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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.
"How much does it cost to get into tufting?" is the question we get more than any other, and most of the answers online...
Cut pile is soft and forgiving; loop pile is crisp and durable. Learn how each works, pile heights, which machines do what, and where...
Power adapters for the AK-I, AK-II and AK-III Tuft the World's AK-I, AK-II, and AK-III tufting machines come with an AC/DC adapter, which converts...
Summary (Read Time: ~5 min) Every tufter runs into challenges, but the good news is that most mistakes are fixable!
Tufting supplies made for the craft, a 1-year warranty, repairs and spare parts, a support team, how-to videos and workshops from the original tufting...
New to rug tufting? Learn what you need, how to set up your frame, thread your machine, tuft your first rug and finish it,...
Compare machines and choose the right one.
What is the AK5? The AK5 is Tuft the World's newest electric cut-and-loop tufting machine, designed in collaboration with Karida Outdoors.
Compare Tuft the World's tufting machines by pile type and height, from the beginner-friendly DUO and AK5 to the AK-III, and find the right...
Pick the right tufting frame size, decide whether to buy or build, follow two DIY plans, and mount your cloth drum-tight for clean, even...
How to choose, connect and filter an air compressor for the AK-III tufting machine, with hose, fitting and maintenance tips.
What to tuft with and how much you need.
See our 32 stock yarn colors, order a swatch card, and learn how custom-dyed yarn works: minimums, pricing, color matching, timing and mothproofing.
Cloth fibers showing on your rug's pile? Learn the common causes, from pressure and angle to cloth tension and needle alignment, and how to...
Learn which fabrics you can tuft into, how our white and gray tufting cloths compare, how much to buy for your frame, and how...
Twisting yarn is one of the most common frustrations for newer tufters — and it usually has a simple cause.
Estimate yarn for your tufted rug: about 8 oz per sq ft at 12 mm pile with 2 strands, plus size estimates, cone combinations...
How to choose tufting yarn: wool, polyester, cotton and acrylic, how many strands to use, machine compatibility, dye lots, custom colors and bulk discounts.
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...
How to transfer a design to tufting cloth: draw freehand, trace, project or pounce, plus tips on mirroring, sizing detail and planning colors.
Stay safe while tufting: hearing and respiratory protection, adhesive safety and MSDS, avoiding strain, and age guidance for kids' workshops.
Good tufting technique makes everything easier — cleaner pile, less wear on your machine, and fewer troubleshooting headaches.
Glue, backing, edges, carving, and care.
Most tufted rugs aren't machine-washable. Learn how to vacuum, blot spills and spot-clean, what to avoid, and why tufted rugs make poor bath mats.
Adhesive is what makes a tufted rug a rug. Without it, every fiber would simply pull free.
Finish your tufted rug step by step: choose adhesive and backing, glue, bind the edges, trim and carve, and learn when to use a...
Fixes for common machine problems.
When a machine cannot be repaired remotely, it is sent to the Tuft the World facility in Philadelphia.
Learn which oil to use, when and where to oil each tufting machine, plus cleaning, storage and fixes for squealing, beeping, grinding and other...
Adjust pile height, find factory settings for the Duo, AK-I, AK-II and KRD-I, fix auto-firing, and use our quick symptom guide to diagnose machine...
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.
Fix a tufting machine that won't cut, makes loops or traps yarn: yarn checks, scissor opener/closer adjustment, set screw gap fix and scissor replacement.
Needle problems are among the most frequently reported issues — from bent needles caused by shipping, to wrong needle types, to pile height gear…
⚠️ Safety First — Always Read Before Starting Turn OFF and UNPLUG the machine before performing any mechanical adjustment or repair.
Yarn falling out, breaking or bunching? Fix shutter strip tension, foot alignment, yarn feed, cloth tightness and tufting technique with these steps.
Price your work and take commissions.
If you teach workshops or run a studio, we offer 25% off bulk supplies. The discount cannot 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...
Learn how to price tufted rugs with cost-plus or time-based methods, use the TTW pricing calculator, and see a worked example and community tips.
Classes and private events in Philadelphia.
Everything about Tuft the World's Philadelphia workshops: class options and prices, booking, private and team groups, travel classes, kids, and what to expect.
How to gift a rug tufting workshop at the Bok Building in South Philadelphia: which class to pick, how gift cards work, and what...
Kids and teens can tuft at Tuft the World in Philadelphia: ages 10-13 with a guardian, 14-17 solo. Which class to book, safety, and...
Philadelphia has no shortage of date-night ideas, and most of them ask you to sit across a table and talk. That's fine.
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.
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.
When your Tuft the World order ships, delivery times, carriers, tracking, international shipping, pickup, missed deliveries, returns and warranty.
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...
Buy a digital Tuft the World gift card, find your code in the email, and use it for supplies or Philadelphia tufting workshops.
Global Shipping We’re proud to deliver to more than 120 countries, including the UAE, through DHL Express and UPS.
Return or exchange unused items within 30 days of delivery. Learn how to start a return, pack a tufting machine, and when to expect...
How to join Reflect Rewards, earn 2 points per $1, check your balance, and redeem points for up to 25% off, plus checkout and...
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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