What Type of Yarn is the Best For Tufting?

Wool has been utilized in carpet making for many hundreds of years. Wool is durable and environmental-friendly. It can hold its shape after much foot traffic which makes it ideal for any floor piece like carpets and floor rugs. You can also use it for making wall-hanging rugs or pillows but it might cost more expensive than the other options. Wool yarn sheds slightly though this will depend on the type and quality of wool yarn used. That’s why keep in mind that some people can be allergic to wool.

 It is a very popular yarn cause of its lower price and ease of finding. Acrylic is the best option for beginners who want to work on a piece that will not be used in a much foot-traffic area such as wall rugs, pillows, etc... It has a super soft texture so can be the best option for making pillows. But acrylic yarns do not hold their structure that why using them for floor rugs is not the best option.

Cotton Yarn is another popular choice for tufting. Cotton is so soft and can not hold as great as wool is. It is cheaper than wool but more expensive than acrylic. You can find it as organic or recycled. Cotton is not a good option for cut pile tufting or carpet making, as it does not have the strength to maintain its shape (not durable). Since it is not durable and super soft, it is best for the wall rugs and pillows, etc…

Silk yarn is traditionally used to create patterned rugs. Silk is among the most expensive ones that you can work with. And is also very fine, meaning that you may need more product to complete your piece as opposed to wool or acrylic.

Bamboo yarn is not a very common yarn used for tufting. Bamboo is softer than cotton and is a cost-effective alternative to silk. Bamboo is flexible to stretching compared to other natural fibers such as wool. Bamboo is not commonly used in carpet making so if you are specifically looking for this material you can find mixed fiber yarns like in the picture.

Jute Twin Ropes are popular materials used in creating floor coverings for high traffic areas such as kitchens or doormats. They are natural fibers that are dried and processed before being weaved. They are not really commonly used in tufting but I had tried this material in a tufting gun, and it worked pretty well. But rigidity and flexibility were not the best quality if we compare with the other options.