Everything Yarn: Our Tips, Tricks & Advice

February 17, 2022

When it comes to tufting, yarn is so much more than sweaters. The type of yarn you choose has a huge impact on the look, feel, and durability of your finished piece. Here's what you need to know:

Fiber content

Wool is the gold standard for rug tufting. It's durable, naturally resilient, and holds up beautifully over time. Acrylic and blended yarns can also work, but may be trickier to tuft with and less durable in the long run. Cotton tends to be too fine and soft for most tufting guns.

Yarn weight

Most tufting guns work best with a bulky or super bulky weight yarn. Thinner yarns can slip out of the cloth more easily, while very thick yarns may jam your machine. Check the specs for your specific machine to find the ideal weight range. See our yarn collection for options that work well with our machines.

Feeding your yarn

How you feed your yarn into the machine matters. Make sure the yarn flows freely without resistance — any snags or tangles can cause skipped stitches or jams. Using a yarn bowl or cone stand can help keep things moving smoothly.

Threading your machine

Proper threading technique is key to smooth tufting. If you're having trouble, check the threading guide that came with your machine, or contact us at support@tufttheworld.com for help.

Keeping your machine running well

A well-oiled machine is a happy machine. Regular maintenance will help your tufting gun last longer and perform better.

Cutting issues

If your cut-pile machine isn't cutting properly, this is often a yarn issue. Very soft or fine yarns tend to bend against the blades rather than being cleanly cut. Switch to a coarser or heavier yarn and see if that helps.

Yarn staying in the cloth

If your yarn keeps falling out of the cloth after tufting, check out our article on why yarn won't stay in the cloth for troubleshooting tips.

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