In-Person Tufting Workshops in Philadelphia: Classes, Groups and What to Expect

October 03, 2026

Want to try tufting hands-on before buying your own gear, or looking for a fun group activity? We teach in-person tufting workshops at our education studio in Philadelphia, and we can also travel to teach your group. We've been teaching since 2018 and have taught over 4,000 people to tuft. This guide covers what to expect, which class to pick, how to book, and how private and team workshops work.

Where we are

All of our Philadelphia workshops are held at the Tuft Education Studio in the Bok Building: Tuft the World x Lobo Mau, 1901 S. 9th Street, Room 501, Philadelphia, PA 19148. Bok is the old vocational high school in South Philly that's now home to a few hundred makers, artists and small businesses. It's worth arriving a few minutes early to look around.

• Workshops are held at the Bok Building, not at our separate production space in Southwest Philly. We're only in the Bok space during workshops. It isn't a shop or an order pickup location.
• There are lots of restaurants near the Bok Building.

Getting into the building

• Dudley Street entrance (1821 S. Dudley Street): open to the public Monday–Friday, 9am to 5pm. You can reach all the spaces in the building from here.
• 8th, 9th and Mifflin Street entrances: these need the Butterfly keypad by the door. Search for Tuft the World on the screen and ask to be let in, and we'll buzz you in remotely.

Parking and public transit

• Street parking is available near the building, but permit rules vary by block, so check the signs for time limits.
• Parking in this part of South Philly can be difficult. Allow about 15 minutes to find parking and get to the room. At peak times, consider parking further away and taking the train, bus or a rideshare in.
• Carpooling and public transportation are encouraged. Bok is near the 45 and 47 bus routes and the Snyder and Tasker/Morris stops on the Broad Street Line, a short walk away. Transit is the easier call for a larger group.

What to expect in class

No experience is needed, and you don't have to be able to draw. Most people who walk into our workshops have never touched a tufting machine, and some of the best pieces that come out of our classes are simple color shapes.

Every format includes hands-on instruction with power tufting machines. You'll learn how to set up a tufting frame, stretch primary cloth, and thread and operate the machines, plus how to cut, glue and finish a piece. You work on your own design, with one project per person per workshop.

What to wear

• Wear clothes you don't mind getting fuzzy. Tufting throws off a surprising amount of yarn lint, and it clings.
• Wear closed-toe shoes. You'll be standing at a frame for much of the class, and there are scissors and machines in play.
• Skip anything loose or dangling, such as flappy long sleeves, scarves and long necklaces. If you have long hair, tie it back.

What to bring

Nothing is required. All machines and materials are provided: frame, cloth, yarn and machines. Everyone uses the same size frame (about 24" × 24"). If you already own a tufting machine and want to learn on it, you're welcome to bring it. Two things are worth bringing:

• Food. If your workshop overlaps with a mealtime, bring a light meal or snacks. The longer classes are a real chunk of the day.
• A design idea. See the design tips below.

Do you keep what you make?

Yes. Everyone takes their finished piece home the same day. Finish is worth setting expectations on, though. In one workshop you'll tuft your design and learn how to cut, glue and finish a piece, but a fully finished, backed and bound rug is more than one session allows. Most people leave with a piece they're proud of and a clear idea of how to complete the finishing at home. Our finishing guides cover the whole process. For a cleaner edge, we also offer an optional serged-edge finishing service.

Workshop options

All classes are beginner-friendly. What changes between classes is the size of the piece you make: the longer the class, the bigger the piece.

• Mini-Tuft (3 hours): $75 per person. You make a 14" × 14" piece. The shortest way in, good if you're curious but not ready to commit a day, or want to test the craft before buying a machine. Snacks and drinks aren't included, but you're welcome to bring your own.
• Drink & Tuft / 4-Hour Class: $100 per person. You make an 18" × 18" piece. Usually held in the late afternoon or evening, and it feels more like a night out than a course. Drink & Tuft includes light snacks, beer and wine, and you're welcome to bring more food and drinks.
• One-Day / Full-Day Workshop (5 hours): $150 per person. You make a 24" × 24" piece. This is the full introduction. Daytime sessions typically run 10am–3pm and can run a little longer with larger groups. Snacks aren't included, but there's time to break for food.
• Private sessions are available for groups in any of these formats. See Private group workshops below.

Can't get to Philadelphia? There's also an online beginner workshop.

Which class is right for me?

If you're on the fence, start with the Mini-Tuft. If you love it, come back for the full-day class. If you're seriously considering tufting as an ongoing practice, start with the One-Day workshop. Most people who take the full class arrive with a design they're working toward. Already know the basics? See Intermediate, advanced and one-on-one classes below. If you like to read ahead, our beginner's guide to rug tufting covers how the craft works.

Planning your design

• We'll cover the basics of creating a successful rug design in class, but it helps to have a design in mind before you arrive.
• Keep it as simple as possible. Tufting is a chunky medium, so think large color shapes rather than highly detailed imagery. Thin lines and small text fight the material.
• Designs should be no bigger than the frame (about 24" × 24"), and sized to the piece your class makes.
• Most guests bring their design and trace it onto the cloth on the frame before they start tufting.
• For inspiration, see what other guests have made on our Instagram, @tuft_the_world.

Yarn colors and bringing your own yarn

• Yarn colors in class: Workshop colors come from the yarn colors shown on our website, but we don't always have every color on hand at the studio. If you have a specific palette, email us before your class and we'll confirm which colors will be available.
• Bringing your own yarn: You're welcome to bring your own, but it may not work well with our tufting machines. If it doesn't feed or tuft properly, your instructor may not be able to troubleshoot it. If you want to use your own yarn, test it ahead of time if you can.

Pieces larger than 24" × 24"

The standard workshop frames only make pieces up to 24" × 24". Larger frames are available at our production space, where we host our residency and advanced classes. If you want a bigger or non-square piece, or want to experiment with your own yarn, ask us about a private session at the production space. Private sessions there carry an additional charge and include more one-on-one support.

Kids and teens

Yes, kids can tuft. Minors between the ages of 10 and 13 can enroll in our tufting workshops, but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the entire workshop. Minors between the ages of 14 and 17 do not have to be accompanied by an adult. For all minors attending, a parent or guardian needs to complete and sign a workshop release. Tufting machines are real tools and we treat them that way, but a supervised 11-year-old can absolutely make a rug. If your group includes anyone under 18, this makes us a good fit for family reunions, scout groups, school trips and teen birthday parties, which many tufting studios can't accept because they're adults-only.

Public classes

• Our regular public classes run mostly on Saturdays (Mini-Tuft and One-Day workshops). The Drink & Tuft evening class is held about once a month on a weeknight, usually every third Tuesday (Wednesday and Thursday evenings have also been used).
• The One-Day and Mini-Tuft classes often run at the same time and get the same instruction. The main difference is the size of your piece: the Mini-Tuft is shorter and uses a smaller canvas.
• Spots are limited. Most classes are capped at around 13–14 people. A class listing may show a 10-person cap because we often run two classes at once.
• Classes usually sell out a few weeks in advance, and Saturday classes often book up several weeks ahead, so book early.
• We don't accept walk-ins. Occasionally a cancellation opens up a spot the day before.
• Studio gift cards can be used toward a class.

How to book a public class

1. On our website, go to Learn to Make > Philly Tufting Workshops (our In-Person Workshops page or events calendar) and open your class's page.
2. A booking calendar loads on that page showing upcoming dates. It can take a moment to load. If you don't see any dates, refresh the page.
3. Dates shown dark on the calendar are open for booking. If a date doesn't appear, it may be fully booked.
4. Pick your date and ticket. Double-check the month when selecting a date.
5. Check out.

Please check our own site for confirmed dates, because third-party event listings aren't always up to date.

Booking troubleshooting

• If the booking page won't load or won't let you continue to payment, try refreshing the page or switching to a laptop/desktop browser.
• If checkout isn't working, the date you picked may be full. Try another date.
• Still stuck, or the date you want won't let you book? Email support@tufttheworld.com with the class and date you want. We can check availability, send you an invoice, and sign you up directly.
• If a class shows as sold out, email us. We can sometimes open an extra seat, or suggest other dates.

How far ahead can I book?

We typically open dates a couple of months in advance and add new dates periodically, especially when demand is high. If your preferred date is full or a date you saw isn't bookable yet, check back. Hoping for a date further out? Email us and we'll let you know if we can open it.

Minimum class size

A public workshop needs at least 4 participants to run. In the rare case a class doesn't reach the minimum, we'll contact you to offer another date or a refund. Refunds typically post to your account within 1–3 business days.

After you book

• Your order confirmation goes to the email address you used at checkout. It includes a link to a general information sheet with how to prepare and how to find us.
• You'll get reminder emails as your class gets closer, including an email and a text reminder 24 hours before your workshop.
• If you bought several tickets in one order, they're all for the same class.
• Can't find your confirmation? Email us and we'll confirm your spot and resend the class details, including directions and how to prepare.
• No date on your ticket? Occasionally the booking calendar doesn't load correctly and a ticket ends up without a date, or your confirmation doesn't show one. Email us and we'll assign you to an available class and confirm the date with you.

Rescheduling

Use the reschedule (change) link in your confirmation emails to move to another date.

• Deadline: Please make changes by 5pm the day before your class so we have time to prepare. Self-service changes aren't available within 24 hours of the class.
• Several tickets on one order: Rescheduling moves all of them together, even if the link only seems to show one ticket.
• Link not working? Email support@tufttheworld.com with the date you'd like and we'll move you manually, as long as there are spots open.
• Not sure of a new date yet? Let us know and we can take you off the current class's list. You can choose a new date later. Classes fill up quickly, so reply soon once you've picked one.

Weather

We plan to run classes as scheduled, even after storms. If you'd feel more comfortable coming another day because of bad weather, you're welcome to switch to a later session with open spots.

Cancellations and refunds (public classes)

Public workshop bookings are fully refundable if you cancel at least 24 hours before the event. You can also reschedule to another date instead.

Gifting or transferring a ticket

Tickets can be transferred to someone else. Just email support@tufttheworld.com with the attendee's name and we'll update the booking.

Private group and team-building workshops

Private workshops are great for friends, family, co-workers, birthdays, bachelorettes, showers, team events, company offsites and school groups. Most team-building activities ask people to compete or be funny on command. Tufting asks for neither: everyone stands at their own frame, makes something with their hands, and leaves holding it. That works well for a group that includes both the person who talks constantly and the person who'd rather not.

Why tufting works for a group

• There's no skill floor. Nobody has done this before, so nobody starts ahead.
• It's loud in a good way. The machines make noise and the work is physical, so people talk over it, walk around and look at each other's frames. It doesn't have the enforced quiet of a painting class.
• Everyone leaves with an object. Not a photo of an experience, but an actual tufted piece. Teams tend to bring them back to the office, and we've had groups tuft their own logo.
• It's forgiving. A piece made of big color shapes looks good almost regardless of drawing ability.

What a private session includes

All three formats can be booked privately, and if there isn't a public class on your preferred date, we can often set one up on a date that isn't on the public calendar. The frame, cloth, yarn, machines and hands-on instruction are all provided, following the same structure as our public classes. Participants can each tuft their own design, or a shared one if your group wants to coordinate. If you'd like everyone to tuft a shared motif or company mark, send it over ahead of time. Large color forms translate well, while fine detail and small text do not.

Formats, pricing and group size

Private workshops are priced per person, the same as our public classes:

• Mini-Tuft (3 hours): $75 per person, 14" × 14" piece. Minimum 5 people.
• 4-Hour Class: $100 per person, 18" × 18" piece. Minimum 4 people.
• Full-Day Workshop (5 hours): $150 per person, 24" × 24" piece. Minimum 4 people.

• Our space holds up to 24 tufters, so larger groups are welcome.
• Workshops that don't reach the minimum number of participants may be cancelled. You'll be offered another date or a refund.
• If you want something specific around size, timing or what the session includes, email us and we'll put together a quote rather than pointing you at a package.

Scheduling

• Private workshops can be booked on most days and evenings, as long as they don't overlap with another class at the studio. Tuesdays and Thursdays are generally unavailable. Private groups aren't limited to our Saturday public class schedule, so ask about Sunday availability too.
• Private sessions can be scheduled outside our listed hours. The hours shown on Google are generic and don't reflect our actual availability.
• Daytime classes usually start at 10am, though we can often be flexible on timing. The Mini-Tuft doesn't leave much time for a lunch break, so plan to start it at 10am or 1pm.
• Our regular Saturday class typically wraps around 3:30pm, so Saturday private sessions can start as early as 5pm.
• We like classes to finish by 9pm, so the latest start times are: Mini-Tuft 6pm, 4-hour class 5pm, 5-hour workshop 4pm. For evening starts, the 3- or 4-hour formats work best.

Food and drinks

You're welcome to bring your own food, drinks, snacks or catering, and we can set up a snack table for you.

Payment

• A 50% deposit, paid by invoice, reserves your date. For studio classes, if your headcount isn't final yet, the deposit is based on the minimum number of tickets (usually 4 people).
• The remaining balance and your final headcount are due 24 hours before the workshop starts, so guests can join or drop at the last minute, as long as your group still meets the minimum.
• To add guests, let us know up to 24 hours before the event and we'll send an invoice for the extra people.
• For groups of only 4, we ask for full payment up front. Any group is also welcome to pay the full amount at once.
• If your company needs an invoice or purchase order, we can arrange that.
• Sales tax applies unless you're tax exempt. If you are, send us your tax paperwork and we'll set up your account. There are no other fees.

Cancellations

• To cancel the whole workshop for a full refund, give us at least one week's notice.
• If an individual guest drops out, let us know at least 24 hours ahead.

Planning tips for groups

• Book early. Weekend and evening slots go first, popular dates can fill up, and a group booking takes the full studio.
• Tell us the purpose. An onboarding week and a retirement send-off want different pacing, and we'll adjust.
• Budget for finishing. Everyone takes their piece home the same day, but full finishing (backing and binding) is more than one session allows. If you want pieces returned finished, or a serged edge, ask when you book and we'll scope it.

How to book a private workshop

Email support@tufttheworld.com with your group size, a few possible dates, the format you're leaning toward (3, 4 or 5 hours), your preferred time of day, and roughly what you're hoping the session does. We're happy to check dates or set up a call, and we'll come back with options and a quote.

Travel workshops

We can come to you for a full-day (5-hour) class at $150 per person, with a minimum of 12 people. The price includes travel and all supplies, and everyone makes and takes home a piece. All you need to provide is tables and a space to teach in. For out-of-town workshops, Sundays usually work best for us. The same deposit, balance and cancellation terms apply as for private workshops.

Intermediate, advanced and one-on-one classes

We don't always have intermediate classes on the calendar, so check the Philly Tufting Workshops page for current dates.

If you already know the basics and want to go further, or you'd simply like individual instruction, we're happy to set up a one-on-one class built around what you want to learn. Email support@tufttheworld.com and tell us where you're located, what you'd like to make and which skills you'd like to work on, and we'll discuss options.

After your workshop

A fair number of people leave a class wanting a setup at home. If that's you, don't rush the purchase. Take a look at our machine comparison first, and consider a starter kit if you'd rather not assemble your gear piece by piece.

Picking up an order locally

Orders are fulfilled from our production space in Southwest Philadelphia, and local pickup is available there.

1. Choose Local Pickup as your shipping option at checkout.
2. We'll email you when your order is ready, with instructions on how to find us.
3. Our on-site hours can vary, so please email support@tufttheworld.com to set up a pickup appointment before you come.

If pickup doesn't work for you, let us know.

More questions?

Email support@tufttheworld.com for help. For day-of assistance, call 214-621-4977.

See all Philadelphia tufting workshops →

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