What is Rug Tufting?
Rug making techniques historically have included weaving, braiding, hooking, knitting, crocheting, and knotting. Rug hooking was one of the more popular techniques using leftover strips of cloth, yarn, ribbons, and string. Hooked rugs are made by pulling yarn through a cloth backing.
A major improvement of rug making was the development of the punch needle which pushed the yarn through the backing to form the loops and was faster than pulling each loop through individually and adjusting each one for height and position.
The Yarn Crafter's Rug Tufting Tool controls the length of each loop and the size and spacing of the stitches which can make dozens of perfect loops in minutes.
It is a simple tool that requires very little maintenance except periodic lubrication with a heavy lubricant, such as petroleum jelly. Other household lubricants are too light and should not be used.
What is needed in addition to the Speed Tufting tool?
Rug Fabric: a cloth backing that must have a weave that will separate, rather than tear when the needle is inserted. The first fabrics used for this craft were "jute"-the backing that many commercial carpets have. Later, a poly fabric was created. The design is drawn on the back of this fabric (in reverse) as a pattern. Today we use a tightly woven linen burlap.
Frame: the backing must be stretched over a frame for tautness. For larger pieces, the fabric can be removed and re-attached for working another section.
Yarn: A thick skeined (uncut) yarn is needed for best results. The original rug tufting yarn was 100% polyester, but as this is no longer available, 100 % wool is now used. As a lesser alternative to the durability of wool, a heavy smooth knitting yarn may be used. (should be thicker than knitting worsted weight for best results)
When the tufting process is complete, liquid latex is spread over the back to seal the stitches in place and give body to the finished product. This latex cures in about 12 hours and becomes pliable. Edges are hemmed in place with an adhesive such as Elmer's glue.
