What Do You Need to Start Rug Tufting? A Beginner’s Guide by The Outrun Hour

Written By Zane Pickett

If you’ve been hooked by the satisfying loop of rug tufting videos online, you’re not alone. Whether you’re dreaming of turning your art into a custom floor piece or just want to try something creative for a night out, rug tufting has become one of the most exciting hands-on mediums in the DIY world.

But before you dive in, the most common question we hear is:
“What do I actually need to start rug tufting?”

As the first synthwave-inspired tufting studio in Austin, The Outrun Hour has helped hundreds of guests make their first rug — and with over 80 five-star Google reviews, we know what works and what absolutely doesn’t.

This guide breaks down the tools, materials, and pro tips that make the difference, whether you’re tufting at home or joining us in the studio.

Essential Tools You Need to Tuft a Rug

1. Tufting Gun

We use a 2-in-1 cut-pile and loop-pile gun at The Outrun Hour — giving you the flexibility to explore both styles in one session. Most studios stick to cut-pile only, but our combo guns give your designs more depth and options.

💡 Pro Tip: Always oil your tufting gun using treadmill oil or all-purpose machine oil. Without proper lubrication, your motor will overheat and burn out. Use a paintbrush or dry brush to clear fibers from the needle area before and after each use to avoid jams.

2. Rug Frame

You’ll need a sturdy wooden frame, typically made from 2x4s with carpet tack strips along the inner edge.

Pro Tip from The Outrun Hour: Always apply wood glue behind the tack strips before nailing them down. Over time, pressure from the primary fabric can loosen the strips—and trust us, a falling tack strip mid-session is both dangerous and frustrating. We’ve been there (more than once).

At our studio, we use mounted, reinforced frames built to last. No wobble, no collapsing, no surprise pokes.

3. Primary Fabric

There’s no “right” fabric for tufting—just preference.

At The Outrun Hour, we use burlap and monk’s cloth for all of our rugs. These are well-known and widely used across the tufting community. Some artists even use plastic tarp-style backing for specific effects. It’s all about feel, stretch, and holding power.

4. Yarn Options

Different yarn types give you different results. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Yarn TypeBenefitsAcrylicBold colors, cost-effective, soft feel (used at our studio – 90+ colors)WoolRich texture, high durability, great for long-lasting rugsCotton blendsLightweight, easy to handle, less frizzRecycled yarnsEco-friendly, but may vary in thickness or stretch

Each yarn behaves differently depending on your gun and tension, so experimenting helps—but if you’re tufting with us, we’ve already tested everything to guarantee clean lines and color consistency.

5. Threading Tool

Don’t overlook the metal hair threader—it’s your best friend when feeding yarn through the gun. Plastic threaders break quickly. Ours are sturdy and efficient, so you can get started right away.

6. Rug Glue (And What NOT to Use)

Here’s where things go south for a lot of studios: the glue.

At The Outrun Hour, we recommend Carpet Adhesive 3095 or similar professional-grade rug glues. These are designed for long-term use and dry fast without warping.

❌ NEVER use Elmer’s glue. It’s not made for rugs, dries sticky, doesn’t seal, and leads to curling or unraveling. We’ve seen rugs literally fall apart after being made with school glue—it’s not just unprofessional, it’s disappointing for guests.

We use a proprietary blend in-house that allows us to give our guests same-day rugs that are dry, flat, and ready to go without backing issues.

7. Secondary Backing

Your secondary layer finishes and reinforces the back of your rug. You can use:

  • Non-slip grip fabric (what we use)

  • Felt or canvas

Both work well—just depends on your purpose. Our grip backing is great for practical use right after your session.

8. Hot Glue & Gorilla Glue

For those using the waterfall method (folding the edges of the rug under before backing), we recommend combining hot glue and Gorilla Glue to keep yarn and backing from separating over time.

9. Trimmers

At The Outrun Hour, we trim your rug for you. We project your stencil, you tuft the design, and we finish with clean edges and precision sculpting.

We highly recommend goat trimmers for anyone trimming at home. They’re faster, stronger, and much less likely to damage your backing than cheap blue mini clippers.

10. Projector for Stencils

We use a XGIMI Halo projector to display your custom design onto the tufting fabric, allowing for precise tracing and layout. While our projector is wireless and bright, you don’t need one this sophisticated. Any basic projector that can display clearly on fabric will do the job.

And no worries—we set this up for you at the studio. All you have to do is show up with your idea.

Mastering the Basics: Pressure & Feeder

One thing we teach every guest: “Feeder. Pressure. Feeder. Pressure.”
That’s our rhythm.

  • Don’t clench your gun too tight—it leads to wrist and hand fatigue.

  • Switch between your index and middle finger on the trigger to prevent cramps.

  • Find your groove. Stay loose. Let the machine work for you.

Tufting looks easy, but it takes a session or two to find your flow. We help guide you through it so you leave with confidence.

Why We Don’t Make You Do It All

Some studios want guests to project their own stencil, learn the waterfall method, finish their rug backing, and trim everything themselves—all for the sake of a full "DIY experience."

Here’s our take: Rug tufting already takes 3–8 hours. Why make it longer?

Most people just want to create something amazing and walk away with a finished piece. So at The Outrun Hour, we remove the middle steps and handle:

  • Projecting your stencil

  • Final trimming

  • Backing application

If you do want to learn the full DIY process, we’re more than happy to teach you. But we never make you glue or trim if you don’t want to.

Real Guests, Real Rugs

“I loved that everything was handled for me—I got to focus on designing and tufting, and the staff did all the trimming and backing. I left with a finished rug I actually want to hang up!”
— Google Review

“Other studios expect you to finish your own backing. This place takes care of you completely. It’s so worth it.”

With 80+ five-star reviews, The Outrun Hour is one of the most trusted and creative experiences in Austin.

Book a Session at The Outrun Hour

📍 Austin, TX
🎉 BYOB | Neon Studio Vibe | Custom Orders Welcome
📋 Book now → theoutrunhour.com

💵 Rug Sessions: $50–$185
🪴 Custom Doormats: $60








Zane Pickett