What types of yarn should I use for tufting?

Are you starting tufting, but you don't know what type of thread to use? Don't worry, this article is for you. We'll guide you so you can start making your tufted creations with the right yarn. With each tufted creation, we invite you to ask yourself the following questions:

“What will be the use of my creation once finished? How durable should my tufted work be?” As you will have understood, the choice of your thread will depend on the use of your creation.

There are many types of wire, some have advantages and others have disadvantages. Today we are going to highlight two very popular categories:

ACRYLIC and WOOL

Wool: If your rug is intended to be placed on the floor, we advise you to use New Zealand wool. Although it may appear a little dull and rougher compared to acrylic yarn, your rug will be more durable and will retain its shape, even after repeated use.

Acrylic: If, on the contrary, you plan to create a wall decoration or a rug that will not undergo frequent traffic, we advise you to opt for acrylic yarn. Its main drawback is its lack of resistance over time when used for floor elements; however, its affordability, softness, and wide variety of colors available make it an excellent choice not only for beginners, but also for experienced tufters.

Now that you know which yarn to choose, we're going to talk about what thickness of yarn you should use for tufting. We can quickly feel lost when faced with all the sizes of wire thickness available in stores. Still, thickness ultimately doesn't matter as long as you can fit it through the eyelet of your tufting gun. The thickness of the thread can, however, affect the final appearance of your work. You can buy acrylic yarn specially made especially for tufting, which you can find here, or buy balls of yarn available in any store.

Many people recommend using threads suitable for size 3 or 4 needles. However, this involves doubling the thread, that is, passing two threads at the same time through the eyelet, which which results in more yarn consumption than necessary. Instead, we suggest opting for a thicker yarn, which will allow you to use a single strand of yarn and still get a sufficiently thick rug.

Please note, if you buy threads already wound on cones, you can use them directly for the tufting activity. However, if you opt for balls, we strongly recommend using a manual winder . Indeed, the tufting gun requires a lot of thread, and a ball will not be able to unwind the thread quickly enough, which risks causing the thread in your tufting gun to jump and forcing you to rethread your thread too frequently. Using thread already wound on cones or using a hand winder will save you the frustration caused by how often the thread will come loose from your tufting machine.

After that, all you have to do is insert your thread into your tufting gun using a wool threader , an essential accessory for good tufting practice.

We hope that this information will allow you to approach the start of your tufting practice with more confidence and that we have answered your questions. The world of tufting is vast and creative, and although the choice of thread may seem like a detail, it is a fundamental element to guarantee the quality and durability of your works. Remember, every detail counts and every choice is important. So take your time, experiment and, above all, have fun. Happy tufting everyone!