Why Is Tufting Cloth Coming Through the Front of My Rug?

October 03, 2026

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: the machine's scissors are catching and cutting the cloth, or small cloth bits are getting tufted in. Here's how to diagnose and fix it.

Cause 1: Not Pressing Firmly Enough (Most Common)

If the machine is not pressed firmly against the cloth while tufting, the scissors come in contact with the cloth surface on each stroke and cut small pieces of it. The same issue causes yarn to build up on the back.

Fix: Press the foot of your machine firmly and consistently against the cloth as you tuft. Don't hover — the foot should be in full contact at all times. Review your quick-start guide for tips on proper posture and grip.

Cause 2: Foot and Needle Misalignment

If pressing harder doesn't solve it, the issue is likely a small misalignment between the foot and the needle. The foot and needle need to work in sync — if the needle position has drifted slightly (often from pile height adjustments), the needle will contact the cloth at the wrong point in its stroke.

Fix: You need to realign the foot-to-needle relationship:

1. With the machine off, slowly rotate the white gear (or pink gear on the DUO) by hand.
2. Watch the needle as it moves through its full stroke.
3. The needle should extend cleanly through the hole in the foot, centered and without touching the sides.
4. Refer to your pile height adjustment guide for the specific adjustment steps — the video collection that came with your machine covers this in detail.

You can always pull out visible cloth bits from the pile before applying adhesive — but fixing the root cause will prevent it from continuing.

Cause 3: Needle Tip Sits Forward of the Foot, or Bent Scissors

If the machine cuts or tears the cloth even when you're pressing firmly, and especially if it gets worse on diagonal lines, check these two things with the machine turned off and unplugged:

• Needle position vs. foot: Rotate the machine by hand until the needle is pulled all the way back to its lowest position. The tip of the needle should sit behind the edge of the foot. If it sticks out past the foot, it can tear the cloth. To fix this, move the foot out a little.
• Scissors: Rotate the machine by hand until the scissors are forward. Look closely to see if they're bent in any way. Scissors that don't push into the cloth straight can cut it.

Also look for a bent needle or a bent foot. These parts can sometimes get damaged in shipping. Usually only very small adjustments are needed. If you can't find the cause, contact support with photos and a short video of you tufting.

Also in Knowledge Base