process.
Our team members are available for questions to help you get comfortable with using the tufting gun. When we see that you’re good to go, you can begin tufting to your heart’s content. Once you’re done tufting your design, a team member will come over to check for any bald spots or perform any tweaks.
If everything looks good, we’ll grab it and apply the glue and backing material for you. Once the glue is dry, you’ll have a chance to cut and trim your rug, giving it a quick shave to even out the yarn. When you’re happy with how it looks, you’re free to go home with your brand-new rug!
Our tufting classes are specifically tailored for beginners. We guide you through the entire process assuming you have no prior experience, and that’s the case for most of our participants!
While we do have some customers with previous tufting experience, the majority find great value in our comprehensive demonstration and hands-on guidance. If you’ve attended one of our tufting classes before, you have the option to skip the demonstration portion and jump right into the tufting action!
Just yourself! We’ll have all the tools and yarn you’ll need to get tufting! For safety, it’s best to have any long hair out of the way so please bring a hair tie. To make your class more comfortable, you may also wish to bring a refillable water bottle.
Tufting House is a safe and accessible space for everyone. If you need any accommodations please reach out to us before your class and we’ll be happy to help.
If you anticipate that you will be late we ask that you reach out so we can adjust as needed. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, you’ll forfeit your spot in the class. We do this to ensure class quality for all participants, as well as to ensure all rugs can be completed within the allocated class time. Check out our Refunds & Exchanges policy for details.
All sales are final, non-refundable, and cannot be rescheduled. If you are unable to make it and would like to send someone in your place, email hello@tuftinghouse.com. For details, check out our Refunds & Exchanges policy.
Yes! We can help arrange private tufting classes for up to 12 people. Check out our Private Events page for details.
Absolutely! Our rug tufting classes aim to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to continue rug tufting independently. Once you have learned the basics, you can explore more advanced techniques, experiment with different materials, and develop your own unique style. If you opt to take another tufting class with us, we can help you build on the basic skills you’ve learned with more advanced techniques.
About Design Selection
Once you book a tufting class, you’ll receive an email with some tips and tricks on how to select a design. The designs that work the best have solid lines and/or colors and are simple in nature. We also have a design gallery that people can choose from or use as a guide.
If you’re searching for your own image, we suggest using prompts like outlines, coloring pages, or stickers along with your topic. Here are some example searches: cartoon coloring pages, anime stickers, or video game outline.
Anytime before your tufting class! You’ll want to have a few options saved on your phone by the time you arrive. When you check-in, we’ll take a look at your design choices and help you choose the best option. Once an image is approved, we’ll help you connect to one of our projectors so you can trace the image on your canvas. You’ll use your phone for this, so make sure your phone is charged!
If you show us a design that we feel is too complex, we’ll work with you to settle on a design that we feel will be easier to complete within the allotted time frame. Intricate designs take time, and it’s likely you won’t finish your rug during class. For that reason, we strongly urge simplicity, especially if it’s your first time taking a tufting class.
We’ll work with everyone, starting from the design selection, to ensure that you have ample time to tuft and complete your design. If, for any reason, you don’t finish your design during the class, we have a few solutions available for you. You can schedule a follow-up class to receive our guidance and complete your design, or if you prefer, we can take care of the finishing touches for you.
It’s important to note that these options come with an additional cost. For your first tufting class, we recommend starting with a simple design to help you get comfortable, enjoy the experience, and avoid feeling overwhelmed. This is the simplest way to guarantee that you can finish your rug and bring it home with you!
Yes. We’ll provide a range of colors to tuft your design. For designs that require a specific color, or a lot of one color, we recommend bringing your own to ensure you achieve your desired outcome. If you want to bring your own yarn, just make sure it’s 8-ply acrylic yarn and that you have two cones or rolls of each color you plan to use.
About Rug Tufting
Tufting is a type of textile weaving used to make things like hats, gloves, coasters, and rugs. The process involves using a tufting gun to punch yarn into a stretched-out canvas.
Tufting works by stitching yarn into a fabric called primary backing. It’s specially made to keep that yarn securely in place. Now, here’s the deal: the type of tufting gun determines whether each stitch gets cut or left as a loop on the other side of the fabric. (At Tufting House we use a cut-pile gun!)
Once your design takes shape, it’s time for the next steps. We’re talking about gluing and adding a backing material, usually made of cozy felt, to your fabulous rug. After patiently waiting for the glue to dry, the rug needs to be cut to remove the excess canvas and backing. Then comes the finessing part!
With careful attention to detail, you’ll trim and shape the yarn using clippers and scissors, giving your creation that polished and refined look it deserves. During one of our tufting classes, we’ll show you the basics of each of these steps!
It’s totally different than anything you’ve ever tried, and you’ve got to try it at least once. The feel of a yarn gun in your hands, the pulse of the yarn while it punches into the canvas – and seeing your design take shape before your eyes – is a unique and seriously satisfying experience.
It’s not very difficult to get started at all! When you take a tufting class with us, we’ll guide you through the basics until you’re comfortable enough to use the gun. For most, that takes as little as 20 minutes. Of course, practice makes perfect, and the more you tuft, the better at it you’ll become! The great news is that at Tufting House, you’ll have somewhere you can practice safely and as often as you want.
Starting with tufting can be a costly endeavor. While purchasing the tufting gun and frame incurs a one-time expense, the true costs lie in the materials. Among these, yarn proves to be the most expensive, especially if you intend to incorporate multiple colors into your creations.
Material costs can quickly escalate, sometimes reaching hundreds of dollars just to begin working on a single rug. Taking a tufting class is a great way to test out the process before making the investment of buying your own tufting kit.
When it comes to tufting, the technique relies on finding the right balance between speed and pressure. To create even stitches across the canvas, maintaining consistent pressure is crucial. Additionally, the speed at which you move your hands determines the size of each stitch. It takes practice to master the perfect combination of speed and pressure to achieve flawless stitches.
If you’re looking to learn the basics of tufting, we’ve got you covered with our tufting classes at our studio. We’ll help you get started and provide guidance to hone your skills.
Can’t find an answer? contact us today.
Look no further than Tufting House, your premier destination for rug tufting classes in this vibrant city