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Guides, machine help, and answers from the Tuft the World team. The most comprehensive guide to tufting available.
New to tufting? Start here.
What a tufting frame actually does, what size to get, and an honest comparison of buying one versus building your own.
A real breakdown of what you need to start tufting and what each piece costs — with current US prices, no import fees, and...
The difference between cut and loop pile is the difference between plush and structured. Here's how each behaves, and which one new tufters should...
Rug tufting is a textile craft where yarn is punched through a backing fabric to create a looped or cut-pile surface. It's one of...
Tuft the World's AK-I, AK-II, and AK-III tufting machines come with an AC/DC adapter, which converts up to 240 volts of AC (alternating current)...
This video demonstrates the first steps to getting started: how to feed and thread your AK and DUO machines and other tufting basics. For...
Tuft the World is proud to provide extensive after sales support to all of our customers. Some examples of our unique customer service offerings:
Building your own frame is a great way to save money and get exactly the size you need. You'll need a drill and a...
Ready to make your first rug? Here's the process from blank cloth to finished piece.
Rug tufting is one of the most rewarding crafts you can pick up — and the barrier to entry is lower than you might...
Choosing your first tufting machine is probably the biggest decision you'll make as a new tufter. Get it right and you're set up for...
Why Purchase from Tuft the World?In 2018, Tiernan Alexander and Tim Eads started Tuft the World out of a shared obsession with rug tufting...
Rug tufting is an exciting and accessible craft that lets you create custom rugs with bold designs and lush textures. In this guide, we’ll...
Compare machines and choose the right one.
The AK5 is Tuft the World's newest electric tufting machine, featuring an ultra-quiet Japanese precision motor, a digital speed readout, and an LED work...
Choosing your first (or next) tufting machine is the most important decision you'll make as a tufter. Here's a plain-English breakdown of every machine...
Before you can tuft a single loop, your frame needs to be set up and your cloth mounted correctly.
The AK-III is a pneumatic (air-powered) machine, meaning it requires both an electrical outlet and an air compressor to operate.
Here's a side-by-side look at the TTW machine lineup to help you find the right fit.
Choosing the right machine is the single most important gear decision you'll make. Here's how they break down.
What to tuft with and how much you need.
If you're seeing bits of white or grey cloth fibers appearing on the pile side of your rug, one of two things is happening:...
Tufting cloth is the woven fabric that you tuft into. Not all fabrics work — you need a cloth specifically designed for tufting.
Twisting yarn is one of the most common frustrations for newer tufters — and it usually has a simple cause.
Estimating yarn quantities is one of those things that gets easier with experience — but here are the key variables and a useful benchmark...
Yarn choice has a huge impact on how your rug feels, looks, and holds up over time. Here's what you need to know.
Pile types, design transfer, texture, and safety.
One of the most exciting things about tufting is that texture is a design element — not just a material property. Here's how to...
Getting your design from paper (or screen) onto your tufting cloth is one of the first steps in every project — and there are...
Tufting is generally a safe craft, but it does involve noise, fine fibers, adhesive fumes, and repetitive physical motion.
Good tufting technique makes everything easier — cleaner pile, less wear on your machine, and fewer troubleshooting headaches.
The "pile" of a rug is its raised fiber surface — the part you see and touch. How that surface is created determines its...
Glue, backing, edges, carving, and care.
Tufted pieces need occasional cleaning — especially floor rugs, garments, and pillows.
If you're making a floor rug meant to take real foot traffic, professional finishing is worth considering.
Finishing is where a good rug becomes a great rug. Don't rush it. Step 1: Trim and Shape Your Pile Using sharp scissors or...
After your adhesive is dry, you'll attach a backing cloth to the underside of your rug.
Adhesive is what makes a tufted rug a rug. Without it, every fiber would simply pull free.
Everything that happens after the last tuft: gluing the back, choosing a backing cloth, binding the edges, carving, and cleaning. One guide, in order,...
Finishing the edges of a tufted rug gives it a clean, professional look and prevents fraying over time. Twill tape is the most popular...
Tufted work is finished differently based on the use, presentation, and intended lifespan of the piece. The following recommendations for primary adhesives, backing cloths,...
This is an optional step that is specific to cut-pile tufted pieces. Some tufters prefer to even out the pile of their whole piece,...
Fixes for common machine problems.
Use this at-a-glance table as your first step when diagnosing any machine issue. Find your symptom, check the first action, then follow the link...
When a machine cannot be repaired remotely, it is sent to the Tuft the World facility in Philadelphia.
Unusual sounds are almost always early warning signs that can be resolved quickly. The most common cause is lack of lubrication.
Pile height adjustment controls how far the needle protrudes through the cloth, which determines how tall your pile will be.
The white gear drives the needle bar and scissors timing. Issues with it typically result from misalignment, loose hardware, or hardware that has vibrated…
Motor and power problems are typically caused by one of three things: insufficient lubrication, a worn power cord, or a faulty adapter.
Scissors are one of the most common sources of support requests. Issues range from yarn not being cut at all, to yarn getting trapped,...
Yarn tension issues are often subtle and can result in inconsistent pile height, yarn falling out of the needle, yarn breaking, or bunching near...
Needle problems are among the most frequently reported issues — from bent needles caused by shipping, to wrong needle types, to pile height gear…
The vast majority of tufting machine problems — motor slowdowns, high-pitched sounds, jerky motion, and skipped stitches — stem from insufficient lubrication.
⚠️ Safety First — Always Read Before Starting Turn OFF and UNPLUG the machine before performing any mechanical adjustment or repair.
Price your work and take commissions.
If you teach workshops or run a studio, we offer 25% off bulk supplies. The discount can be combined with current sale prices on...
We make custom tufted rugs to order. Pricing: $30 per square foot for tufting, plus a $50 design fee. Sales tax applies only to...
TTW built a free online rug pricing calculator after years of selling tufted rugs ourselves. Here's how to get the most out of it.
Pricing your work is one of the hardest things about selling handmade goods — and it's consistently the most-discussed topic in the tufting community.
Classes and private events in Philadelphia.
Philly tufting workshops at the Bok Building: class sizes and prices, booking, rescheduling, refunds, private groups, travel classes and local pickup.
How to gift a rug tufting workshop at the Bok Building in South Philadelphia: which class to pick, how gift cards work, and what...
Yes, kids can tuft. Our age policy (10+ with a guardian, 14+ solo), which workshop suits which age, safety, and how to book a...
A tufting workshop in South Philly is a genuinely good date. What an evening looks like, what it costs, and how to pick the...
Planning a team offsite, a birthday, or a bachelorette in Philadelphia? Here's how group tufting works at our Bok Building studio, and why it...
Everything you want to know before your first tufting class at our Bok Building studio in South Philly — parking, what to wear, how...
How do I apply to the tufting residency?Steps to applying to our residency:1. Decide which session you want to apply to. We list our...
Shipping, returns, gift cards, and rewards.
Learn how to redeem Reflect Rewards points at Tuft the World: earn 2 points per $1 and use them for up to 25% off...
Yes, we can ship to overseas military (APO/FPO/DPO) addresses. We send a fair number of packages to APO addresses and are familiar with the...
Purchase orders for organizations: We accept purchase orders from schools and other organizations, with Net 30 terms on invoices.
To get pre-order machines to you faster, we sometimes ship them directly from our manufacturer.
Can I use a promo code and Reflect Rewards points on the same order? Yes. Enter both in the discount code box at checkout....
How we ship (UPS or USPS), tracking your order, local Philly pickup, missed or missing deliveries, and how returns and exchanges work.
Occasionally an order is cancelled automatically by our fraud detection software. Common causes: The card CVV wasn't entered at checkout A card saved with...
When will my order ship? We typically ship orders within 1–2 business days. Orders finalized after our daily shipping cutoff, or placed just before...
Buy a digital Tuft the World gift card, find your code in the email, and use it for supplies or Philadelphia tufting workshops.
We're happy to return or exchange unused items. Returns must be started within 30 days of receiving the item.
Everything you need to know about shipping times, international orders, returns, and the Tuft the World machine warranty.
Global ShippingWe’re proud to deliver to more than 120 countries through DHL Express and UPS. If you need to utilize USPS because you have...
How long between the time I place my order and the time it ships? Orders (that are not pre-orders) typically ship within 2 - 5...
ReturnsDo you accept returns? Yes, we accept returns of all items in their original condition within 30 days of the date you received your...
How do I sign up for Reflect Rewards?Make a Tuft the World account and start collecting points. You can sign up here! Please note that...
Artists, history, and news from the studio.
Tuft the World is turning 5 years old!We are so grateful to have spent 5 years building this little tufting community in Philadelphia and...
We love April because we get to celebrate Earth Day! Tuft the World strives to make earth-conscious choices wherever possible, both in our products...
In addition to looking forward to Tuft Con this March 24-26, we have rug tufting classes up and running in our new education space! Tuft...
Join us March 24-26 at the first ever Tufting Convention, a Tufting Event in Philadelphia!Buy tickets here!Tuft the World is thrilled to be presenting...
Call them Kitsch-Conceptual or Classicism w/Critters—however these loop-pile tufts are tagged, the rugs and wall hangings of @rugburntsoul radiate personality.In 2018, multiple sclerosis caused North...
The first time I saw “Lady Justice,” by Canadian artist Simone Elizabeth Saunders, I couldn’t stop looking. The picture on my phone was Instagram-sized, and...
Wes Bechtler has been tufting for less than a year, but his mastery of the craft has already allowed him to make designing and...
Ok everyone. The next six weeks are gonna be tough. There’s travel to plan, weird Zoom parties to attend, family to navigate, Mariah Carey...
It’s hard to look at a Melissa Monroe tufted purse (or a mask, a rug, a painting, or a video, for that matter) without...
Months ago, during a particularly hard-quar Philadelphia winter, it was a joy to watch the evolution of Tuft the World’s new look. Every few...
Trish Anderson is a fiber and installation artist who has fully embraced machine rug tufting. Her work is vibrant, larger than life, bursting with...
What inspires you?A lot of my aesthetic inspiration comes from my childhood home in Miami. In my designs, I remove vibrant, romantic things from...
What was your first experience with fiber art?Knitting - my grandma taught me to knit a long time ago, and I still remember everything....
Kate Garman is a carpet designer, an MFA graduate from Tyler School of Art’s Fiber & Material Studies Program, and a rug tufting expert. When...
Persian Rugs: Knots of IdentityHand-tufting has an extensive global history. Although believed to originate in nomadic tribes in what is known today as Iran,...
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