I can't remember if I shared any of the rugs I have made, or if I wrote about buying the tufting gear about 6 months ago.
If I didn't, I guess this is the first post about it... I bought a tufting gun and have been making some rugs.
This part is pretty crucial.
After choosing the image - in this case, it is the jackass logo.
Having the chosen image at hand, it's time to set up our small projector, so we have it up on the canvas to allow for the outline.
It's important not to let the projector move (or turn off), which we had some trouble with for earlier ones.
For this section, I essentially stayed beside the phone, tapping the screen occasionally so it wouldn't go to sleep.
When tufting, I try to move in straight lines, bottom to top.
The gun wants to move in one direction while firing it, so I just do my best to keep it straight and let it move as it wants.
This was one of the most intricate designs I have done yet, mainly due to the small details on the crutches. As well as the teeth and lines on the skull.
The frame I got with this kit isn't the best; it broke after my third rug, and I find that it needs retightening throughout the process.
I've decided to build a new one, but the only thing stopping me from doing so at the moment is space. So, for now, I'm just making do with this frame.
I have found Evo Stick great for the process of glueing the back of the rug when the tufting is complete.
It smells potent, so it's best to use it in a well-ventilated room.
Once the tufting is finished, you have to spread a generous amount of the glue on the back of it to lock in all the wool.
With it applied, you have to leave it for about 24 hours, but this time I left it for about 12 hours, and it was fine.
While making this post, I realised that I didn't photograph it after actually finishing the entire process.
The reason was that it was a gift for my sister, and I wanted to surprise her with the finished product, but I forgot to get a photo.
I really enjoy rug tufting, and have gotten pretty good at it now.
If anyone wants one, I am happy to take requests. For a 90x70cm, I would charge about €50-€60. But, I'm happy to negotiate on the price, as I am still learning.
It can be expensive to produce these. Here's a rough cost breakdown -
Total Cost Per Rug: Roughly €28
It takes about 3 hours to make them, and another 1-2 hours to glue the backing on, and then shave and carve them. That's not including the time for the glue to set.
It's a really fun hobby, and I find it really relaxing to do. But it can be a bit messy, and at the moment, it is time-consuming.
The most annoying thing about the process is the prep work of taking everything out and setting it up, since I don't have somewhere I can just leave it.
