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  • Shop 
    • Buy our book
    • Kits
    • Tufting Machines
    • Finish your rug
    • Cloth
    • Yarn
    • Frames
    • Merch
    • Gift Cards
    • All products
  • Learn to make 
    • Philadelphia tufting workshops
    • Philadelphia ceramics Workshops
    • Online workshops
    • Private Parties & Lessons
    • Community
  • Start Tufting 
    • Start tufting today
    • Compare Machines
    • Finishing pieces
    • Knowledge base
  • About 
    • About us
    • Sustainability
    • Giving
    • Press
    • Fun Articles
  • Tuft in Residence
  • Custom rugs
  • Translation missing: en.general.country.dropdown_label

Getting Started with tufting

How much yarn do I need for my tufting project?

June 23, 2026

How much yarn do I need for a tufted rug?

Yarn usage varies based on three main factors: the size of your finished piece, whether you're tufting cut or loop pile at low or high pile height, and how many strands of yarn you're feeding through the machine at once. As a general rule, we recommend two strands of yarn simultaneously for a dense, professional pile.

Yarn estimates by project size (low pile, 2 strands)

Project size Approx. yarn needed
12" × 12" (30 × 30 cm) ~0.5 lb (225 g)
24" × 24" (60 × 60 cm) ~1.5–2 lbs (680–900 g)
36" × 36" (90 × 90 cm) ~3–4 lbs (1.4–1.8 kg)
48" × 48" (120 × 120 cm) ~5–7 lbs (2.3–3.2 kg)

Note: High-pile tufting (20–60 mm) uses roughly 2–3× more yarn than low-pile tufting (7–18 mm). Loop pile uses slightly less than cut pile.

What kind of yarn works best in a tufting machine?

Rug-grade yarns are the safest choice. They're wound tightly enough for the machine scissors to cut cleanly and durable enough to handle floor traffic. At Tuft the World we carry:

  • Reflect Wool — small-batch dyed New Zealand wool, sold by the cone (~165 yards / cone). Our most popular yarn. Works beautifully with all our machines.
  • Eco-Cotton — a sustainable, high-quality cotton option for tufters who prefer natural plant fibers.
  • Mop yarn — recycled cotton and synthetic yarns, excellent for weaving and experimental projects.

Avoid very fine or very slippery yarns (silk, acrylic novelty yarns) on their own — they tend to slip out of the cloth. If you love a thinner yarn, you can combine two or three strands together for better grip.

Tips for buying the right amount

  • Order a little extra. Running out mid-project is frustrating, especially if a dye lot sells out. Having 10–20% extra is worth it.
  • Pick up a yarn sample card before committing to large quantities. Our Yarn Sample Cards include swatches of every color in our Reflect Wool line.
  • Use a yarn calculator. We built a free calculator at priceyourcraft.com where you can upload your design image and get an estimate of yarn needs per color.
  • Wind multiple colors onto separate cones using our cardboard yarn cones for easy color-switching mid-project.

Still not sure? Ask us!

Our customer support team is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9am–5pm ET and is happy to help you estimate yarn for your specific project. Email us at support@tufttheworld.com or use the chat on our website.



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Before you start tufting, you need to get your design onto the cloth. There are several methods, from freehand drawing to light-table tracing to projectors. Here's how to do it.

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